Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-09-12
Going Back to Barter.

This twas the earliest method of
trade, and if the populists get along as
we'll as they hope, commerce will be
renewed and proceed upon the same
line. 1t will be somewhat inconven-
lent. but as everybody is entitled to
all the wealth he produces it will
have to 60 that way. Nobody will be
allowed to exchange at a profit hence,
there will be schedule established
showing, for instance, how many
''fresh COWS" Mr.. Gruver is entitled to
for zone good work mare; )" how many
for a "booded colt" and how many
dry cows for colt that does not be-
long to proud boss flesh"
The system of horse trading, once a
ministerial fine art among circuit
riders, is still an expert business in
1Qld Virginia. But "the balance of
ade," vulgarly called "boot," is what
gives it life and flamboyancy. The
same thing on Wall street is called "a
Margin" and it is not too much to
affirm that on Lombard street, the
populists modern name for "the val
ley of Hinnom," the margin like
competition, is the life of trade"
But all this sort of deviltry is to be
superseded by method which insures
to every man all the wealth that he
digs from or grows on the ground.
This will make all producers as we'll
as consumers. The Wall street man
will have to cultivate as we'll as eat
wheat, weave as we'll as wear cloth,
build as well as live under shelter.
Under this scheme the use of money
will be obviated and the doctrine of
"living within ourselves" first patent
ed by the high protectionists, will be
carried to both Arcadian simplicity
and Utopian completely. There will
be absolutely no such thing in trade as
''reciprocity,' the modern disinfectant
of high rotection-certainly no reci-
procity of profits, and, if it can be
avoided, no reciprocity of conven-
fences nor comforts. 1t will be IAN
eye for an eye and tooth for a TOOTH
as nearly as eyes and teeth can be
evenly snapped.
1t has been proven that the use of
money as the agent of wealth and the
instrument Of exchange has been
Oused by people who are little too
smart for anything hence, the agent
must be multiplied and the instrument
enfeebled so that eventually we shall
have more money than goods and less
Facilities for trading our surplusages
flor the necessaries of life.
This is the populistlc notion of prog
ress. 1t goes back to some era before
the time of Abraham, it is true, for
both the platform and example, but
that did not stop the Altgeld demo-
crazy from forgetting that it was out
of all that antique dark-age record of
dismal experience and failure that
Thomas Jefferson one hundred years
ago wrote the everlasting gospel of
sound finance. Instead of going on
from the point where Jefferson left off,
the democrats, with a platform stolen
from the populists, are going back to
make some more lurid annals for the
study of some future jefferson. To
them history is not ''precept teaching
by example," but something that the
81 believe" of a volatile Bryan may
snpersede and displace.
This 81 believe that free coinage
will at once raise the price of silver to
$1.29 an ounce" counts more just now,
therefore, than Clcero's eloquent def
milton of "history:"
1t is the witness of the times, the torch of
truth, the genius of memory, the teacher of
life and the messenger from antiquity.
1t is not likely, therefore, that with
definition so beautifully epigram-
matte on his lips Cicero would have
been partisan of Lysander, the Will
liam j. Bryan of Sparta, whose II be-
lieve" demonetlzed both gold and sill
yer, put the government stamp on iron,
and ruined the country for all time.
1t will be sad commentary upon
the boosted enlightenment of this age
if the American people shall 60 back
to travel over again the road which
Anglo-Saxon civilization trod with
bleeding feet for nearly thousand
years. But for the intelligence and
integrity of the vast minority who will
still remain true to established prin-
ciples, stride so far backward would
force the inquiry what avalls all our
education, social advancement and
even religion, if the antique, medieval
and heroic ages of financial history
are to be again traversed, written and
studied9
Honest but Mistaken.
Hon. H. A. Herbert, secretary of
the navy, speaking of the free silver
Mes save.