The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-04-16

the volume of currency was too
small-it is entirely inadequate. The
government ought to Issue paper
money enough to do the business of
the country"
l inquired if there was any trouble
experienced in moving crops or mer-
chandise; if there is plenty of money
to move the crops-the wheat, the
corn or. cotton crop, then there is
enough currency to transact the bust
ness of the country, whether you and
l have a dollar or not.
The Squire thought eff there was
more issued higher prices would rule"
To this L replied there is now in
government vaults, in national and
savings banks vaults, more than
enough moaO to move at one time all
the cotton we have raised since 1876
enough to pay for the entire product
of all minerals mined since 1880
and this not only includes the precious
metals, but iron, coal, salt, etc., there
is enough now seeking investment to
buy all the wheat raised since 1880 in
the United States, and yet, with this
national and individual or corporate
surplus we cannot get it unless we
have something to sell. If the gov.
eminent were to issue $4,000, 600
per day for ten years we would not
get a cent of it honestly unless we
had something to sell, either labor or
its products. If this supposed in
creased issue would pass at par it could
only be paid out by the government
for its Indebtedness, if not worth dol
lar for dollar, what then? You all
remember when paper money ESQ.,
called) had no value, nor will it do to
say that it was because the Grey lost
the fight, for 100 years before we
gained the fight, and yet Continental
currency at the close of that war was
worth no more than Confederate.
That there are many causes that do
much to keep the masses poor is an
admitted fact. Excessive taxes, trusts,
etc., all aid in demolishing the inan-
cial foundation of country, but do
not let us be so much given to blam-
ing others. Since the time that
Father Adam went into the apple
business, mankind has ever been prone
to put the blame of their own failures
on some one else. Adam first was
inclined to blame the Almighty
"The woman Thou gavest me,"-then
as if this was not satisfactory, he put
the blame on his wife; and yet, so far
as the evidence goes, she only handed
the apple to Adam; he, nan like,
never gave her another chance at it.
Do we not bring to ourselves most of
the trouble we pray God to avert or
take away :?
am ready to "fess up;' are you :?
North Carolina, since 1868, has paid
for fertilizers and chemicals over $780,
900, 900, and so far as my share goes
1 could have chad I not been too in
dolent) burned ashes, made composts,
saved manure, both solid and liquid,
and with pease and clover have raised
more profitable crops and left the
land in better condition than now.
North Carolina has paid in the last
two decades for alcoholic drinks over
$265, 900, 600, and 1 own, that what
over [ have contributed was badly,
w~retchedly spent.
North Carolina has paid in the last
score of years for meat n, hay(and been
fighting grass all the time) and corn
more than enough to pay off all her
Indebtedness.
To bring the matter still nearer
home, have you not, since 1865,
when changed circumstances demand
ed strict economy, paid enough OF &c
count of other peoples eyes, to pay
off the mortgage on your home ?
Have you not tried to appear as well,
to live a. we'll as your neighbor, who
was worth much more than you, and
he in urn aping some n else higher
in the financial scale? The bright
days of 80 are gone and while [ do
not charge you with reckless extrava-
gance, yet are you not doing more for
appearance sake than your means will
allow? Have we not all been too in
innate with General Saddles ? and is
not the Road Cart" doing US quite
as much harm as Alexander the Cop
persmith, did the Apostle !?
Another cause of Hard Times may
be found in reading an article in your
paper a few issues back-"caption
Remedy"
The author says eve must make
labor respectable by putting it on a
level with other pursuits" To labor
is a command of the Almighty him
self, and when man follows his Makers
commands he is respectable. 1t is be-
cause we have thought otherwise that
we have lost much that might now
be ours to enjoy.
Many of US hoped that the Legisla-
ture would pass laws that would save
- M dollorr In tho itonn Of froinht