Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-11-13
CONSISTENCY.
". Duncan as a Journalist.

WI. Y. Duncan as a Journalist.
Not long since, the Audrain County
Press set up a standard of Journalism,
and now We propose to test that sheet
in accordance with its own rules.
As late as the 10th Of September,
before the elections, thus from his
sanctum ''croaked" the editor that
claims to monopolize the brains of
the Press:
"'There is now but little demand
for money, for active operations, from
the simple fact that there is no place
where money can be safely invested
with ar assurance that it will pay as
an investment. Mules are very dull,
and the market too stringent to war;
rant much of an Investment. The
cattle trade has not proven very re-
munerative. Hogs have been too dull
and risky to offer any inducements to
traders. Grain has been very fiuctu-
ating, and all kinds of business dull.
These are simply effects. They are
not causes. They are the legitimate
offspring Of bad legislation and con-
traction. The laboring classes are in
many places thrown out of employ
msnt, and in others wages are so low
that they can scarcely support their
families on the cheapest food they
can get. Thousands are thrown out
to tramp and steal, or beg for bread.
and they are SO because no work of
fers itself to them"
Again, ''real estate, which forms
the basis of all solid wealth, has long
since ceased to be marketable, and
there are thousands of acres seeking
purchasers and no one to buy. Men
are compelled to sell a part or all
their lands, and although the cry is
that money is very abundant, yet no
one comes to buy. The reason is that
everyone knows that contraction has
produced such a shrinkage in the
value of real estate, that it scarcely
has any value, and however low it
may sell to-day, tomorrow it may
sink lower"
In the issue Of the Press on the 9th
inst, when tie elections were over,
its editor pitches his notes to another
key, and blows the following blast:
During this year there has been
On iafatjO1 Of money in the United
States of nearly or quite one hundred
and seventy millions of dollars. This
is the first imitation to any amount
since the panic Of 1873, and this is
the first year the people have expert
cnced any revival since then. Murk
these ,coyds. This imitation is made up
Of the coinage of silver, about forty
two millions Of dollars, out Of which
twelve millions have been put into
circulation, the remainder is still in
the l.. ). Treasury. Within the last
ninety days over fifty millions Of dol
lars have been added to the currency
by the issue of bank notes, known as
black backs, and there has already
been received from foreign countries
in gold about fifty-five millions, and
about ten millions more expected in
q few days so that we may say sixty
five millions have come to US from
Europe"
Again, ''the point we 0 make is
that imitation has brought about all
the revival we see iii business. 1t
has started factories that have lain
idle since the panic of 1873. Indeed,
all owe Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware and the entire east, all fac
tories o. every grade and class that
have been doing nothing for six long
years have gone to work in earnest.
Many new enterprises have been be-
gun in the last sixty days. The
tramps have almost all disappeared
from the roads. Imitation has work.
ed wonders in this country. 1t has
furnished work, and work has brought
bread and meat and clothing. The
beggars have been lessened by many
thousands, and no doubt crime has
been greatly reduced. 1t has caused
millions of dollars already to be in
vested in western lands and city
property, and has sent q thrill Of
gladness to every heart in the broad
land. Mexico feels it, and the amount
of work done this fall proves that in
tlation is the best thing this city has
had for many years"
1t has seldom fallen to our lot to
notice two moro exaggerated or moro
contradictory statements eminating
from q paper within such narrow linn
Its of time, and put forth without
comment, apology or explanation of
any sort. Every intelligent and OBJ
serving Journalist knows that a revi-
val of business began just after the
resumption law, as amended by the
democracy in congress, was carried
into execution. The gold piled up
at the commencement of the year in
the vaults of the treasury in New
York, and the determination express
ed everywhere on the part of people,
merchants and bankers to give that
experiment a fair trial, and ifpossible
to make it a success, impaired gener-
al confidence, and with that conf
dence prosperity returned. 1t did
this IN advance of addition to the
currency. Indeed, it was increase of
business that created demand for
money, and rendered increase Of the
circulating medium possible. The
prosperous gale of returning conf
dence struck Mexico in the latter part