The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-09-01
Economy

6cOnOmy ~ "
Parsimony, pcnuriousness. avarice, and @
whole troop of hard words, are used very often
unjustly.
Now we admit that, while these vices are
most loathsome, and iraught with evil conse.
quences to healthy development of social life
that they deserve all the scorn of the good, and
the sarcasms Of the careless, we, nevertheless
hold that they are sometimes cOnfounded with a
virtue one, too, which we regard as neces-
sary ingredient in the formation of useful, ur.
right man-economy.
The idea, all too prevalent in many minds,
that the wastefulness of the rich is benefit to
the poor, is only one Of those detestable errors
which warp the understandings of those moral
towards who fear to do little original think
ing.
The extravagaEce of the rich may, it is true
put Il little money into the pockets of few
poor people /; but it curses them again indirect
ly, at least. to greater extent than it benefits
them. for the dissipation Of the wealthy is in.
variahly initiated by each lower order, and
tends to make the lowly live beyond theil
means. And if the wealthy spend their in.
comes even in luxury, can they put as much
capital out into manufactures, stores, etc. p
can they give as many persons employment p
can they add as much TO the wealth of the
country can they aid in developing the pro
ductive resources of a country, to the same de
gree as if they lived comfortably, but plainly
And, as those articles which minister to Il re.
fined sensualism are, in great measure, i'm
ported, is it not self-evident that the social
benefits q of extravagance are partial and di.
minutive, while the evils are universal and in
calculable.
What is true in individual instances, holds
good, as regards States; and that we. people OF
this Union, enjoy SO much materisl prosperity,
is attributed to the industrious habits
of the masses, the golden stream from Cali
forna, together with the general vast resources
Of the country, but nothing can prevent long
continued extrayagance from ending in indi-
gence.
Economy is one of those virtues which. like
the tabled shield that Prince Arguyye wore,
keeps off host of vices. 1t prevents tempta.
tions to resort to dissipation to escape the cank
ing cares of pecuniary liability it shuts ont
envy from a man S heart it renders him less
prone to take undue advantage Of his neighbor
because he is less shrcwd than himself; it aids
him to preserve his health and dissua les him
from rash speculations; it is the keystone oi
the arch Of morality it gives a man power
to be generous, because it counsels him to be
Just.
The true interests of society, and the welfare
of the individual. should not be antagonistic,
but reciprocal; and as poverty is the mother OF
much crime, it will appear logical If we say
that economy would, if universal, close halt
our prisons and diminish our taxes. A fair
article is, in the long run, cheaper than POOR
one. and it is a great deal easier to do right
than to do wrong, if we would only think so
and, we further affirm, that the earth is large
enough to yield every man living if he will
but husband his means.
We would not, however. be misunderstood.
A perfectly equal distribution of property is an
impossibility, which. could it be effected, would
be a national calamity, for it would degrade
the better, without elevating the poorer mem-
bers Of community in equal ratio: but it is
against the improper use of means that we
w.uld protest-that tendency to private and
public extravaganza which is all too character
isiic of our age and people.
Almost any man who has sufficient moral
Eeroism to annually lay aside and invest one,
fully, ultimately have moderate competence
and the insane desire to make fortune in a
day or year, which characterize too many OF
our youth, is alike fatal to mental tranquility
or public morality.
When Madame de Stael asked Napoleon
whom he considered the greatest woman In
France, he answered, "She no has brought
forth and trained up the greatest number Of
boys !" and no notion is more fatal to the health
of State than the all-too- prevalent idea that
young persons should remain single until they
can begin life in that style which their parents
only attained after many years and in cur
democratic land, the aristocracy of money, in
stead of exciting our envy or homage, should
move US to smile OF quiet contempt.
"A passion for costly dress, elegant accom-
plishments, and expensive amusements, is be-
coming all too common with the young women
of our land. Instead Of filling their heads
with sound books, they attire themselves like
butterflies, too frequently neslecting the ac-
quirement of good education. 10 possess a
s,nat..ri,,- of ,rss;c W Aahhl,. in ~'o,stcd