The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-29
NEW YoRK, Aug. %, 1856

70 the Editor Of tho woAkIEGHks's ADVOCATE
The wrong Of usury consists, il in any
thing, in giving man, and in mans re-
ceiying. more, when he has already too much,
according TO his natural right-as have
endeavored to show. That is, person ia
gaining nothing, IN receiving interest, that
be is making ar adequate return to labor for.
have tried 20 show that he has gone be-
yond bis natural sight in gaining his "Prin-
cipal"-itfollows be is going further beyond
it IN necessary interest on his principal.
Il was not his rincipal-because he has
made il BY circumventiOn, or BY keeping
others out OF sharing 10 his gains-by con
tinuing on in business beyond the time when
he has enough, OF in other WAYS. But il he
il not liable TO these charges, because OK the
room there is in the world, his will has
seemed to be good for il. But # this is not
true either, then dishonesty il not 50 com
mon a thing as we have generally thought il
to be, and Fay be destined to be still less
common when the world is filed up with
people
nave said il a man has done wrong ia
getting his principal that be has done wrong
in receiving his interest. But wrong some
times implies two parties 10 u, and those
who have given the rich man his principal
and VINO give him his interest, may have
done wrong By 81 doing. or il they DO IT,
TO themselves, to the man who j. The rtcipi
ent Of their favors, and t. societv.
4 Let Us now examine little further int
this mater Of usury. II man has workec
/ and earned $4,000 and j. pai1 that amount
| in what man principally works for food
I clothing, aud shelter-these things Will per
ish-so that when be has consumed then
all, he is poor man again. Or LEI hiT
work and lay up as much as be can in any
other commodity, NJ money, ana its mature
is to destroy by time. But let HIN CONVEX
these things, Of which he has a superilulty
into money, and he has got bis property int
a form that does not destroy. Tbs bragg
as to enquire what are the honest Junction.
Of wrongr What just principle Of endur
ance has money that beef, and potatoes, AM
buildings, of which the money is repr ssef.
tative, have notg
We will 20 further. Let usOry b. Is
tablishei upon this money, and property i
endowed with q permanent and seif-sIstain
ing form or value, $4,000 Of which (by III
interest upon it) will keep him in comforta
bic circumstances, and independent OF labor
all his life, and another person after him il
the same manner, and 80 on, through a.
time. Is here not some As they saw no
cus-pocusi some wrong, some grave inllst
ice. IL here not the principle OF oppression
Of the masses, and that which makes ali tn
UNEQUAL distinctions IN societyS Ii canno
be said that il il any greatness q mind Ira
makes these social distinctions As to wealth
: for the great ia mind are often our poor me
in the worlds goods. IL is not destrucubl
wealth that causes Il, Tor that would Keep
man at work, and in a reasonably humbl
frame az mind. Ii j. this indestructibilit
impaired to wealth by means Of money, an
furthrr) by means o. usury.
But tins emOlument from money il no
confined to the Individual who has II, wnIl
ii Il IN bis hands A hundred thousand do
lars NAV be divldei up into parts, anc eac
part put in the hands Of an individual, VIII
is without any special claims to the regar
Of society, rs we NAV. say, and II enable
him to become q rich mAn-pe- haps speedii
without labor, a. In speculation, or trad
&c.
But to make Usary, and even acqurin
the principles Of property, grave evil,
perhaps requires 10 b. shown that the 20
loouLd rise in a condition Of comfort #
we're not for these things. Il 4 enough
however, TO have shown Of have shown i
that the acquiring these in any large degre'
transcends a natural right Tue cons'
quences Of thus transcending natural rgt
in an individual can 10 the rest OF society
be only evil
A SAEKER AFTER Truth.
ITO be continued.