The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-08
SEATTLE, FRIDAY, OCT. ..


J. Sterling Morton. secretary OF agri-
culture under President Cleveland,
went on. of Office like many OF his col
leagues. under something OF cloud
politically. OF course. he vas not an
ideal administrator of the department;
At least, the Republican party has done
better with Wilson, of Iowa. but he is
q leyel-headed man. and a good. psacti-
cal farmer. No man who has devoted
much attention 10 tho speeches OF Nor
ton and the speeches of Bryan. with
knowledge of conditions in Nebraska,
would hesitate to determine which was
the wiser counselor Of the two.
Bryan In a theorist In everything.
practical In nothing. his distinguished
fellow statesman, Morton. Is theoreti-
cal in nothing, practical in everything.
Reading his speeches. one is tempted
to inquire what accident In his early
youth, before his mind had matured.
sidetracked him Into the Democratic
party. He Ia progressive in his actions
and optimistic la his views: he be-
lieves In scientific farming and be be-
lleves In banking.
Since Mr.. Morton retired from Office
he has devoted himself TO his farm in
Nebraska, which is one OF the finest
examples OF American agriculture TO
be fcgnd In this country. When Mr..
Morton squatted on land In the far-oif
territory II had not even been sur
veyed: he built log cabin on the
prairie, and from that humble begin
ming has arisen fine homestead which
is part model farm and part park.
In 1855 Mr.. Morton established in that
little blockhouse the Nebraska City
News. which is still being published.
A mar who has gone through such a
life must know something OF the needs
and the grievances of men in like con-
ditions OF life. or who are entering up
on the experiences through which he
has passed. He hag recently been ex-
pressing his Ylegs upon the condition
Of the country and the prospects for
Nebraska, sad They have gaiae which
those Of very few other men in that
state would have for the farming COM
munity and those who depend upon les
prosperity Tor their own advantage.
Mr.. Gorson says he leses patience when
ho hears the cheap statesmen telling
tia. scarcity Of mosey has boon the
eSrse Of the receat depression. II was
the reverse. he SAYS. We had too much.
This. Of course. is the truth. When
money is so plentiful that The banks
are willing 20 loan It TOO readily. IN
aue competition Ia encouraged and
hard ilmea follow AS a natural conse-
aacnce. Mr.. Morton might Aaye added
that the country Is doing twice The bus
iness It did q year ESQ. and it has no
mere money to speak Ct than II had
then. Hundreds of thousands OF men
wac were idle are now employed. and
ge,t!ug millions OF dollars Of wages ev-
cry month; s,orekeepers are doing
better business by from - per cent. TO
30 per cent. values have gone up OF
all property from g Ia 20 pcr cent.
and stsil enough money has not been
aeded 20 the volume in this country 20
make a difference Of 81 per capita per
aarOm.
Confidence has been restored. there
Is no man through whose veins there
Is healthy Cow u blood. or in whose
heart there Is a SPARK If courage. who
does not feel nero sure az the tunre
than he did two years ago. or even one
year ago. Occasionally. ont Of the
depths o. sluggish poad comes the
croak 81 a Bryan frog thai prosperity
cannot last forever, OF course not: Il
viii probably last not more than seven
years. but sevea years IS time enouxh
Tor any prudeat man 10 lay hy sufl.
cient 20 tide him over The reaction
which is inevitable, Chisf among his
objects should be so avoid the mis-
takes OF the past. whether as borrow
or ct Leader.
Both the fSst ard the West. the
leader and the borrower. have been IN
blame; the West for yielding 10 the
temptation 70 speculate beyond rea-
scraAle prospects Of profit the East
Tor lis eagerness 20 snatch s, the hleA
rates of iutsres; held cat by Western
borrowers. Mr. Morton calls attention
q the injustice done What Is called
farm mortgages Ike SAYS that Eastern
srs sent cut thar money through their
own age2.s. - whom they gave = cow-
mission e per cent 20 make invest
nsnts, ard thus Pc; premium on dis