Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-06-11

bOlu ana silver IN bullion, or III
spoons, plates or ornaments, are not
money. In all these shapes gold and sill
yer are mere commodities to be bought
and sold i'll the market like cotton or
any other commodity. 1t must be coined
by the government, and its value fixed
and stamped upon it by law, before it
becomes money.
Money was created to be circu-
lating medium-a measure of value and
Il legal tender in payment of debts; and
it only performs its true function when
actively employed in settling balances,
facilitating exchanges and i'll industrial
pursuits. 1t is a barren thing; it gives
birth to nothing. Horses and cattle
multiply and increase the wealth of the
country; farms and factories yield their
productions, but money is as incapable
OF producing anything as u yard stick
or IA half bushcl.
1T may be endowed by law with the
power TO accumulatc-that is, to draw
interest. But this power is II gift of the
law and may be withheld altogether or
granted to the extent that it is found to
be beneficial 10 the people.
ITO what extent money should be en-
dowcd with the mower to draw interest
depends, III great measure, upon the
average profits realized on capital in
vested in agricultural and industrial
pursuits.
"To one who stops to think unon tho
subject the fearful omnipotence of
money at interest is startling.
1.-THE constitution of this state of
1868 abropatcd the usurv law and de.
clared any rate of interest lawful. The
rate of interest increased as long as that
constitution was in force. until in 1872
it was proved on trial in the United
States district court at Little Rock that
the usual rate of interest in that city for
loaned money was 5 Der cent month.
Labor is not the only thing that
STRIKES. CAPITAL strikes. and its strikes
are much more successful and crushing
than those of labor Nothing combines
so readily and effectively to advance its
interests as money. and when fine law
leaves the regulation of the rate of in
tcrest to the necessities of the borrower
and the ayarice of the lender n success-
full strike for a high rate of interest is
the uniform result.
cone does not have to be gifted with
the spirit of prophecy TO foretell the de-
plorable consequences of a acontinncd oc-
emulation and concentration Of co1,itol
derived from the high rates of interest
in the hands of n few persons and cor.
porations in the cities The sober INTEL
lpencc. courage. virtuo and notriotis,n
that abides in the homes of the indie
pendent and prosperous farmers are
what every nation must rely unon for
its support in peace and defense in war
Neither liberty ncr prcspcritv nor virtue
will lone su,rviye in a state 1vbero tbe
husbandman is opprcssed and impover-
ished, History teaches an imnortont les
son ON this snbicct -
OF n corporation to loon money no
said.
"The stockholders of n coronation
may die. but tle cornoration stin lives
men may come and men NAV 20 but
tho corDoration goes ON forever. its stocl,
changes hands, but the capital of fine
corporation is tbe nropertv of tho cor-
poration. which no stockholdcr can
touch: the perpetual accumulation and
concentration of capital is in this way
made secure against death itself The
money and lands if once ocouiros il may
hold forever. Corporations have already
ACQUIRED in this state large tracts of
land for sneculation and have also en-
gagged in planting. Consider for one