National Republican., 1877-08-15
now TO INVEST MONEY.

country will cause great distrust in the
minds Of capitalists as to the propriety OF
making Investments which will hereafter
be constantly threatened with practical
eonfscation by laws 10 regulate the price OF
labor and other uuwise legislation. Capital
will naturally avoid all employments in
which it would have to wage perpetual
war for sclf-preservation. The spirit which
now prevails in all manufacturing and
mineral regions will inevitably deter people
from investing any money in enterprises
exposed to such great perils.
Under such circumstances persons who
have surplus money will inquire with great
anxiety and caution rs to how and where
Investments can be made which would be
aSs and reasonably profitable. In the
present condition Of the country We know
of no better investment than the purchase
If farm lands, which are now both ahun-
dant and cheap.
II is not necessary to 90 West for the pur-
pose of buying such lands. They can be
had in all the Eastern States In Maryland
and Virginia in particular there are enor-
nous quantities Of lands in the market for
pale. Although not 80 fertile ;s thrse in the
Western States, they can, nevertheless he
rendered exceedingly productive by the use
Of fertilizers, and their proximity 10 good
markets will always insure farmers good re-
wards for their labor. Now that the State
of Virginia has decided to faithfully pay
her public debts, the Inducements for per
sons to settle in that State are very great.
Public morality IN sound the society is
good, the climate is unsurpassed, and when
the agriculture OF the State is developed rs
IL should be it will in many respects rcsem-
bic Old England in general features of land-
scape, as well as in the conscrN atism OF its
inhabitants.
Men in our cities who have money and
who wish to settle their children well in
life can do no better than to buy them es-
tatcs in State like Virginia We need an
increase in the number Of our steady, in-
telliyent well-to-io land owncrs We need
10 make rural life more highly esteemed
than il is now. In no way can the binetul
influence Of the communstic ideas be so
well counteracted as by increasing the
weight and ascendancy of the agricultural
elasa This end t7,n he best reached by
inducing the capitalists to turn their atteu-
ton 10 the advantages Of investing their
Roney in country property.
Although the returns from landed prop
erty may not temporarily be 50 great as
those often received from factories and
mines, yet in the end the average profits
for n long series of years will he more than
equivalent. Those who have acquired
property are generally desirous Of preserving
Il for the benefit of their families. In no
way can the stability OF fortunes be better
secured than by making IL matter Of fun
lily pride tn preserve aud transmit landed
estates from one generation to another
Nor can there he any objection to such =
policy as long A. it is regulated, not by
laws of entail, but by the voluntary action
of the property owners themselves.
We greatly need in America a little mor'
forethought as to the management of prop
ierty While our present policy builds NJ
many enormous fortunes, they are prOverb
sally evaneseent- The children, "a a rule
,spend in extravaganee and dissipation wha
tthe fathers gained by economy and pru
sacnce. IL would he better to have fewe
.such overyrown and feeting fortunes, an
70 substitute in lieu thereof more m0derat
Ind stable estates. The process Of scatter
s,ng fortunes by folly and vice, which is cor
'stantly going on in all parts Of the country
Soontributcs not little to the demoraliza
Zion Of society in this country.
2 Another consideration OF no small in
eportance Is that rural life is measuTabl
free from the temptations and vices whic
corrupt the morality Of cities. Public an
sprivate virtue being indisputable to III
success Of republican government, it
important that every possible agency sboul
he employed to encourage 1t, In no wa
te.ln this be done 30 well rs by increasin
ythe attractiveness and magnifying the dip
nifty of rural life. Thus patriotism as we
,as sell-intcrest should induce men who ha,
smoncy to invest to use 1t for the improve
tment and encouragement Of the agriculture
snterests of the nation. Especially is th
{ rue with regard 10 those who have none
(which they wish to use for giving the
children Il start in the world. Merci,nti
business, always uncertain, Is now more 5
1than ever. Manufacturing and mining, u
ways hazardous, are now threatened wit
thew perils by unwise legislation and con
Imunis,ic ideas.
While agriculture thus invites capitalist
1t likewise presents no less attractions
.aborers. 1t offers them the advantage
'chGap rents, abundance of good food ineI
srensive clothing, pure air and good healt
But the greatest blessing which the cou
try cOuieS upon the lahorer lis thai the
he ssin rear his children to habits Of indu
try and virtue In almost every locali
they can enjoy the advantages Of go
scho0ls. Thus while town life exposes I
children of laborers to peril from i'll heat
immomlity and idleness, the country afior
them an opportunity to develop into mol
and useful men. The biographies Of I
men who have made the moral, useful n
distinguished citizens of this Republic sh
that large portion OF them were the 81
OF luboring men in the rural districts.
Another important consideration for lab
ers is that owing togreatar simplicity in
habits of country people the expenses of q
class of people are much less than those
any other. II is that very simplicity VIII
develops the best and truest traits of IN
hood. For example, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
his youthful days never enjoyed one hal
the comforts Of clothing and the luxuriei
food which the most ordinary laborers 4
regard SO indispensable for their child
But his soul was not cramped by town WI
or corrupted by town vices, and, theref
through communion with nature, In
free air and glorious surrounding OF n
life, he gained that breadth OF mind
strength of morals which made him on
the most eminent statesmen our Repu
has produced.
HOW TO MAKE BOTH ENDS NEE
One Of the most important lessons wi