The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-12-05

lures. l see decrease of marriages
and decrease of the birth rate in
my own state. A less proportion of
children are born and a less proper
ton Q. men go into wedlOck, and that
IS the surest test Of the prosperity Of
Il country. But let this resumption
matter fail, and the question of bust
ness prosperity will be tested very
shortly. Mills are shutting down with
us. and wages are being reduced. If
there is any very great increase of
shipping in New York. or if the
signs Ito let" are not quite SO numer-
Gus on Broadway, am not aware OF
| the fact.
Reporter--Is there not a less per-
centage Of failures!
General Butler--Because men can.
not get discharges. When the bank
rupt law was in existence,a man could
get discharge if he failed, but now
lie cannot. There is no way for the
creditor to cause the failure of the
debtor, and there is no way for the
debtor to gain anything by failing.
But the percentage OF people who
commit suicide anu cut their threats
because of business depression keeps
up, | notice. l would advise the
Tribune to make st Of the an
nouncements Of that sort for the last
SIX months or Il year. and see how the
percentage runs. 1t might give an
amusement for some OF tneir report.
erS now, since they have got through
declp!iering those dispatches.
WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO RE
GAIN PROSPERITY.
Reporter--We to return to the
prosperity of the country. what do you
think the needs are for prosperity
anything best, Il sufficient currency!
General Butler Yes. There are
plenty of.needs. The question olicur.
rency must be SO adjusted that men
will know that everything they buy
and every enterprise they start will
not be on Il falling market, rs it has
been for years past. They must know
that values will he enhanced in the
future, instead of diminished, or else
they won't undertake 10 deal in any
property. They must know that IN
the future the volume of money must
be increased to meet the wants OF
the people. Or else they wont go into
any enterprises. There must also be
some means devised by which the in-
come received from bonds, whether
United States or not, shall not seek
investment Of that form in order to
escape taxation. Otherwise I'LL prop
erty will seek investment of that
form in order TO escape taxation, and
not 60 into business where it would
be open to taxation. Then it is the
paramount duty of the United States
to afford instant temporary relief to
the laborny man by pushing I'LL its
public works, which tley find it nee.
esSary and proper to construct, with
the utmost visoy. and then provide in
the future for the means Of settling
the workingmen upon the western
lands and getting them out OF the
cities, SO as to give room for all to
work that are left When those
things are done we shall have good
times, provided we get sufficiently
scorched by the failure OF the re-
sumption experiment not to burn our
fingers with 1T again.
Rerorter-DO you think there is
any hope Of breaking up the solid
south in politics?
General Butler--Not in favor Of the
Republican party, SO they will get
amy advantage. Hayes sold out all
that for the sake of getting counted
iii, and that has gore.
Reporter--Is there any chance Of
breaking it up in favor Of the Green.
back partyi
General Butler-AbOutt tina. we can.
not tell. AS the Greenback party has
elected six representatives in con.
lgress from the south and the Repub-
lican party has elected only one.
think our chances look rs hopeful as
the Republican chances, 50 far rs we
have gone.
Reportef--Is there anything you
have 10 say or want t. say in reply to
Collector Beard attack ON you, pub
lIsbed Sunday morning!
General Butler--On. no. lie is
simply slol,-sliop dealer, who has
failed twice, aud paid 80 cents on the
dollar, and WAS picked up Ivy Hayes
and put into the CDIlectorsliip Of Bos-
ton. lie isof no consequence. lie is
like the fly in the piece Of amber.
Such flies ttre common enough; the
only wonder is how the devil that one
ever got there.