Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-16

The evils of an inflated currency cannot be
hidden and We are rapidly approaching a limit
beyond which ihey will not be tolerated When
this inf alton bean, The first experience was a
sense of exhilaration- The experiment would
have been Tar les dangerous but for IL intoxi-
eating character. Were the beginning of de-
bsuch attended with mOuitory pains: did the first
draught taste OF the awful bitterness which comes
With the sad reaction or could the reason con-
tinue unclouded until the limit Of pleasure
reached-surely. no one would be druuksrd.
The danger lies in the seduction of the senses to
which the first ministraton il one OF delight
The cases are parallel When Mr. Chase inau-
gurated his policy. the warnings Of experience
were drowned in the popular acclamaiions which
followed The pleasant excitement As In the first
cup there i fresh hope, new strength increased
riches and less recognition of pain or weariness
so the inflated currency carried a stimulant which
a. the first was doublY welcome because OF the
prev aleni depression The second draught vas
quickly swallowed. and there was glow of gen
erous excitement Mr.. Chase had discovered the
tonic which was needed to establish the nations
strength If here and there one admitted that
too much Of IL might carry the nation off its feet
few we're found to deny its sovereig n efficacy a.
an invigors,ng remedy for the weakness that had
come upon us in the sudden call to the field Of
strife And the bow was drained
Then came another stage, and the quickene
circulation needed more stmulant to prevent an
unpleasant reaction. Again the cup is filed. and
this time there - far more enthusiasm The
smile has given place to laughter; the pleasure
has deepeued into hilarity Caps 20 up, and the
chorus of praise to the inventor of this specific is
louder than ever Even the most thoughtful are
half convinced 10y the popular JOY. and begin 10
question If the stern laws which punished such
excuses IN the earlier days NAV not have been
relaxed for this generation: or If the L1wgiver is
not shout 10 make an exception in our favor by
n special miracle. How trade thrives and values
increase. There IL scarcely need of severe toll.
property gains so fast. There is no call for
economy IN the midst of such abundance Who
said that war Was desoatiug scourgeI Why,
il is positive blessing. since we never were So
thriving. prosperous, rich, rolling in luxury as
now. How daintily we live aud how poor seems
the pttance which rewarded the old industry.
Let not the conflict end too soon: once, the es-
Establishment OF rghtful authority would have
cOntented Us; now, add the sublugatiOn of all
other interests If YOU will: we rich enough to
afford this treat To those who have brought such
resources within our reach.
But there is chance to pause, and there
came another stage Then some hestated and
would have gone back 70 soberness again had
they only POSSESSED the necessary courage. AS
they took few steps their hearts failed them,
reaction IL 80 painful. The relaxed nerves, the
shruuken features, the tremulous hands. the
shaking knees, and the consciousness of pain:
and weakness, AMI poverty: these must all he
met and borne in that return TO sober realities
Better another draught of the stimulent; it will
he time enough 10 be sober when the war Is over.
Mr. Chase protested that his invention de-
signed as q tonic, and not for constant bever-
age: but ne still kept the cup to the public lip,
and filled A. nf ten s they wouin drink And
then madness came We need not describe this
scene, for II j. before The revel is
gaye>t in all the large cities, hut the excitement
is the same in kind throughout all the country.
Our exchanges every where describe il in glowing
language, aud we DO not care To dwell upon the
picture The luxury and eXtravagamce. side by
side with want aud desttutiOn; the teeming mil
lions. and the emptied purse the wasSail in the
gllded saloon. and the sad vigil in the desolate
garnet; the frenzy of speculation which is the
natural outcropping OF this unhealthy excitement.
drawing into its mad whir all classes. like
mighty maestrom these all mark the progress
Of the general intOxicaton
Now there l. alarm, and many misgivings in
regard 20 the future Here aud there will
still insist that inf tion is very good thing, but
most of its steadest advocates praise it with
bAted breath Some will admit that it is an evil,
but insist that it could not have been avoided.
l
ended. Nearly all of the candid and thoughtful
will confess that it was a sad mistake, and one
which is likely 10 dear. They must do
something more than this however if they would
prevent the final catastrophe. For there Is an
other stage even beyond the delirum which
marks the present hour. That stage of intoxi
cation resembles death too much to need de>crip-
ton here. Shutting eyes will not prevent its
approach, and il will not be let alone il shrink
from it so nervously There will come
time when the stimulant fails and then inf ltion
ends in a sudden collapse.
1t needs no prophets pen to describe the clos
Ing scene. if the process goes on little longer.
We will not give 1t, lest seem to create thar
should but depict The people need arousinS
everywhere To sense of the impending peril Ii
will not do to trust the Congress extricate Us
from the dangers that environ That body Is
variOuSly composed; some members are mere
politicians: Others reckless and those no
honest lack practical knowledge of the way of
escape or are too dlstrusttuI of each other act
in concert even il they had sufficient numbers to
control the legislation And the nation i trifling
with IL DESTINY while men OF influence and prac
tcal wisdom shrink from assuming the response
bility 10 which they cael by the eXigence of
the hour Let none say that il is now too late:
this rara zing plea has ruined many whom i
vigorous effort might have saved. Aud let none
be deceived with the hone that it will he time
enough To act i'll this matter when the war i over
/ The danger is too imminent for That. ana the
crisis TOO near Blunders and irres"luton are
alike fatal but there l. no occasion for despair
IL will be thank!e>S task at first, for the fever
thirst is on the public lip. and many who see the
death IN the bow will ,til cling to It But it
must be put aside before We can begin to
hope y. Y. Jour. of Com
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