Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-04-16
Our Sad Condition !

our Sad Condition
While demagogues are endeavoring to
excite labor against capital, by the cry OF
aard times. aud while their organs play
the same tune, it is refreshing TO occa-
sionally turn from this sentimental
bslderdash, and look at facts. The Lew
i,tou Journal is doing a good work in
collecting figures and truths, which,
sQuirm as they will, these trothy grinders
can neither masticste nor spew out.
Recently the Journal interviewed
some Lewiston tradesmen, and elected
he following information. As in Lewis
ton, 50 10 other parts OF the State. and 10
sl parts OF the country, interviews OF
his character would produce similar
statement. First the reporter naturally
goes 10 a grocery store, where the neceS-
sgics Of life must be procured by all non
producers. Here is what trsnspired be
tween them:
Yes, said one OF our eldest grocery
men 10 our reporter the other day, 1--WE
have seen hard times in Lewiston tor 8
few. Years. but think We have suffered
less than most cities. Wages have ia!leu
con iierably. but goods have fallen IL
lust ABOUT he same degree just you
.ook hUrc. hired a man ten or twelve
years ago 90 do some worS tot me. and
paid hlm = per day. He came 20 my
,.u-e IN Lewiston and paid me twenty
wu cents. a pound Tor su. ~ and forty
ave c.rts a pound tor butter. Now pay
the same man a dollar day, and h. pays
,ae ten cents pound Tor sugsr, and
tNcotS-eIgh, cents q pound Tor butter.
Let u see how much worse OF he Is to-
tsv on 81 ban he was on -. Two dol
ars. tvrive wears ago. would have
bought two pounds of butter and three
aud oue-hai pounds OF sugar. To-day,
one dollar vii buy two pounds OF butter
and tx ard ooe-hait pounds OF sugar.
VERY true, said the reporter. "1u'
h,w ABOUT Other products p
Why. l..I sold gom 20 to IS cea,s 81
pO-.d no iudatilu lin G.. PAID Il cents
p1urt iar round hogs; nov they are
rar.h 9 ceu,s-s decline OF over seventy
ler cent. Flour now sellsa = hat used
.Y ST.. ~ SIj 10 so - We used 20 sell a
good dts. of Havana brown sugar, which
cane IN large boxes and was ground 10
.i. stores We used 90 calculate there
yos 81 gam of II pound, In weight. but
.atse sugars don't come here nov.
haven't seen a box OF 70 tor Tour or i've
wears. Tes aud coffee, twelve years ago,
were or three times higher than nov;
potatoes sold a. 81. One man who held
his uJt,er Tor 80 cents was surprised 10
read IN the Journal lba. Lees army was
captured. and he had 10 sell for 25c.
Then YOU think that 81 day to-day
is as good ~ = "a day twelve years ago
Certainly. sir. Figures, ike blood,
wil toll. aud YOU can figure T. up Tor
Yourself In buying most things you
viii ind - VII. buy more than = used
TO-"
Atey food, comes rAiment, and the dry
goods trade reports as follows:
Vow please tell Us how much two
dollars would have bought in this store,
,ve.ye yesrs ago
The merchant digs out his old day-book
and finds a book. ten and halt years
old, and he reads the charges As follows:
Heres print cloth, l2c a yard, (now
4c;) calico 20c yard, (now 6c;) pophn
$50 (now 5Oc;) Jeans SOC, (uow y -
CTS , wooden shawls SIS. (now 500
cam1ric l6c, (now 50 gipgham S2c,
cu5a lOc3 "A cotton 42c, (now l9 Co.
Carpet, we're double The present price.
Daring the vag..I sold q cotton a, 45c that
now ,clI for SC. Aipaccas sold for 81 30
thst now sell tor soc. Silks were three
or four times higher than now. | sold
SI.25 ticking that now sell tor GOO. !
remember | sold for S2.S5 . shifting
flannel which now sells 81 Soc Ordinary
dress goods tina. now sell 81 25c, sold Al
81 10 7jc. l sold prints At oue tiUo rs
ni.h a. $50 . ward, and douh'e-width
saeetings for 81 so that can nov sell al
II 10 25c. Linens and woOlens were
thrice A. high - now.
well. To come back to the question.
suppose | earned = q day, Twelve years
ago. how much print and prin cloth
could pei for my money!?
al could have sold sou ss follows:
Us. Merrimac pr.1;, sl40
b yds- print cloth go
600
"Bu, now get but 81 day. Sup
pose | come in here with my 81 tor the
81 me articles; how much can | ge' for
lie money
Il see what you are after, replies the
merchant. Here is what can 10 for you
81 yls. best print, 81
B yls. best print cloth, 20
9Io0
Then my 81 to-day will buy me more
0y . - yds OF best print than nv =
would, eleven and halt wears ago.
Yes. replied the merchant. land the
decline all around in my business is in
shout the same degree
Now, what DO these figures show
Simply that the talk about hard times
and oppressed labor, in this section is
nonsense. Men do not handle 80 much
money /, is true, but if one dollar pays
for more than two did. before she war.
where's the dif.
Inc journal IS entitled 10 great credi,
tor rs enterprise. and the persistence with
which il combats this greenback COM
rr---s--..- L