The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-28
atheelimg Register.
American Abscpteeisrn.

The exhorbitant cost of living in this
country, result attributable largely to
the continued aseendency of the Radi-
cal party, is compelling largenumbers
of our citizens to seek residence in
other lands. Persons whose incomes
are fixed and uniform find that they
cannot, rs heretofore, subsist upon the
returns from their investments. Fami-
" expenses of every kind have gone
upward with terrible rapidity and to
such a height that what was for
merly handsome competence now
scarcely affords a support. Food,
clothing, and other necessaries for
which loyalty is but poor sub
substitute aud with which even 'the
unconditional Union man" cannot very
readily dispense, can only be procured
at prices that are horribly suggestive
of general starvation or impending
national nakedness. House rent is
another item in the catalogue of
domestic economy which can only be
estimated by those who are thoroughly
conversant with the upper ranges of
the multiplication table. The cost of
educating children is still another item,
which has expanded fearfully and Won
derfully under the manipulations of
the political jugglers who for the last
dozen years have governed and gutted
this great and glorious republic. These
are pertinent and practical considera-
tions which men cannot possibly over
look because they are constantly
self-suggesting. A man might rs
well attempt to ignore an aggravated
case of gout that condenses the tortures
of Tartarus and applies them to his
great toe, as disregard the pangs and
twinges of pecuniary disorder that
disturb the peace of sensitive pocket
nerves and sweep with savage touch
the whole diapason of financial
chords and fibres. Such rude and ruth
less influences cannot be despised, and
will not he mocked. To greater or
less extent they affect all classes of
society; in some degree they operate
upon every vocation in life.
But as the 4ge puts it, especially will
the retired merchant, or manufacturer,
or banker, who has safely invested from
one to one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. find that the interest of that
sum will not allow him to live in his
usual style. If he has arrived at a Pc
riod Of life sshsn to begin businessmen
would promise nothing save disaster, the
only avenue of escape is to seek some
locality whoro given sum Of money
will purchase more than it will in this
country. In many portions of Europe
the luXuries rs we'll as the necessities
of life can be procured ut cost
OF about one-half the price they
command in the United States. Food
is cheaper; clothing can be had at
largely reduced rates, and the rent of
dwellings or apartments is merely
nominal when compared with those we
have named. 4
From consular information it is GER
tain that there are at no time less than
Twenty-Five thousand Americans resid-
ing abroad, and from present appearan-
ces, this system. of voluntary exile is
likely to become much more general in
future.p
The vast quantity of letters addressed
10 'uur Continental cOnsuls from all
parts of the Gpited States, for the pur-
pose of obtaining information as to the
cost of living abroad, affords evidence
that many more think of escaping from
the land of high prices and emigrating
TO Europe for longer or shorter peri
od. This withdrawal of population can
only he prevented by inaugurating sys-
tenn under which the prices of articles
will be brought somewhere near their old
mark. To do this, the nation needs re-
pose FROM sectional agitation, and the
admission of the now unrepresented
States in their old places in the Union.
The products of the Southern States are
now merely nominal, the debt of the
natiea is immense, and the currency
inflated to meet the demands of the
times and occasion. So long as this
state of affairs continues, prices will re-
main high. and trade, commerce, and
business will be affected in disastrous
manner. If we would not force q sys-
tenn Of absenteeism upon this nation
like that which has cursed and desolat-
ed other lands, the wild spirit Of fanat-
icism which now rules the country must
be Febuked, and such policy adopted,
and such Laws passed, as will offer in
ducements and render it possible for all
Americans to remain in the land of their
birth.