The examiner., 1882-01-28
A Few Facts Recast.

struct1on, but to far greater degree 1t 8 an age of preparation for reconstruct ing. Much has been destroyed, some important institutions have been re- built, but there are yet many stately ediices to be fashioned. The spirit of examination and questioning has be come the prevailing spirit. Many things are questioned and the tendencies of the ruling intellects of the times are at once skeptical and systematic. An effort is being made to trace all speculative and material phenomena back to their primitive elements, and as once remarked, "to reconsider not only the received cunclu- sions, but the received premises" All subjects are now treated as if they were new, never before embraced or considered. A so-called established doctrine is at present seldom or never set up by thorough-going thinker as thesis to be disputed about. but is put aside altogether, and an investigation commence d from first principles. It was once said of the philosopher Ben than that she collected from the past the scattered remnants of defeated in ncvation, and led them on against the future." There are in this respect a thousand Benthams to-day in the world. Every great reform is, nevertheless, as of old, met at it's inception with the cry of absurdity." Our fore fathers, We are told, would not have adhered to any custom that was no4 useful and desirable. Admitting for the time being that our ancestors were the Solons that their descendants are not, it by no means follows that the in- stitutions and usages of past ages suit the necessities of the present tirae. We hear much of progress-march of ages -triumphs of time, and such like To- rious gallops of humanity, from the professed leaders of the day, but let any man suggest the gentlest of dog trot upon new and uuworn path, and he is forthwith accused of socialism and e7en of poverty of purse or intellect
 The very hope of advancement fo the working classes seems to have been abandoned by the would-be dictators of thought in the United States. The social amelioration of the masses is re garded as impossible, as unnecessary by the dominant school of economists It is refreshing to turn from the heart less teaching of bastard political economy to the wise conclusions and lofty aspirations of one of the deepest thinkers of the century. Let us listen for momentto the words cfGuizot. who says: "Let any one even descend into hls own niind-let him picture there the highest point of perfection to which society may attain, that he can conceive, that he can hope-Iet him then con- trast this picture with the present state of the world, and he will feel assured that society and civilization are still in their childhood; that however great the distance they have advanced, that WhIch they have before them is incom- parably, is infinitely greater"
 If the above be the correci view of our destiny, and what thinking brain or generous heart can doubt it? how mean and presumptuous are tho SC who admit, willingly or not. the monstrou evils of our day, and yet endeavor to cheek all agitation for financial reform. This new movement, like every other great effort at progress, is linked to the profoundest principles of civiliza- tion. It is nothing less than an attempt to free labor from the shackles imposed upon 1t. The tyranny is maintained by keeping up the international engine of robbery known as the gold basis, and against this sweatgrimed, blood stained monster the main result of all financial free thinkers is directed. A gold based currency is the most ingen- lously devised check upon production possible to imagine, and reaps rich harvests for the controllers by bringing about from time 70 time state of arti- ticial scarcity. This is the most potent
  effort to demonetize human freedom and happiness that could be devised. The traditions of centuries, the sub sidized pens and tongues of thousands, the greed of heartless sycophants are enlisted against the cluse of the toiling millions. The matchless power of money is in the hands of those who practically declare that gold alone is wealth, AS in no other contest, it causes the very injustice Of their greatest strength. Gold capitalists have, under the present system, starya- tion for an ally; at their bidding pro- duction ceases and hunger ensues. Labor capitalists are counted very we'll off if they obtain leave to toll for the merest pittance. From time to time laborers are heard to say ssthere is no work to be had "-there is no demand for labor.
 ~ In answer to the natural question "why ?' we are told that money is scarce or that goods have accumulated to an unsaleable extent. A period of stagnation and poverty follows. Is it