The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-07
nfddlcmcm are indispensable.

July 6, 1879.
Mfddgemcm are Indispensable.
(From the New Orleans Builetin.l |
Its only in O primitive state OF develop
ment that producers make direct eAehanse
OF their products. In baroarous eo.usa1e
we know that the savage woo mas katntleu
q calabash full Of berries VIII exchange
part for fish, a part Tor an arroW.heau' anu
!, ,,a - tor n p,ass ornament. The more close
~ aboriginal untaught asd lazy barbarism
country is. the more nearly will its CONNER
c;,I system approach to simple barter be-
tween those who exchange surplus Of what
they have for something else which they Ge-
sire for immediate personal use.
AS society develops certain members OF the
savage horde will remember that sundry
things are always wanted, and they will
readily buy them because they know that
although they cannot consume or use Them,
they can always exchange them for something
else which they may need. AS soon as the
barbarian buys with his products what ne
docs not need for his own use, in anticipation
of demand BIZ others, lie becomes merchant,
and step has been taken towards ciViiiza-
ton.
In centuries ideas ripen and develop.
Those who find certain products OF Inc
waters, lands, and forests always in demand
will give their care and labor to the produc.
ton of such articles, being always sure that
they can exchange them for whatever else
they may need. Others gee that soon or late
there is demand for everything which they
can lay up in their storehouses. The pro.
ducers get out Of the habit OF looking OUT
for others who have more than they neea oI
certain products, and all find Ito be 10 tleil
interests to put their wares and produces inIo
a common DEF O., dra wing thence an equiva-
lent in things which they may require ioi
subsistence, comfort, convenience, or luxury.
Advancing still another step, the redeemed
Savage finds commodity which is always IN
demand, and when he has q surplus OF fruits,
fish. game, hides, or other products, he takes
i'm exchange this universally. wanted commo-
dity, which he knows he can ut any moment
exchange for anything he may desire.
Still further along DE discovers metallic
substance which is very precious ana very
scarce. 1t is very useful and very desirable
for ornamcntation. If he has it he can cX-
change it for anything be wants TO wear, or
eat. or use. Any surplus product lie may
have he is willing to exchange for this metal,
since with it he can again procure by eX-
change at any time any thing which be may
need.
Iuis precious metal becomes an exceed
iucly important agent in exchanges, super
seding direct barter, establishing relative
values, and creating necessity for the inter-
mrdiary class found in all countries not alb
soutcly barbarous. Perhaps there were
merchants before there was money. Per
haps property was gathered and stored IN
large quantities, and parcelled out in eX.
changes long before there was medium Of
exchange and a monetary measure OF
values, but merchants as distinct class
were Of necessity the contemporaries Of
money as q representation OF values.
In the modern, refined, elaborate, complex
system of commerce the original element
still subsists, the merchant being the indis-
pcnsablc middlcman between buyer and
Seller, producer and consumer.
There is at this time very great outcry
made against middlcmen, or those who are
neither producers of the raw material, nor
curriers', nor manufacturers, nor consumers,
but who handle the produce and the articles
made FROM if. Between the farmer who
raises and prepares grain for market and the
merchant who returns to him the proceeds
in the form of foreign goods, there are nu'
mcrous middlcmcn, TO each one OF whom a
considerable profit, or commission, or DO.
nus, or fee, or charge, must be paid. 1t Is
against these costs Of exchanging our sur
plus products for such foreign wares Us We
need that very active revolt and rebellion
is now being waged. Every eXpedicnt is
tried to dispense with merchants in the in.
terchange of products and wares.
1t is not because our lot has been cast in
q commercial city, nor yet because We hold
merchants, as 4 class, in honorable esteem.
that we are disposed to treat the most Of
these complaints against mlGicmcp, the
agents who effect exchanges, or merchants,
as untounacd. If the wheat OF Illinois must
be eaten in Germany and be paid for III Ger
nun cloths, the grower has no right to tx.
pect the same benefit as il the cloths were
made and the wheat consumed within Il mile
Of his farm. His wheat must be bought by
one who has capital, and who by right must
be Icid for the use of his capital. 1t must
be carried to the scaboard by Il company rich
enough 10 own railroad or steamboat,
who naturally and justly expect 10 be paid
for their services and for the use Of their
capital.
At the home port it must be bought and
shipped by some one who has capital to IN
vest, and who must be paid for his trouble,
his risk, and the use of bis money. Ii re-
quires other owners and more capital TO set
it across the Atlantic, and when 1t reaches
with capital to buy and sell 1t. The yalue Is
invested in goods ut the foreign manpiactu,
rers', which must pass through similar ana
even worse process before they come pack TO
the hands OF the farmer.
All this the producer knows. lie may
kick against the prieks to ms hearGs con-
tent, but by no exertion, individual or asso,
cialed. can he materially lessen these costs Of
converting bis own labor into The products
of the labor of the foreign artisan. He can
not get rid of the intermediate agencies OF
exchange, and any other agency which lie
may attempt to substitute for that which cx.
lists will end in disappointment. The great
principle of competition is perpetually al
work 10 reduce the expense Of exchanges Of
merchandise. Those who can buy, carry,
sell and insure at the lowest rates are sure to
get the most to do; therefore, all are trying
to do these things ut low figures.
BOsWeIrS LOve-Makins.