New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-01-10
m, WEDNEsDAY,JANUARYl 10, 1894 WHOLE NUMBER $50

in nearly the same proportion. If had
loaned you one hundred measures Of
wheat or hundred yards of cloth,eight
or ten years ago, and you had paid me
yearly eight or ten per cent for the use
of it, would you think my measure and
yardstick honest if had increased them
in dimensions so that it would take one
third again as much, or more, of grain
or cloth to repay me? This is just what
has happened and is happening every day.
Our dollars on single gold basis have
grown and are growing in their measur-
ing capacity every day.
But the gold men console us by saying
it is true that it takes more of grain and
of stock and of other commodities to
get the gold dollar (or its representative
from year to year, and to pay taxes, s,debts
and interest, but that is because inven-
ton and machinery have cheapened pro-
duction. This, in my Judgment, is only
partially true. believe that the con
stant fall of prices since the demanetiza-
ton of Silver is principally to that fact.
Butsupposlng that the argument Of the
gold advocates is true. that it is the dis
coveries and inventions of our civilization
that have made commodities more plenti-
full and consequently cheaper. Doyou,Mr
Editor, and do your readers think it right t
that all the benefits of these inventions
and improved methods of production
should 60 to the moneyed classes? That
is the vital question in this controversy
What blessings has farm machinery con-
ferred on our farmers, by making it cas-
ier to produce grain or stock, if all of
the increase in product goes to the capl-
talist? The same question can be asked
in regard to any other industry. I say
none. It has rather been a curse and it
will prove such, more and more, the
longer this condition of affairs continues.
1t is this, that makes our people jealous
and discontented, They see their labor
produce more and more from day to day
but the increase flows into the Golfers of
capital Prior to- 1878, six or eight bush
els of wheat would pay the interest on a
hundred dollar bond. Now it takes
twelve to fifteen and nearly the same in
creased proportion of other products.
Why should this be so? Is it not the in
dustry and intelligence of the great body
of our people that have made these con-
quests of natures forces? Have the new
agents of steam and electricity been har-
messed only for the great power and lux
ury of the rich? If So, our civilization is
a delusion and 1t would have been infinite
ly better for mankind to remain in the
ignorance and lethagry of the middle
ages, for then contentment was not un-
known to the masses.
Mr.. Editor, am not pessimist, nor
given to alarming. I believe that our
civilization has brought untold blessings
to the race, and that they will gradually
be more evenly and fairly distributed. 1
believe in the patriotism and wisdom of
our people to eventually solve the prob
lens, that confront US, rightly. But 1
think it is not on: of place to drop a
word of warning when you see those in
power adopt policy of retrogression,
and deliberately 60 ,.1d seat themselves
on the safety-valve. It would be much
safer to heed the distant notes of warn
ing that we all hear. If the interests
now in control persist in shutting their
eyes and ears to all cries of distress the
conscience of the people may suddenly
be aroused and reckoning demanded
that will be both ruthless and exacting.