The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-17

" RX. CAL. So ~ HX~TS
fc1 SALE by AL DRUGGISTS sgce Soc stR VITA
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tinued down until 1862 During this period
the public lands were sold. They were
regarded as an important source of reve-
nue.. The federal government went into
the real estate business. 1t conducted
some gigantic deals. Napoleon needed
money. He offered his real estate On the
American continent to Uncle Sam. He
offered it cheap-only SO cents per acre.
In 1893, the purchase was consummated
! by that distinguished Democrat, patriot
and statesman, Thomas Jefferson.
I'm 1919. Florida was purchased from
I Spain at Ill cents per acre. The Mexico
I purchase was made in 1S48, at 45 cents
! per acre. The Gadsen purchase was made
! in 1853, at 34.3 cents per acre. Texas was
purchased in 1850, at 25.17 cents per acre.
! Alaska, with all her wealth-producing
seals. and fabulous gold. was purchased
/ by Seward in 1857, at 119 cents per acre.
/ These lands were put on the market at
, S12j per acre \ large revenue came
from this source. In dollars and cents, a
| large profit accrued to the government.
THE NEW POLICY.
a new policy was inaugurated. A new
principle was recognized. The govern
ment finally decided to consecrate the
public domain to the sacred purpose of
land for the landless, and homes for the
homeless The free homestead act did
not become a law without a struggle 1t
encountered bitter opposition. 1t suffered
a vets from the hands of a president,
whose name ought not to be mentioned
in a free home convention. Finally. under
the leadership of Galusha A. Grow, May
q, 1862, this act became law, bearing
the approval and signature Of Abraham
Lincoln. The signature of this great man
to this act deserves to be placed along
side of his signature to the Emancipation
Proclamation. One made free men; the
other made free homes.
1T has long been our boast, that in
this land of liberty, d larger percentage
of our people owned their homes than did
the people in any other land under the
sun Herein is one of the secrets of our
strength While this continues, our re-
public is safe We will not lack for reve-
nue.; and we shall not want for brave
soldiers to defend the flag that floats over
their homes.
THE HOMESTEAD LAW.
''The general homestead act needs no
praise from my lips. It's merits have
been universally admitted. Time has
demonstrated the wisdom of the measure.
Beyond any doubt, it is one OF the most
important and beneficial laws ever en-
acted by the congress of the United
States Its influence upon the growth
and development Of the country has been
marvellous. Perhaps no other single act
Of congress has added so much to the re-
sources, the population, the strength and
greatness of this nation. When this act
became a law the population of the
United States barely exceeded 3l,000,000;
today it exceeds 100000. Then our
wealth was but $1,000 10000. Today our
wealth is $S0,O00, 100000. We are acknOwl-
edged to be the richest nation on the
globe. Ons-third of all this wealth. and
oue-third of all our population, will be
found in those states settled and peopled
under the provisions of the free home
stead law. UnQuestionably, this law
greatly accelerated the growth, augment
ed the wealth. multiplied the industries,
enlarged the resources, increased the
population, and with a lavish hand,
added 50 the strength, greatness and
glory OF the republic
DANGERS THREATENING Us.
1.-THE Importance pf the work OF this
convention cannot be overestimated.
Claim holders are not the only persons
interested Merchants, doctors, lawyers.
editors, teachers, preachers, mechanics.
men in every vocation, calling and profes-
sion Of life, will reap the benefits of free
homes. Our children are interested. The
defeat of this measure means TO them an
iTrepa-able injury. Even if the father
IQuidates the mortgage. It is only SO
much money diverted from the education
and training OF the children From what
ever standpoint you may look. the evils OF
the present policy Of the government are
alarming. The continuation of this policy
win cripple our educational institutions, /
and check the onward march Of society (
TO higher plane OF culture. refinement
and civilization L viii roll a mountain /
like burden upon agriculture, clog the
wheels Of commerce, and reduce TIE /
profits Of every business and industry in !
the territory. The danger with which our
palling We meet here today 70 consider 1
how We may avert this great public 1
calamity; 10 devise means, If possible. to 1
secure the repeal q those laws, which We /
believe TO be wrong In principle, unjust I
and ineouitabls In their application. and /
dangerous 10 the peace. prosperity and I
happiness OF our people
IN CONCLUSION.
There IS but one way cut. The United /
States. Internationally. has wandered 4
away from its true policy Of defeating /
the public domain 20 homes Tor the pes
pie The thing 20 90 IS 20 aoo0t face. All 4
return 10 the policy advocated by Owen 4
I1-vejoy. Schuyler Cosfax. Ben Wa5e. 4
Gaiusha 4 Grow and Abraham Lincoln. 4
May we net foHiIy hope that the darkest 4
hour for the homestesders II oktshoT..a 1
has passed. The dawn OF brighter Oar