The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-10-31

which were not needed by the people
articles of luxury and display--at cost
out Of all proportion to the wealth or
income OF the owners. My neigbbor,
who was the possessor OF fifty thousand
dollars, bought a piece of land for eight
thousand and tuit on it house which
cost him nearly all his remaining fortune
He seemed to think that the money he
had changed into stone walls, fine carv-
ings. and costly furniture would still be
productive, would yield him an income.
When he had thus improved the proper
ty as he pbrased it, he claimed that it
was worth at least sixty thousand dollars;
hat is, he had spent most of his money
and thought he was worth much more
than when he began He has some high
priced European paintings, hut he cannot
| eat them and as he has nothing but his
house ard grounds he has had to stint
| his children in their education, and even
in their clothes and TODD He wishes to
sell his property. but thinks it still worth
| titty thousand dollars. though it would
| not sell for one third of that amount
| This is pretty good representation of
the course of multitudes OF business men
| The result is that the country is vastly
poorer than the people are willing 20 ad-
mit that is, they value their property
Much of our wealth consists of houses
furniture, mills, machinery. and railroads
which produce nothing, and which can
not be sold This is not real wealth
Much of our money invested il such
things is irretrievably lost, and it would
be better for US to face the dis agreeable
| truth al once.
This extravaganza and the delusion
which fostered it had some important re-
suits in the domain of morals. Manual
| labor came to be regarded as in great
measure unnecessary, and to be despised
as badge OF inferiority by many who
| had always been engaged in it. Multi
| tudes OF men who had until then honest
ly earned or produced their living by the
work of their hands now began to live by
their wits, by starting and controlling
| business enterprises for the investment
of other peoples money, and by taking
government contracts and corporation
jobs. The abounding dishonesty which
has since then been our curse, the repu
diation OF the debts OF States, towns, and
cities, with the alarming development of
| the disposition to steal trust funds
these and other unfavoaable elements in
the life of the time had their source and
main impulse in the delusion about the
nature and powers of paper money, in
the uncertainty OF its value, and in the
extravaganza engendered by the war A
passionate greed for riches was developed
among our people. Men had no longer
any vision TOR realities, but built upon
illusions and impossibilities as if they
were the solid facts and laws of nature.
The leading clergymen and writers of
the nation encouraged and defended this
enormous and reckless acquisitiveness,
| nd fo11z nh in nh Inal nh &C
about the aspirations of the masses for
improved conditions, leisure for culture,
and a higher civilization. The pulpit
gave to luxury the sanction Of religion,
and the press urged the people onward
| in their career of eXtravagance in the
name OF patriotism, and declared the
national debt a national blessing 1t
was not to be expected that the working
men should be wiser than their teachers.
The increase of wages for all kinds OF
manual labor was very great, but com
paratvely few of the workingmen saved
anything They initiated the profusion
OF their employers and guides Economy
was deemed unnecessary, stupid, and
mean. New wants were invented, pru-
dence and simplicity OF life went out OF
fashion, and habits were formed and sen
timents adopted which have wrought
most important changes in the character
and aims OF the workingmen OF this
country The sheer wasteiulness OF that
period. if-it could be adequately portray
ed would appear incredible to all who
did not witness it A curious feature oi
the time was the fact that for so many
men all foresight seemed to have become
impossible They were intoxicated by
their fancied prosperity, and were conf
dent that it would last forever. Into
these conditions Was suddenly plunged g
population which had no sufficient mora
safeguards whatever. The transition tc
dishonesty had been prepared for among
all classes, and was already partly accom-
plished."