The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-05-15
THE MONEY MANIA.

points to no time when the craze for
money held such universal sway
over the people OF this country as
at present. A perfect mania for
money seems to pervade all circles,
all classes, all ranks Of men. In
deed so widespread has become this
madness that the acquisition of mon
ey seems to be the chief aim of well
nigh all. The time was, in the mem
ory of many of us, when an Ameri-
can millionaire was an unheard of
being. But how is it to-day? They
dot we'll nigh every large city. Out
of this universal grasping after, and
greed for, money are forming great
money centers, through which mas
teriy fortunes are flowing into the
hands of some, while poverty among
the working classes is becoming
more widespread. This vast accu-
mutation of money in the hands of a
few is creating thirst for it among
all, and hence the mania continues
to grow. Not only so but is rapidly
passing the legislation of the coun-
try under money control. So po-
tent has become this fact that it is
openly charged that the American
congress is SO completely under the
money mania as to be ready to nod
to the beck and call of the moneyed
powers. AS evidence OF the truth
OF such charges, so soon as bill
makes Its appearance before our
legislative bodies from which can be
sifted the most remote provision
that would restrain the money pow
ers, swarm of lobbyists pour in
upon our law makers with all the
monied influence that is possible to
be brought. On the other hand
when bill appears that caters to
the interest of the money kings,
money is put behind it, and it push
ed to final passage. Thus it is that
the government is falling into the
hands of the money powers which
have grown to be such from the
mania for money that prevails else
where. In this way a channel of
corruption is being dug deep enough
and wide enough to dstroy the grand
est government that ever fourished
in the annals of time.
Furthermore, the working peo-
pie of this country, by permitting
themselves to become infatuated
with this madness for money, are
reaping harm instead of benefits
thereby. They make the mistake
OF making money their chief aim
and putting forth all their efforts to
obtain it. For in this way they
fail OF those ordinary comforts that
tend to make life pleasant and
happy. Nurturing their hopes and
ambition for money upon the sue
cesses of the few who attain to for
tune, they' are constantly planning
and striving for it, and leaving all
things else out of consideration,
forgetting the fact that there is not
money enough to make all people
rich.
So prevalent and deep seated has
become this craze for money, that
even the little children have become
infected with it. Every school boy
plotting and mapping out some plan
whereby he can make money, in
stead Of applying his mental powers
to the acquisition of that knowledge
that will be of benefit to him in af-
ter years.
This universal craze for money
and hasty riches is working harm
to all classes. 1t is not only work
ing corruption in legislation, but it
is producing an increase crop of alb
sconding cashiers, and flooding the
country with defaulting accountants,
bankrupts and thieves. And unless
a remedy be applied what will the
end be.
Now if we, as people will divest
ourselves of this money mania, and
apply our minds and efforts to the
acquisition of the ordinary comforts
OF life, and learn Herewith to be
content, the needed money will
come to us as natural sequence.