The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-07


some industry. We venture the assef-
ton that this mode of enriching our
selves. Increased industry is no new
one, it certainly is not an easy one.
What would the Tribune say if we were
TO seriously propose to it, to cut off one
half its expenses, and thus render its
business twice as profitable as it now is?
We think the question would at once be
asked, how this could be done without
working the men retained twice as hard
as they have been accustomed to be?
And yet this is precisely what it tells Us
would have saved the country from the
present crisis; if we had earned $780,
100000 more than we did, that We should
have been so much richer, certainly none
viii deny. This Tribune article in ques-
ton, seems too sophistical to be serious;
and vet we are not conscious of misstatins
its ideas.
The doctrine of stimulating home in
dustry, by which is meant increasing your
manufactures, is radically wrong; they
are already relatively too great. While
all manufactured goods have been grow
ing cheaper all agricultural products have
been advancing. The manufacturer has
had to struggle against the enhanced price
of the raw msterial, it being product of
the earth, to pay higher than formerly for
! all kinds of food, and even for his horses,
whether for labor or pleasure. While
these causes have been operating, the ten
dency of which was, to have raised the
price of manufactured goods. thsS have
actually decreased in price. Thus while
all agricultural products have advanced,
proving conclusively that labor was more
needed on the farm than in the factory,
there have not been wanting those who
have sought to add to the manufacturing
class at the expense of the agricultural.
That the first wants of man should be
literally supplied before any effort is
made for elegance or luxury, is PROPOSE
ton which none will deny; and that food
and plain clothing, together with comfor-
table buildings, constitute these first wants,
is equally plain. That we have departed
widely from the course which alone could
satisfy those wants. facts well attest. In
stead of even hard laboring men being
abundantly supplied with wholesome and
palatable food, in sufficient variety, they
are not unfrequently at their wits end to
satisfy hunger. What is true of them is
fearfuIly true of thousands, whose frail
constitutions, renders them unfit to engage
in remunerative labor. Such know full
we'll what it is to want, and what it is to
desire death to end life of want. Until
this state of things shall cease, let none
clamor for the production of goods which
can never be needed, until the staff of
life is sufficiently plentiful and cheap to
sustain a healthful organization.
We close our examination of the tariff
question by saying that, instead of its
having had any tendency to put off the
crisis which we are now in the midst OF,
it has precipitated it upon us, by directing
labor into less remunerative channels,
l 49, - ,,,o,,Jd 1aza sr,,vbt c,,f ,,naidad
and undirected.
! Next to the tariff question, in point of
importance and sophistry, is the Bank
Question. A mixed currency, expansion
and contraction of banks, are spoken of
as though they could add to, or subtract
from the real value of the country
Banks, at best, can only facilitate the ex-
change of values, they can never create
them. And this is true whether the cur
rency of country is simple Or mixed
A bank note, or promise to pay, is not
parted with by the banker, without first
having received its equivalent. Hewould
have received DO more had he lent the
specie instead of the note. So with the
merchant and all Others whose hands the
note passes through; SO that it will be
found that the result of trade will depend
upon the kiind Of men in business, and not
upon the kind of nancy used. If banks
have discounted largely when there was
not large legitimate business, it has been
for speculative purposes. Their contrac-
tons can only temporarily retard the ex-
change of values; and such is the case at
the present time. There is no general
bankruptcy existing. During the last
twenty years, since the crisis Of 1887 to
| ~, we have doubtless made more. sub
stantial acquisitions of wealth to the coun-
try, than during any former period of the
same length, since we were nation. We
pronounce the present period one of I'M
exampled prosperity; and yet it can not
be denied that there is general panic,
that we are suffering ffoiii a crisis. II,
| then, tariff, or the want of tariff, bank
expansions. or bank contractions, mixed
or an unmixed currency, are not the oeea-
sion of our present distress, what are the
occasions OF it? Ina country where cred
it is easily obtained, there will not be
wanting those who viii use the confidence
placed in them to dsfrsud their creditors.
They win, at first, live beyond their means,
and will resort to credit to pss the ongi-
nal creditor, often promising to pay large
interests for the accommodation, and then
lit goes on to the day of .Is,iaE reckoning,
when promise to pay will not answer,
and then bankruptcy follows. This is
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