The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-13

essays with which the public press abounds and
In which the writer's display super1ciaity Of
knowledge and n crudity Of thought upon the
profound questions which they attempt to dis
cuss which are really painful TO contemplate.
They indicate that the problems Of political
economy, especially touching money and finance,
which we supposed had been settled so long ago
as the days OF Adam Smith, have no loGgmcnt
In the popular mind. which seems to have learn
ed nothing from books nor bv experience nor
by thought upon those subjects which 30 seri-
ously affect the welfare OF the people. Upon
those matters the most superficial and crudcst
notions seem to- prevail among the IN uses. aud
to such an extent as almost TO preclude the hope
Of correcting them. We viii cndcavor to en-
lirhtcu this lamcntablc ignorance 30 far as we
are ahle.
Our correspondent seems to think that the
present financial eubarrlssmonts Of the country
do not result from the exhaustion produced by
the sacrifices Of wealth and valuable life In the
late civil war, the diversion OF labor from pro-
ductve to unproductive pursuits, the deser. ion
OF the farms and workshops. the substitution
OF speculation for industry. and the extraya-
eance in public and personal expenditures, all
eliminating in an immense Indebtedness. public
and private, and imposing upon the people
burden, in the shape Of taxation and interest,
which IS crushing their very life out Of thom. "a
portrayed Ia an article lately published in the
sun, and written hy the gentleman alluded to
by cur correspondent; but they do result, IN his
opinion, from the amount ~ revenue collected
from the laboring masses, and divided among
the favored few OH eholjers. bondh elders.
Government contractors" sc.
Has our correspondent any remedy for this
state Of things? What is bis plan for getting
rid OF the ofliceholders, bondholders. Govern
mo s..f,tr r..
PIE, abolish them-wipe them on; Of existence
The remedy would be impossible and absurd.
But reform Is possible. II Is possible to reduce
the number and the salaries Of the oficehod-
err To pay OF the bondholders. and get rid n
them 10 have as ii,tle use for Government con-
tractors es possible; TO suppress the Credit Mu-
bllier Rings and other thieves, ana bring them
To Justice to reduce tho expenses of Govern
ment, and conscqucutlythe amount Of taxation
Ana ms reform is with the people. Are they
equal To ~ The test Of their ability will be
seen In their political action for the present and
coming rs. The first step in the great re-
form Is t. get rid OF Grantism. Then the other
measures 81 reform come a. matter Of course
"Hint-m out OF the way, what should tho
people DO To avert or mitigate the evils under
Whlch theY now sunerf fir-t, they should re-
FORM the national Government; make 1t simple,
holders and en-, down ,bctr s,t,-to, h.t,,
win tnose ~ ia. pres,,,.,, 49,, ,,'o.,
Concress. rc,lrc. tho .v,o,,t,,,ro. -, ,i..''
md navy. and of ali hrancb.. - a., ,.,,,t,,
service. m short. Introduce eco,,o,n,a,,h o.,
rality evervwherc. Ana this rof,rr, hi. 49,,
be confined ia ,bo national Coror,,.,,,, =,
should pefvsdo tho stat, and r,,,ri.i,,,, Go
ments. |, -hotil1 roach tho reor,io thor,.o,,,.
They should retrcoch In ths,~ nsrso,,I .vr,,,,,.,
Ihey should engage IN productiye indu.tr,e.
Thoy should consent 10 be taxed only for lin, mo-
ccssarv watts of the Government. Tbov sho,,ld
not pe dupod into having i've dollars hunt, =,
the protected classes, while they nav one dollar
into the national Treasury, which they are now
doing under the present tariff They should insist
upon tarG for revenue only. And they should
vote for sound currency made up Of gold ana
silver aud paper redcemable IN specie ON de-
mand.
Bat to this last proposition our CORES 7ondeut
objects. being n Democrat who received
thirteen dollars N 'greenbaclSs per month for
services in the army" he cannot "unders, and
why a legal tender, unredeemed, is any moro
rag money than nm unpaid Government bond"
Our correspondent seems TO have but very
little idea Of the real character OF money its