The examiner., 1886-03-13
nCLASS INTERESTS,

Glass Interests: "Their relation 10 each other and to Government is work just issued by the Appleton Go. It is by the Author of Conflict in Nature and Life," also of Reforms" who is still anonymous. He takes up the various economic ques- tions, that with a force unknown before, are now pressing upon the public mind, and with concise vigor considers them in view of the present conditions of society, and not by antiquated theories of Political Economy. He advances no extreme or radical ideas, but is very candid and i'm partial to all classes as far as possible with due regard to justice and equity. A few sentences from his preface will show the tone of the book which the reader will see is in the line of modern and advanced thought
 "If I had written on these subjects a dozen years ago the statement would then have been in the spirit of those economical doctrines which affirm the suficiency of competition to enable all who deserve, to win. But economical conditions are changing, and the forces are daily multi plying which relegate competitor to the background, and the victory to combi- nation. The character of the struggle is not what it once was-mainly struggle between individuals; it is now largely a struggle between the organized few and the unorganized many, in which the former get advantages and often push them to the ut- most. have no apology to make for sym the wall in an unequal struggle, but had endeavored to keep the bias, if any, in strict logical subordination.'
 We have never seen a book that gave clearer view of the way in which class in- terests are evolved and maintained.
 He shows up the errors and inconsistent cies of the various writers upon Political Economy, all of whom seemed to write from the standpoint of the capitalist, and none from that of the laborer, up to the time of John Stuart Mill, the friend of the people, who said, ssRiches and the signs of riches are almost the only thing really people," Is it not the same with us, Americans l?
 To illustrate the influence in society of a wealthy corporation struggling to maintain it's power, the author refers to the old U. $. Bank upon which President Jackson made war till it succumbed. 'sThe Bank, !" he says, @gave tone not only to the period ical literature of tbat day, but largely to the proceedings of Congress. It was 8 respectable thing to be on the side of the bank" Just as it is respectable now, to be on the side of capital, and against that of the toiler, though such responsibility is the veriest sham.
 The faIlacy of the claim, that the nation al banks furnish an elastic currency, one that will be issued when trade requires, and will be redeemed when trade is slack. the author clearly exposes.
 He shows how insidiously the bond holders worked in 1869 to change the pay l ment of the bonds from currency into coin, a retroactive measure, and as infamous 8 piece of legislation as was Aver invented in the interest of class comprising only a fraction of the peopie.
 He recapitulates the various navigation laws adopted by our sapient statesmen. that have entirely destroyed our merchant marine,-laws which would have disgraced the intellect found in an insane asylum. In proof of the fact that our laws are biased by class influence, he briefly alludes to our bankrupt laws, which are made for the benefit of the big debtor, but leave the small one to struggle on, and honestly try to pay his debts, while they set the million aire up in business again. Speaking of the Senate, its ariStOcratic tendencies, and of the way it blocks all legislation in the in- terests of the people, he says, "Money by it's direct or indirect power secures senator ial honors to it's possessors, ,"-a fact that has long been known. Class influence in Congress is most forcibly and clearly pre- scented. He instances it especially in the | immense land grants to Railroads and foreign syndicates, the abuse railroads make of their power, building up monop- olies by their partial and unjust discrimin- ation in freight rates, abuses which might be so readily corrected by judicions legis lation, and how our lawn akers manage to evade it.
 The author pays his respects to Prof. Sumner and his positions against silver. Of him he says, Whenever the class in- terests of creditors are touched. Summer is effusive in his sympathy with them, but one finds not the least indication of sym pathy with the debtor class.
 Twenty pages of the book are devoted to the subject of taxation, and criticisms of the different methods proposed, or in use. He advises at present, no other plan, but fayors an increasing tax upon all lands more than homestead.
 Another twenty pages consider the sub ject of money,-believes in bi-metallic standard,-thinks Governments should is sue all the currency, and that its paper money to limited amount is very good.
 The larger part of the book is given to the consideration of monopolies in general, and the means of remedying this class injustice, which he holds can be done only through State interference, to which, also there should be Limitations. He dwells largely upon the necessity of educating the public mind, especially the youth, in the subject of Economics, in order to attain better administered government.
 The book which is "a study of wrongs and remedies" is treated in most phil0- sophical and practical way, and though not advocating some of the radical measures that we would favor, yet we cordially com mend it to the attention of the public as being at once eminently instructive and suggestive.
 SOCIAL BARRIERS.