The Portland daily press., 1878-05-23
John Alden Again.
Some More Talk About the Finances.
:, May 20, 1873.

-, May 20, 1873.
To the Editor of the Press:
1t was kind of you to send nae out the Mem
Era with the answer to my letter. 1t seems to
have struck another barber something like the
one in our village, which isn't surprising, for
that kind of barber is about as thick as brisa-
dier generals were in Washington during the
war, when you couldn't throw a stone without
hitting half dozen Of them. Barbsrs. some
how, always think they ara wonderful philoso.
phers, and that their argu ments are unauswer-
able, probably because they always get the bet
ter OF their customer when they take him by
the DOSE and make him think he will get his
throat cut if he opens his mouth. 1t has al.
ways been so. There was just such barber
described in the Arabian tales, who boasted
that he was not only the best barber in Bagdad,
but also an experienced physician, a pro-
found chemist, an infallible astrologer, fin
ished grammarian, complete orator, subtitle
| logican, an admirable mathematician aud his !.
torian, thorough philosopher, a poet, an
architect and proficient 10 all the exact sci
ences," while his neighbors called him "a
senseless babbler.''
That is about the style our barber cuts his
hair. The first time heard him speak in pub
lie he was discussing the County Jail, and he
commenced, II am no orator as Brutus isp'
He thought he was Marc Antony that time.
Then there was Captain Marryatt's barber
who tho light he should bs made grand yizler.
because he could select the disaffscted citizens
as skilfully as he removed the white hairs
from the sublime beard of the Pasha, and
cOul1 di<cnrn the of
political affairs as thoroughly as he could
shampoo the head of his highness.
Ilshouldn't object to our barber's preaching
if he would only learn something before he
commences. L wouldn't even complain of his
own reputation if he wasn't trying to per-
suade other people to do the same; but he
makes our poor men think there is an easier
way to get rich than by working and saving,
and SO they leap over the fences and talk in
stead of keeping the plough and harrow agoing
aud when their potato crop comes out short
they will want new issue of currency.
1t is curious how people only see one side of
a question. 1 had man to work for me who
used to talk about taxing property and making
the rich man pay for running the government.
He got little money ahead and bought a
SOupiO VI ouaiOS VI Uduk olOCk, Ile next
gear he came to me with his eyes sticking ont.
and said, "Mr. Alden, they have been and
taxed me on that bank stock, and can't afford
to pay it," Said l, John, that's because
you're beginning to be a rich man. Wealth
must pay the taxes" He went and sold his
stock.
Now have no objection TO paying my share
of the taxes, but when L have saved dollar
I want the privilege of keeping it, and if am
obliged to take government promises to pay for
it, [ want the notes kept good for the amount.
Before the war our country traders had good
stocks and bought mostly for cash; now they
ara all head over ears in debt. Inflated cur
rency has done that. Now if we have specie
payments in few years they will be buying for
cash again, and times will be good. 1t worked
jast so after the collapse in 1887, aud if work.
ing men will go to work and leave the finances
to regulate themselves, labor will soon have
the capital again instead of sending it all into
the hands of spectators where it has been for
the last fifteen years. If the railroad compa.
MES have all got swampsd it don't hurt ths
working man, he has got the railroads just the