The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-27
WHAT Is MONEY i..No. L.
BIT WIN. h. sYLYIs.

9uently asked, especially by working men,
and 50 manv different answers have been Civ
en- all based upOo the iiea that gold is the
only material out of which money can be
made, that have determined to add one
more answer to the long list
IN taking up this question, do not ex-
pect TO present any new idea, or to say any.
thing new. Ny only object is to present
the matter in q plain common sense light,
and in doing so | shall use such arguments
and illustrations as will be easily under
stood by every one who reads. What
nave to say Will be the plain words of a
workingman addressed to vorkingmen.
Money made Of gold is monarchical aod
Aristocratic institution. Kings adopted il a.
a sure means Of keeping the people in suD-
lection, by taking from them all power to
control, or in any way interfere with the
curEency. Princes and mobiles were created
SPECIAL privileges we're bestowed upon a
few; these lew were rich and were Of course
interested'n maintaining the kings money.
Thus the king. with bis well fed few, sue
ceeced in robbing the masses, keeping them
poor, igno rant and wholly dependent.
WHEN CUP ancestors ran awsy rom Ea-
rope to esckpe religious psrsedntion, they
came. here a3d set up for themsf GIVES; unfor-
runAtely fof Us they did not leave behind
them their pr,judices and false notions o.
many Of he most vital points IN the science
Of government.
Reared amid the hardships and dangers OF
new contInent-separsted from tie ''par-
ent government" BY great ocean--thrown
upon their own resources, they learned les
sons Of self reliance a. d ideas Of self govern
ment, that served them well when the strug-
gle for Independence came, and for the
change in civil government about to take
place. 1t was left fo- them to present to
the world, for the first time, a self formed
government, whose basis was the equal
r lights Of man, civil equality, and common
privileges, and whose end was to be the
general prosperity, virtue anc happiness Of
the people. Independence gained, it was
natural that joy and satisfaction should be
inspired, upon having escaped some Of the
expressions Of European y stems, without
feeling much curiosity 10 ascertain, whether
the new government was actually 50 fund
ed as to secure the happiness efthe ~ my,
instead Of miHlssering TO the 6eneht 'he
L. - e.
siderable experience, and after that class,
out Of which came bankers, brokers, bond
holders, usUrers and other plunderers Of Ia
Dor, had time to 6n1 out, and AXE advan-
tsge of the weak places in Cur system Of
government.
This point was soon reached, and then
began that scramble for wealth and power
that has resulted in creating among us a
monied aristocracy that Is fast sapping the
foundation Of our government, and destroy
ing the liberties Of the people.
1t is true that compared With the wretch
ed population of despotic Europe and Asia,
the people Of this c, untry, even under ex-
Isting unjust relations Of man to man, en-
Joy many things not common to the people
Of other countries. But comparative supe-
rIority may still be condition fraught with
ouch misery 20 the human family, aud not
less Tefugnant to benevolence, then revolt
ing to justice. Even in Europe and Asia, this
superiority forlas the boast of one nation
over an another, throughout the long con
tinued chain Of comparative wretchedness,
among the great mass of the population.
We might run without end through a
scale OF comparative ply sicai misery ana
enjoyment, aud corresponding moral dignity
OF degradation, aud never attain a principle
o. justice, TO reconcile ourselves 70 wrong
and oppressive system from such examples.
The question ID not, what people endure
The least misery; but which enjoy the most
happiness and real comfort aud having
found that point, We are irresistibly forced
70 another, based upon the suscepub Iity OF
the social compact 10 yield the full amount
Ut happiness TO the mass Of the people, aud
% enquire into the reason, why this object
Is nos accomplished BY our institutions, when
it has bern 50 bcuntilully provided for by
Paternal Providence.
The slightest observation will satisfy the
most obstinate p'nd, that nature has aban-
dainty Supplied the industry Of man with
the means Of universal coDfort. We be-
held it M every form OF luxury--every OBJ
jet CT magnifcence--every refinement Of
pleasure--every waste Of riot and sensual,sy
every monument Of pride-every display
Of vanity-every gorgeous decoration oil
wealth, power and ambition. We behold
the proof Ia the Icidiy millionaire, tortured |
on bis sick couch BY sgonies OF rspIssiou,
while the taawer faDishes q, his doar. We
behold it 40 the luxurious capitalist, swell
ing with q pride of pampered opalencs,
while the hearts Of those Fho laborsd 20
prodace bis wealth, shivsr and faiat with