Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-10-28
The Price of Living.

1t is our opinion that never 10 the history
of this country was it as difficult for the mas
ses of the people to make both ends meet, on
the great question of living, as at present.
1t is true that the wages Of labor and salaries
have, to some extent, advanced, but bear no
proportion to the stupendous increase in the
price OF all kinds Of necessaries--of rent, OF
food, Of fuel, of provisions, of groceries, and
dry goods. 1t is only by dint of the closest
economy, and by the denial OF articles that
were formerly considered essential, and the
deprivation of which is felt as u grea: hard
ship, that the wolf Of penury can be kept
from the doors OF the masses. Meat, tea and
coffee have now taken the place as luxuries
to millions who formerly regarded them as
part necessaries. Money goes but little way
in the market-house and in the dry-goods
store. As TO rents in all the large cities and
towns OF the country, they are simply nom
strous, Where to find shelter and rsimeut
for our overcrowded population has become
fearful question, While it is daily becom.
ing more difficult for the masses to find the
means of existence, the wealthy never found
1t so easy to be extravsgant as now. Our
h1ctuating paper currency gives them the op.
portunity to embark in speculations and in
adventures almost certain to be lucky, by
which they accumulate their thousands and
miliions of dollars, Their property, invested
in bonds, is exempt from taxation, and the
whole burden of supporting the State and To-
cal governments, ia ligntened from their
shou' 'ders and transferred to those of the las
boring poor. Daily is the chssm between
wealth and poverty becoming moro and more
marked The tendency OF the times, and the
policy OF those in power, ia to make the rich
richer, and the poor poorer.
The contrast between the wealthy md sbod.
dy aristocracy and those in INDECENT clrcum-
stances, clearly rivals, if it does not excel,
that to be seen in the Oldest and proudest OF
the European capitals. To the few, the war
has really been harvest of gold while TO the
many it has brought tears of mockinR penury
and misery.
Wendell Phillips long ago declared that the
lsboring man would hereafter have to work
two hours moro each day, in consequence of
the changes OF the war, and even with that
extrs, he has to content himself with far
inferior living, He told us, too, that we shal
never again see the old former republic into
which we we're born. These sayings are prep-
nant with truth, and they show that those who
produced the present state of things were
aware in advance of what would be the resul,
Of their exertions
One great cause Of the frightful expense of
living and its attendant evils, is the enormous
taxation to which the people are subjected,
and which now exceeds probably any thing
ever known in modern times. The ia xes are
upon every thing tangible or intangible iu
embryo, or in being They are direct and in
direct 1t lie safe to say that the taxes increase
the cost of living at least one-quarter. OF
the three dollars which the mechanic receives
for his days wages, about seventy-fye cents
goes in some form to the tax-gatherer. Is il
any wonder that when such immense sums az
four or 6ve hundred millions year are wrest.
ed from the people, that it is hard to make the
credit balance the debtors side of the ac-
count.
While the times are thus oppressive to the
poor--to those With fixed salaries and limited
means-we hear from successful Shoddy that
they were never so good before. He can af-
ford to buy jewels and laees of the most ex-
pen6ve character, while the lsborer is pinch
ed to find the means for his rent, his fuel. his
neat and his bread. - Cincinnati Enquirer.