The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-24
WAR PRICES AND THE POOR.

In recent article, "Trade and its Laws"
we stated that as high prices for all the neces-
saries us well as luxuIies of life, are inevitably
incident to a state of war, it is both unjust and
unwise to charge the Government with
result which it did not procure and cannot
prevent. The war is not likely to come to u
speedy conclusion, five may credit the utter
ances of Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS and his
newspaper organs in the South. They breathe
defiance to the arms of the nation and declare
that they will not even listen to overtures Of
peace, except on the condition ofindependence.
That sort of talk may sound to some ears like
the rawlings of desperation, and it is, no doubt,
dictated in a large measure by spirit OF
obstinacy that is much more Inspired by
malignant passion than cool and cOnsiderate
reason.
Assuming, then, that the war may, under
any auspices, last year or two longer, it be-
comes a careful and provident people to antici-
pate the ordinary Inconvenience of such q
state of affairs, and to make all suitable pre-
paratiOn to meet them with virtuous fortitude
and to mitigate them as far as possible. The
] HutollOLs lutibiOIty vi lOOu anu lutl lOI buG
million becomes highly important. 1t is quite
apparent to any reaeeting mind that, at the
present enormous prices of all the essential,
indispensable articles of universal cousump-
ton, such as flour, coffee, tea, milk, sugar,
meat and the like, vast number, perhaps a
moiety, if not a majority, of the people, can
not afford to buy enough provisions to answer
the requirements Of ordinary comfort, if not
positive necessity. And as regards fuel, no
one can fail to see that, with wood at thirteen
dollars cord, and coal at an equal, if not
greater cost per ton, a very large proportion
of our population must freeze to death in the
next winter from sheer inability to purchase
wood and coal enough to keep the house
warm and cook the little food that their slen-
der means viii enable them to pay for.
What then is to be done in so serious al
extremity The man of wealth, or OF easy
circumstances, says he does not care about the
matter. He has money enough to get what
he wants, however prices may advance. But
we are a civilized and Christian people, and
live in a community in which no citizen can
be allowed, even if he would TO think Of his
own private welfare and interest, in total dis
regard of the situation of his neighbor, Ol
rather thousands of his lellow-tOwnsmen and
townswomen. The comparatively few who
! are well of, and who feel perfectly secure
| against the worst yicissitudes of fortune, can
not, nevertheless, afford TO wrap themselve,
up in their selfish independence, and take nC
thought OF the iamishing and freezing multi
tude in whose midst they dwell. Christianit
is not only opposed TO such hard and crue
egotism, bua public policy, social peace au,
order, are equally repugnant 20 It,
The time has come when provision must b
made 10 avert scenes OF bitter distress, II no
OF terrible disturbance and violence, in tn
community, by ayerting the extremes OF pei
sonal want and suffering. Human nature
cultivated and disciplined as it may be by tn
laws, habits, and Judicial sanctions Of civ
society is essentially and at bottom huma
nature still; and when the last cruel test {
starvation and death is applied TO the moFs
sentiment and loyal instincts OF the poo
we may be sure that the demands OF natur
win be stronger than the sense Of civic duty.
Happily for US, q plan has been found
enable every family 70 obtain fuel at rat
much below tse present market price.
company tine Consumers Mutual Goal Con
pany has teen organized mere 20 mine coal, an
deliver Il 70 their members on shareholders a
what is called first cost, p which means III
simple expense TO the company OF leasing on
working the mine and delivering the coal Q
the consumer The scheme has proved eL
Ssgely satisfactory in It's practical operayio
y eBS ,lsr, Tho coal supplied is Of the bes
SaaSs}a j is furnished 70 each subscribe
I1a1'fs p ta6@ sable certainty and promptness
itiS86,ensS 9t>H6@rly one-half Of the pric,
mag fs,deSs@deSS SSftivaye coal-dealers; and
tsfEeIS - sfs tSAsslSegs are almost Ger
tsln tcSsaS SsiteaE seT1Sfsts lp ezpensr
foFstAe SsSa ss fSsssSss RSSS4syipg
chafs&tofS S$s& SIss Ritt Cut 3 dGgs &r8at
of ASsSerpes BOZ, 81 ggfRlds Ssisife.
and$stb t6e tAB& S~ssSs S$S%$'
TkhSs@lpfS d sfs Gs> pSosf fetioa S5tssff
be a6sllsa spahSs " eSt eR tls'F 'Fsrtistsssa
primR IeSeSsity, saSb sas 3 u eaT, aQese