Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-30

We are working towards the light, ana 4
C. W. w. is helping the progress by his
admirable and diSplssionate articles. We
all of US need 10 get at the actual facts, |
and those of us who do not have them, or
have no access to the sources and deposit |
tories of them, think and write at Il great
disadvantage, and are liable to fall into
serious errors.
Such is my case. perhaps, in regard to
contraction. | live on country farm,
with no access to books Of statistics. ex
cept an occasional one that have bought
or received from considerable congress
man. | have read the papers carefully,
however. and from reading them (the
daily commercial papers, mean, not
such papers as Shupes ADVOCATE, of which
have seen two copies only), have gath
cred the impression and belief that there
has been great contraction of the cur
rency since the war. 1t was certainly
urged as an irrefragable argument that
nothing but a contraction of our greatly
expanded currency would ever bring it to
par with coin. We were told that the
amount of paper money was entirely too
great for the business of the country, and
that the superabundance was the sole
cause of its depreciation. We were also
told that the government was contracting
it as fast as possible. Those who were OPP
posed to contraction made great cutlery
about it, and their opponents charged
them with dishonest purposes in their OPP
position. The country was IN commotiOn,
one side favoring (and being in power.
rs | supposed. EMERGENCY contraction, the
other fighting it, and denouncing what
were supposed to be acts to that end. No
one, so far rs l know, said there was no
contraction, rs c. w w now says, and
apparently produces the figures to prove
How is thisP Will c. w. w. explainF
: Has our greatly expanded currency been
brought practically to par with coin with
out any contraction at ALP Where then
are the theories of the contractors, and
equally where the theories of the expand
ers2 And if it be rs G. w. w. says
| what would be the harm of little NOR,
expansion or the good?
As you perceive, | am all ut sea on tina
point, and only hope that G. WV. will b'
able to tow me ashore, that he has mad'
no mistake in his figures. and that reall.
5 we are carrying that great war expansion
had brought it within ten per cent of pa
. IGIDI0 lu6 lCSulupbiOl toe Wbo pttooSus hi
= nave it now rs good us coin before the nc
. goes into effect If this is all 80, does
: not prove that it is confidence that give
Il value to paper money, almost REGARDLESS
o of its amountp-a thing | don't fully be
f, lieve, but which C. W. w. seems to hav'
U proved without intending it.
n The pending controversy is not betwee
e capital and labor. Upon the true relation
e of these all intelligent people are substar
Is italy agreed. Capital cannot be NEAR
Is exacting or oppressive lit is always bt
e nefccnt, Labor cannot be ignorant, fanat
ii ca or volent;- lit is the foundation of n
p property, and, with virtue, the only bas
n Of prosperity. The fight that has begu
is and must 90 on until its issues are settles
Iy and settled right, is not between labor an
Of capital. 1t is between the laborer and IL
is capitalist, and is simply over division
Id the profits of both,--a fair and equitab
Sc distribution of the good things that bo
It together produce, but Which capital alo'
n never caA produce. Labor is the Great
On Of capital. Capital is simply Il tool
he implement of labor. The fight is now
is prevent those who hold it in large amour
nd from making those who create it the
'u DOnu-SefVantS. Wnoliy hSieo WIN :.
an position taken by C. W. w, in his closil
at paragraph, which is worth reprinting
NJ yes worthy of inscription upon the fro
his of every public building in the matte
n. Truly and indeed "it is not the busine
ct of government to help one man Or hind
I'd. another. in the struggle" Truly, too,
tn the pending issue stated in its very MI
'ut row, when he says" What alone is wan,
is the repeal of the laws that favor al
ct body at the expense Of anybody;" Il
md that is just why favor the dise5tabl
pa ment OF the national banks as issuers
ne paper money. I. IL. IL