The Immoral Tariff. A Follower Of The Plow Pays His Respects To Professor Van Buren Denslow

The New York Tribune has given to its readers a foor column ecreeil by Professor (?) Van Buren Donslow on the "Financial Crisis," and I basten to apologize for the assumption that it is worthy of notice by sensible readers by the slateuient that its iinportance arises solely from the manner of its pablication, and not at all from its matter, except so far as both reveal one of the demoralizmg eLfect3 of the "immoral tariff." Let me quote the following specimen of the acntnen displayed by this writer: "The principie of deniocracy breaks down when it comes to lending money, and the other principie applies that capítol attracts capital, wealth alone inspires confidence, 'to him that hath shall be given, while from him that hath not shall be taken away.' If we purpose to lend money we seek to lend it only to the rich, the very rich, the richest possible. Then we know we will get it again.'" There ave other farmers of my acquaintanco who have come to tmderstand the meaning of this statement. Like me they inherited their political faith, just as Van Buren Denslow did his ignorance. And with me they have come to a new light within the last few years. As we have watched the burning corn in stoves guiltless of coal, there has come to us a light which has recently been reflected in our action. We have not read so many old authors, and consequently have not compiled so many pages of twaddle, as lumber the libraries with the imprintof "Professor" Denslow. But somehow we have gained the knowledge that democratie institutions have been committed to this people, who have been not unwilling to make certain sacrifices in their interest. Down by the orchard there are two mounds, 'neath which rest the bones of father and brother who laid down their liyes when it had been found that "the principie of democracy broke down" when we came to admit the right of man to own his fellow man, and the destruction of the nation was attempted to secure that right. For over a qnarter of a century we have watched the blossoms fall on those graves, and have known only the regret that our héroes could not have lived to take up the fight which we now see impending between the whole people and their enslavers. The 8nows of more than twenty-five winters have mantled them, bat have never destroyed the memory of the men who died that greater liberty should bless this nation. And now from all over the country there is coming proof that the farmers are awakening to realizo that they have been sustaining a system which has emboldened writers in its defense to impudently frame their argumenta to prove that when the "principie of democracy breaks down" before the further demands of monopoly, democracy itself must give way that greed may fatten. This is the familiar argument of the tax eaters. They would protect with high taxes the mili bosses in order that they might be able to pay higher wages to their employés, and then have so framed the laws as to make it possible for employers to bny their labor in the open market and starre their workingmen behind the wall of protection. They have humbugged us with the pretense of protecting us with imposte on corn and wheat to cover up the infamy of a constantly increasing tribute to the barons of monopoly. They have instilled into the public mind the idea that the nation must care only for the rich - the very rich - the richest possible - and let the poor f eed from the crumbs that fall from their groaning tables. They have made it necessary for the farmers to mortgage their lands, and then have devised means by which those mortgages could only be held by men whose exactions have made us burn corn in competition with protected coal. They have given of the public domain and of the people's treasure empixes in area and wealth beyond the dream of avarice, and now sneer at the folly of farmers who assume the possibility of the government doing for them what it has so freely done for more favored classes. They have bosed the compass of absurdities in financial legislation for the, benefit of a class, and now demand further benefits for their pets that "the very rich" may be able to loan money to