Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-10-05
FAsIixE PRICEs.l

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OR contemporaries ia al paris Of he country are
uttering CON plants exoEbi ans prices demand
"a for he necessaFies OF life. Withdne siage eA-
ception q dour, which though sun fisn SHOWS
s,,ne sxmpscms Of decline, there i npt an article
eomine within what Is termed in the domestic Fo-
cahnIery q s.marketing,n that IS ntt now held Al
rates whfeh are truly astonishing 10 country 50
prolific Ia lis resources Of production As our eMh.
The prices Of articles Of subsistence are now
than ever before known, and the advance Is AePs
m with persistence that Is not paTalleled hY me
increased rates OF labor nor, We believe lustine1
nv absolute dc fciency in The sources 81 supply
The rates that are now demandedand paid unael
al iaeieerha protest Tor the most ordinary neces-
saiieswll furnish maSef o. curious h IN
with those prevailing few years since, and wnlen
viii ~ doubt ain 6e re-eslablished ghea money
pressnre As much faucied as real and scarcity "a
aeerate Aeyond all possible reality shallhave been
dissipatee Butter now seltsat prices that render
IL no lOketo say il has siversh taste vegetables
have become the Injuries TO which the rich are
con6ned Instead ofbeing formerly one Of The sta.
pies ot consumption, and ssgrasshopper1 eaitss,:
scra9ey lean and innulrirous are sold al prices
which We would once have deemed exofbiiant for
/ show beef Housekeeping is a'seTieus undertake
ing ana nigh rents, costly fuel, and extravigant
market bills actual VI rifles which stare the family
man out Of money, II not oul Of eounitnanee.--
MaiFimoay is becoming forbidden luxury and
Young men Of moderate means will have 70 restrain
their hymeBeal desires, and bellies sigh 10 single
tion Of The produce MARKETS re-ina1gurated.
/ This state of affairs may be treated lightly or
viewed merely as deprivation Of some 81 the not
entirely necessary enloyments OF life when connect
| ed with those OF ample means OF wh0seincene n
ahes iheei 10 meet so extraordinary an advance in
the cost q living but with The workng.orHecesst-
Gus cases has become matter OF life and death,
/ producing prolonged Struggle with the gaunt wolf
i Of posertY which the humane cannot contemplate
without Tie keenest eommiseration. EGfeatly as
LAX
they do not except ia some speciaiinstances COM
pensate Ter the INCREASED expenses oil living. The
working classes have row TO content themselves
with contracted lodgings and Inferior food that a
few years back they would not have deemed possi-
BILE The exorhitant rates for labor has also pro-
duces another evil. II has contracted Tie demand
and thrown hundreds out ofsemploy who under
more favorable circumstances would have found a
profitable andconstant field for The exercise Of theiI
/ industry Fewer houses are built a SUI aller nun
Der of ships constructed The merchant employs less
clerks, and the mechanic gives occupation tea d.
minished number Of artizans Productive indus
try feels the Incubus ia all It's manifestations, anc
though the agricultufist and his factor may real
the advantages Of advanced rates and increased
commissions vet the COED even 10 them must b
4 only temporary and in the end they 100 will b
brought within the circling.waves OF an fmproPer
IL excited sue mentatioa efsprices.
1 Ia touching thus briefly and specifically on tn,
anomalous condition Of affairs, we may also refe
people of our great cities The process there is
Double one. With an undue concentration ofrich
es with those who profit by tie crisis thsJe come
Temptations 70 extravaganza and TO the grathca
ton Of exclusive predictions whilst the inereas
ing poverty OF the masses fosters ignorance, crime
recklessnsss aud procivity TO all those degrade,
habits which have their manifestations ia disre
gard Of the laws violations Of the moral rights
and contempt for the refining processes which Civ,
value TO society and link its parts in one by bont
i 49, IL. L. kn.l
a community can make is that which combines viii
Ia its influence all classes which eevates the me
chanic aid The laborer to the welldoing midd
healhv process into the ranks Of the capitalist ant
The niIlienairc-w in briefopens to all The wal
Of ascent in The social scale, and binds every mai
10 the common wealuy his own hopes of advance
ment The present condition OF affairs we thinl
does not 10 this. and though its morbidexcitemen
may gfasifg some. yet its general effect cannot b
viewed without apprehension.
i We have comfort however, 10 the hope that IN
evil is moi permanent one. Our country Is to-
young loo rich in its resources, too spare in il
population, and too liberal in its instiutionsf /
permit The imposition of the Fictitious social sys
TEN Of tha oyef populated and physically exhaust
ed counties o. Europe With the return bright
er DAYS The restoration of moneyed confidence
more successful agricultural season land some
thing Of wisdom learned from present sufferings
We mayhepe 10 again experience the benefits Q
The thorough employment Of all our industrial re
spd r. and poass %sh cons.i
tutes the seeretef general success.
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