The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1891-08-07
Distribution.

question aud others, that form subject
matter for discussion, are only important
as being factors in the proper distribu-
ton Of the annual wealth product of
the country.
Upon a correct and Just solution of
this mighty problem hangs the destiny
OF the Republic; aye, and of popular
liberty in the whole world. In discuss
ing 1t, we should do so solely with a
view of arriving at just conclusions, re.
membering that the dissemination of no
amount of error however plausible or
pleasant, will help the cause but only
retard its ultimate solution.
One great obstacle to a correct under
standing of this subject is our Anglo
Saxon habit of looking for precedent
to govern US. Now we live in an age
without precedent. There is nothing
in history that bears any relation to it.
Our yirility in state craft must keep pace
with our virility in industrial develop
ment or our barquc will spill. upon the
familiar rock of congested wealth.
Our congress resolutely ignores the ex-
istence of the steam engine. When
Adam Smith wrote his Wealth of
Nations" it was no doubt true that all
wealth was the product of labor but is
that proposition true to-day? Let us
see. Some thirty-fve years ago the
| DoWar of ,oocbinarv opopIoyoJ -, tbo
mills Of Great Britain was estimated to
be equal to 6O0000,00O of men or more
than all the adult male and female pop
Walton of the globe. The. machinery of
Massachusetts alone, in 1885, represented
the labor of 100000 men or about
one'half of all the adult male popula-
ton of the globe, and this wealth pro-
ducing machinery about doubles itself
every seven years. Mr.. Gladstone esti-
mates that the wealth handed down to
posterity by the first 1900 years of the
Christian era was equaled by the pro-
duction of the first fifty years of this
century, and that an equal amount was
produced between 1859 and 1870. Be-
tween 1860 and 1880, though million
producers were destroyed by the war
and 81, 25O,000,000 of property disap-
peared from the assets of the nation, we
produced $27 ,2S2, 100000 which exceeded
the entire wealth ofthe Russian Empire
by $40 1000, 100000 and this is what was
left after supporting the most extrava.
CANT people on earth.
| Dalrymple, by the aid of few steam
engines. a great many horses and few
men, sows, reaps, and ships wheat off
of $4,000 acres. Warner, in louisiana.
by the aid of steam machinery reclaims
and is putting under cultivation 100000
acres of swamp land. Instances could
be multiplied, but of what use? 1t is
apparent that amid the most abundant
wealth ever known on earth before the
mere producers only secures enough to
supply his Dearest necessities, while the
fortunate few secure to themselves an
amount that renders them dangerous
enemies to popular government.
If it were true that all wealth was the
product Of labor, the question of its dis
tribution would be much simpliiied.
The operation Of the natural laws OF
trade, competition, supply and demand,
etc, would In kind of a bungling way,
secure to each producer a fair share of
his production. Under the civilized
conditions of society that at present OBJ
tains all producers are inter-dependent.
Under the division of labor we have to
become specialists, and exchange the
product of our labor in our special lines
with each other. Under the operation
of this beneficial system, if it could be
properly carried out, each producer
would receive and enjoy more Of the
enjoyable things of life than at any Pc
Rod of the worlds history. Two things
prevent this: One is, that the products
have to be transported, somewhere they
are produced, to where they are wanted.
The other is, we have not yet devised
plan whereby the producers can ex-
change their products upon any far
basis.
We will consider the difficulties in
the order in which they are named.
Our agriculturalist are almost entirely at
the mercy of our transportation COM
panies. 1t is not my purpose to lind
fault with these companies. They are
bands of men intent upon making all
the money that the Law aud their cur
cumstances will permit. They work their
business for all it is worth just as you
or | would. What do object to is tue
system that renders it possible for them
to amass an undue share of the wealth
of this country. These companies are
granted great privileges, greater tnan
should be given to any class of citizens,
and they are not correspondingly bur-
dened with respons bjlities. As they
are necessary 10 society a at present
constituted aud ~ they Will grow to be
more 50. As upon their economical adj
} min:stIation depends the Welfare and
happiness Of lhe whoi' people, ihey
shonld he Owned and controlled by the
people and operated 10y their SCI Waits
IL would take up too much space here TO
alduce arguments in support of this po-
sition, If needed, they are on hand.
Now, for the text of this article VIZ
J. "Distribution." II will not be denied
that greater quantity of desirat ie
things are produced now per capita than
: ever before in the worlds history
neither will il be- denied thai these de-
I sirab!e things are not enjoyed in any
proper degree by the producers thereof,
Int ssen the inordinate aud unappre'
E c;ated luxuries of the very rich. | shall
}, sock the cause and remedy as applicable
. - opr order. Not trenching upon the
: ills that effect our co-laborers in other
n lines.
e Unjust be kept in mind that what We
n desire is to exchange our surplus pro
It ducts for the surplus products by Others