The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-09-07

Already. aS we have shown, 1000 ana
clothing have on the average gone back
TO ante-war prices, and rs compared
with 20 years ago the wages Of labor are
higher than the cost Of victual and raj
ment. Still. 1t is undoubtedly true that
working people are not as rule doing
rs well now rs then, and are neither
contented nor saving so much money.
Aside from the temporary distress 81 the
want Of employment by large classes,
the increased difficulty of this genera
ton over the former in making both
ends meet lies in the pregnant fact that
every body Is living better now than
then--that the entire range of society
has experienced m increase Of wants
and necessities in the way Of comforts
that in brief the whole scale Of living
has greatly advanced.
No family that can 90 back 25 years
and makAa contrast Of its habits then
and at Present will fail to be almost
startled with the changes in these re-
spects. A greater variety Of food, a
greater variety Of clothing, a greater
variety Of amusements, and larger
means Of education, are in order-the
whole scale Of social civilization and
habit has been pushed forward into new
domains. No study either Of the labor
or of the social question Is intelligent,
that does not make chief account Of this
revolution. No analysis Of the wage
question can stand that does not recog-
nize both the fact Of its existence and
the necessity Of its continuance.
This increase in the comforts Of OK
istence is the gift Of machinery and the
great agencies of communication, IN
cheapening production and multiplying
the means Of grace to body and mind
What were luxur.cs a quarter Of cen
tury ago are practical necessities now.
Conveniences and indulgences then
rarely attainable or totally unknown
have become part Of our essential daily
comfort; and we can NOT put back the
elements of life to the old standards, and
we should not try 10. We can study
and teach how 10 get the most Of all our
new blessings at the lowest possible
cost And this Is not only the philan-
thropy, but the necessity, OF our day.
The great production in amount and
variety Of American soil and American
industry this year is to furnish an inn
portant contribution to this question.
Constantly as we have been all dwelling
on the great crops for the last two
months, few Of us fairly realize how
large they are, and how greatly they are
to affect the pressing questions Of our
individual and national distresses. IL
is not simply that this has been good
year for wheat, or for cotton, or for
n Il
year for every thing in the way Of food
for man and beast. Not simply or
chiefly a year Of increased acreage, but
year Of remarkably increased produc-
ton per acre. Never SO many bushels
of wheat, or rye, or corn, or potatoes TO
the acre, as well AS never so many acres
cultivated.
These things are certainly most re-
assuring. They at least furnish the
means and foundation for a pathway
out Of our troubles. They will help to
solve the distresscs Of labor; they will
also help 10 dissolve the distresses Of
debt; they will make the way easy, BY
heavy foreign balance, 10 the adjust
ment Of our national currencyquestion-
and this with the rest will restore that
confidence still one Of the essentials Of
renewed activity in many branches Of
business. to the renewed diyersiiication
Of the Offices Of labor and capital alike.
But with all these gifts and helps, we
need as well still to obey the lessons Of
economy. Of honesty and simplicity. II
we would adjust ourselves to our new
opportunities and to our advanced civil
zation. we must obey strictly the laws
by which the one exists and the other
advances; and, while grateful 70 God
that lie has given the Increase. prove
that we are capable Of its exercise and
Improvement