Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-01-27

spects a worse condition of slavery
exists to-day. 1t is worse, because a
much larger number Of people are
eus.sved. Worse. because the slave
Of the present day has many mas
ters. Worse, because the masters
are becoming more numerous, pow
erful, avericious and exacting in the
tasks TO be performed. And worse,
because the slave bears his chains
more meekly from day to day. and
shows less disposition to throw them
of and assert his rights. Common
and skilled laborers, farmers and
mechanics are the slaves who now
suffer. Our masters are the middle
men generally, who stand between
the producer and consumer. AS
farmers and mechanics. have we not
willingly permitted the chains to he
forged, with which we are now
bounG? And does not the leading
cause of our wrongs lie ct our own
doors? Our fathers were farmers,
and they employed Cd or Sd rate
teachers for their children. When
the weather was favorahlesfor work
In the fields, they counted the time
of their sous lost, if spent in the
schonl-room. They argued that II
thorough, liberal education was an
necessary except for boys who in-
tended To become teachers, states
men, business or professional men.-
Very many of us have studied only
q few of the text books which are
used in our common schools and
none of those taught in high schools
or Acndamies. We have lahored
faithfully with cur hands but not
with our heads. When the truth il
told, we are unable to play the diff
felent parts of the great games of
the world. And too many of US are
r'ckiessly permit ny our children
to grow up as ignorant as their pa
rents. Our best educated men live
In the toms and cities. They APP
pre- slate the value of a good edura
tom, and having but little work for
their boys 10 DO, they compel them
TO attend school egularly where
only first class teachers are employ
ed. The difference between the eIu
cation and general training OF town
or city and country boys, cause the
one To look upon the other as inferior
TO him in mental culture, in II an
ners. In clothes, in fact beneath
him In every respect. Having been
brought up in idieness, the city
youth has learned to look upon labor
with rotempt. Aud he resolves that
bis polished brains and fiue manners
shall procure for him comfortable
living or fortune, AT the expense of
the producer. He determines that
he will be dry goods merchant as he
can buy all the goods which lie will
want, toy furnishing good references
a per cent. will be added TO the pri, t
of theg0ods on account of the credit,
The rent of The buildings which he
will occupy, will cost large sum
He must carry heavy insurance Oh
his goods. He must advertise them
in all the palers and 10y posters. He
must sell many of his goods on tim e,
and some of his custOmers will never
pay for them. He must buy costly
furniture and the richest and most
expensive clothes for himself and
family. But he will sell tn the farmer
ami mechanic at prices which will
make these items all right, and en-
able him in a short time to retire.
from business. The wholesale mel
chant. the grocer, the clothier, the
shoe dealer. the butcher. and in fact
oil classes Of business men follow in
the footsteps of the retail dry goods
merchant. They all mark iheir
wares tO the farmer and mechanic su
as 10 cover cost, all incidental ex-
Lenses, Losses and profit. Another
city youth may prefer to deal in
grain aud other farm products. He
enters The market with tive. ty Others
and they buy two thousand bushels
of wheat per day. Each buyer must
have II share of the wheat, although
one man could have handled all of il
Tie result is that the farmers are
Obliged u take less prize for their
wheat than its worth. that twent,
unnecessary n-pr"ducers and their
families may live in idleness. Bui
the Niliainy does not SOP here
Twenty other unnecessary non pro
ducers must he supported at the eX
pense Of the larmers. at other puiuIs
or tie roads over which their wheat
II carried 4" the consumer. ~ G
manufacturer makes a reaper that he
G. u a -eIt for SIS. or a spwiup m 3.
cline that lac could sell far $50. and
have IA fair profit; tut when he tig-
uIes mp his comm issions to genera!
agents 10 local agents. and his prnh.
able losses on account OF dishonest
sgents and Cuelomersw lln may prove
u"nhie L" pay. the price of each ma
chine IL doubled. Again, il is won
uerlui how much money is being
paid annually 10y farmers and Inc
chanics for pictures of Death on the
pale horse" or imcendiaries lurking
In the feuce corner. which have been
painted by MOI -prOducers in the ia
suIan"e business. " here there il
but little or no ri-k they paint death.
fire, thunder an'i lightning, ia glow.
coIors; but they luse all lheirartistic
Skill when case il presented 40
them where the Iisk is great. But il
Is u'elesS 10 attempt Il description {
the hundreds of other classes of nom
rrodncers who prey upon the earn.
ings OF the farmers and mechanics.
Honest middle men are necessary
and We could not PROSPER without
them. But it il not right that half
of the people of u State or country
should ee"u"mise aud toll from day
to da%; 10 feed, ciuthe and support
the either half in coin curative idle
ness. And Indeed il requires much
lneekneSs TO bear with men or wO
men whose n0str,is are SO easily Of
Tended at the smell of labor. or d.
vide our earnings with those who
look upon lis with contempt ami are