Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-11-12
THE CRISIS AND ITS CAUSE.

That too grea: imPOStations and con-
sumption Of manufactured goods has pr
duced tie present coudid0n Of things 70
msn Of commmi sense will deny. But The
pres Of the eouutry seems generally to lay
the fault eutiroly upon tie ladies IS TIE
cause Of the disaster. II is wrong TO at
tribute TO them what belongs il not in a
greater degrea 10 nen. Tie impoHaiions
are not all for wOlneG's use: Our imported
Cigars cost S2,O00,0OO, our imported
liquors s7.O00.000-these are worse than
useless and all consumed by men. We
wear out three millions Of ofimported silk
aud satin vests year, at cost Of Sc. 900
600. The cost Of our extra loots, hats,
clothes, eravats aud linen, furs, jevelry, Dc,
worn exclusively by men, is about twenty
five millions more--making about $40
100000 consumed alone by men, which
they might save without foregoing any
happiness. In furniture, articles of taste
and show over which men have entire con-
troll, and foreign fruits, spices, coffee, tea,
sugar. &e, Of the same character, about
SI,0O0,O00,000 is consumed. We say
men can control these. So they can sufi.
GENTLY to exonerate women from the crime
of such extravagance. Extrayagant and
wealthy men introduced these luxuries as
evidences of exclusiveness. Women are
more initiative than men, aud those of
less means have too often been impelled by
them to expenses that they could not
maintain. This is great and a growing
evil Of deeper significance than one could
imagine. 1t is condition of things pecu.
liar to our form Of government and condi-
lion--an evil the remedy for which is dis
tant aud perhaps hopeless Of accomplish
ment. We have no titles as evidences Of
aristocracy, family is fraiI branch to cling
to, and wealth becomes the only resort for
outward distinction. Our glorious form
Of government is designed to place all men
upon an equality, and here follows the
strife through all ranks for equal evidences
Of wealth, The Euroqeau nations have
their different established grades and need
none ofthe evidences of wealth to show
their position. The luxuries they use are
only for the gratiiicqi ion oftheir own taste
and are therefore less costly than ours,
which are for show.
TO put such duties upon imported ar
ticles that we shall increase our own
manufactures and luxuries will be found
at bone, will stop the foreign dram, and
give our labor the chance of product
This would reduce the injury from the
extravaganza; but it is only higher state
of education and morals, fuller develop
meut of the spiritual being that can Grad.
cate the disease, aud enable us to rise
above these little attendants on the show
of wealth.
The present expense of the single arti-
cles of female dress is, we all know, ire.
mendous item in the general account of
inportations; and added to the other, and
attendant items, rouders It impossible that
our country should maintain her credit
That portion of our imports devoted to
female dress is not less than about eighty
millions of dollars. That the abolition Of
this as well as the other items of unnec
essary expense would swell the amount Of
human happiness as well as honesty there
can be no manner Of doubt. -MassiHoB
NewS.