The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-07-02

let the Sarcasm" be ever so keen. But to
be amused and "convulsed' with tan
ecdotes," after one has been dead
(''breathless'' for two houn)-bangs our
comprehension -
High Prices-The True Cause.
It is quite the custom just now to attrib-
Ute the present high prices to an expanded
currency. We are hippantly told that this
is the one cause of commercial derange-
ment, and that if the currency were only
reduced to the standard of three years ago,
prices would come down in the same pro.
portion. Let us think moment, and we
snail see the utter absurdity of such a con-
cluslon. No matter what Is the medium
TOR making exchanges, or what is currency,
or What is lawful money-whether it be
gold, or bank-notes, or treasury notes
pc high prices. Europe learned it during
her Napoleonic wars ; we learned it in the
war OF 1872, and the same stern teacher
cOmpels US 10 submit to it now. The
reason is clear and simple. Production is
diminished, and, by the waste Of war, con-
sumption is increased. The war draws
the farmers sous from the pillow. and few
or acres are sownand smaller harvests are
reaped. The mechanic arts suffer in the
same proportion. Scarcely less than two
tifths Of our adult male population are now
devotlng all their time and energy to put
ting down the rebellion. Of these vast
number are in the field with our brave
generals, lurge part man our ships of
war, now counted by hundreds, and many
are in hospitals while those employed in
the navy yards, iron-works, machine
shops, and IN the manufacture of military
clothing and equipments, and in producing
munitions and supplies, swell the aggre-
gate to the limit we have named. This
great class OF producers cannot be with
drawn from their ordinary pursuits with
out great diminuition in the products Of
the country. When the supply is greatly
diminished. and the demand not only con-
tinued but increased, prices must advance.
There is no possible help for it. If we
could return to q specie basis tomorrow,
1t would still be war basis, at war prices.
There is but one exception to this adj
vance in prices, and that is the govern
ment bonds, and they are no exception to
the rule, and only follow the general law
OF supply and demand. The necessities Of
war have made them abundant, and there
tore they are cheap; but when the war
ends the supply will cease and they will be
be dear-and the man who invests in them
now is sure Of liberal profit.
A reduction OF the currency will be well,
and we have the official assurance of the
Secretary OF the Treasury that it is now
taking place, but it is not the infallible
panacea for financial disorder that many
suppose. Mr.. Cisco, the Assistant Treas
urer OF the United States at New York,
states that he has cancelled forty-one mill
lions Of interest bearing legal tenders
within two weeks, and that he now holds
thirty millions Of greenbacks-and yet
bread and butter, wheat and corn and cloth
are no cheaper.
The first cause Of the increased cost of
all commodities, gold included. is altogeth-
er outside of the currency. A redundent
currency increases the misfortune, but
does not create it. But suppose the govern.
ment does contract the currency; what is to
prevent the State banks, that give no security
for circulation, from Quadrupling their pa
per issues, as they have already done in
many parts of the country? What, then,
can be moro absurd than to make the
i Government or Treasury Department the
scape-goat for evils that are simply conse-
quent upon the most gigantic war the
world ever knew. If the body has fever,
its wants responsible for it's unnatural
condition?-N. Y. Examiner Of June 23d.
The Woechter am Erie, an influential
German paper published in Northern
Ohio. and which was favorable to the
Cleveland Convention, speaks Is follows:
4 The Fremont who wrote that letter
accepting the Cleveland nomination., over
which the copperhead press is rejoicing
does not appaar to US like the Fremont Of
1856 HOW can we recognize the
document as coming from one who has al
ways been leader of the radicals? Is it
not bid for the Chicago nominations, or
has the man become another?
Il A family by the name of Smith were
found by the health officers Of Brooklyn,
. few days ago, in most horrible condi-
ton. Lying upon bed in q most filthy
apartment, was q man who for four years
had been confined helpless to the house by
rheumatism. In the bed with him were
two children, both sick with smallpox
In an adjoining apartment, but little better
than dark closet, lay two more children,
respectively eight and ten years of age,
The only support Of the family was what
the mother earned by going out to days
work.
FAIRBANKS SCALRs.-About thirty-ive
years ago, the Messrs. Fairbanks invented
and began making platform Scales, which
effected q complete change in the manner
Of doing such business as requires weigh
ing, and without which it would be impOs-
sible to do the present immense amount of
business ia the country. Since then they
have given their constant personal atten-
ton to the business, making all such inn
provements and adding such notifications
as their experience has shown to be desir-
able. During this time many other kinds
less tried by the public, and mainly thrown
aside, while the business Of the Messrs.
Fairbanks has steadily increased from year
to year, their scales now standing higher
in public estimation, and their sales being
very much larger than ever before. This