The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-08
Wheelbarrow."

We have received volume from
the Open Court Publishing Co., of
Chicago, bearing the eccentric title
of "Wheeelbarrow," for review. The
writer commenced life at the bottom
round of the ladder among London
street arabs, and worked his way up
by pure force of will, persevering in.
dustry and native mental ability, till
he graduated as Brigadier General
in the Union army. The writer has
chosen as his nom de plume the
tool of his early labors on the rail-
roads he helped to grade, the wheel
barrow. AS a book to introduce
among che reform literature of the
day we would expurgate some por-
tions of it, and highly recommend
others. The one subject above all
others 'Wheelbarrow" has mastered,
is that of labor unions. If the pub
fishers will take these parts for
future editions and leave out most of
the rest they will add to the stock of
reform literature valuable treaties,
and work that should he introduc
ed into every labor union.
When "Wheelbarrow" undertakes
to demonstrate the science of money
he demonstrates that he has not
mastered the lab" of the science. He
dwells still in the dark ages of barter,
as the medium of commerce, never
so much as suspecting there has been
an evolution from that to money.
To apply Darwin's theory of the
human race, to "Wheelbarrow's"
philosophy of money, he is still in
the monkey form.
A writer who epitomes his theory
of money in the following paragraph
has a very confused idea of the
science of money:
II think" says Wheelbarrow, "that
metallic money is all that Ia short
method of accounts) and something
more. 1t has value of itself outside
and beyond its money uses, and that
is the reason why it has always been
the money paramount. 1t is a thing
of beauty and joy forever Silver
and gold are not costly representa-
tives.' They are costly actualities,
and in this very costliness lies their
supremacy as money"
To sum up "Wheelbarrow's" rca-
sons that gold and silver are money
at all is because they are scarce and
consequently costly commodities.
We hold that this theory of money is
the very reverse of true. There is no
relation whatever between money
and merchandise. Their uses and
functions are entirely different. The
gold and silver in the coin is entirely
negative and unusable for any legit-
innate purpose to which metals are
applied until the money they repre-
sent is destroyed. Unfortunately
when the evolution from barter to
money was effected, the favorite
metals used to effect convenient
barter was retained as the material
| iOL nOuCys
The fact that such thing as inter
national money is not known. but all
merchandise possesses an inter
national quality. and gold and silver
have to doff their money function
and step down among plebeian com.
modities when they change their
nationality, is proof conclusive that
their rare and valuable qualities give
them no more claim as money than
the diamond, topaz or any other
precious stone or mineral. Probably
the best definition for money is that
it is law for regulating the com.
merce and business of nation, pre-
scribing rules and regulations for
putting the law in force. wheel.
6arrow's" barter money Is no money
at all. even though it be "a beauty
and joy forever"
"Wheelbarrow's" contention with
Henry Georges single tax theory Is
very like Henry George himself
Now he sees it and now he doesn't
see it. Theory and practice often
fail to match, and the "single tax"
will have to be tested by actual trial
before true answer is found. FIX
listing conditions are liable to OBJ
struct theories.