The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-13
OF MODERN TIMES
WHENCE CAME THEY?
The Montgomery Advertiser says:

Inc montgomery ADVERTISER hdyS'
1T would be difficult 10 find any locality
in Alabama where the people do not
possess more comforts than they ola
twenty years ago. The sewing machines,
cooking stoves. family organs, huggles'
and other vehicles all tell tale that
would be interesting IL put into print
There is not much ready money. still the
men who have farmed On the plan OF
diversified crops are working out OF DEBT
and gradually accommodating something Tor
tho proVerbial rainy day.
IL cannot be denied that this IS true
OF the country generally. The people arc
certainly short OF ready money but Ire
everywhere Is far more comfortable now
than II was thirty or even twenty years
ago. We heard a gentleman who Is some
what passed middle life say a few days
hack that when he was a boy there was
not a buggy I'm all his part OF the coun-
try. Ole was born and reared in the
country in virginia.. But that now
there was a buggy or light carriage in
every home. We heard another one say
that he went TO his house in Richmond
recently and found a nice rug on his up
stairs hall some twelve feet long by
thrco and a half wide. On asking his
wife about it she told him she had just
purchased It. and gave for it $3.50. This
gentleman. who Is about fifty-iive.
said that he never saw as good rug IN
his fathers house when he was boy,
and that such an one could not have
been bought then for anything that jus
tilted his parents in thinking Of buying
it, Every workingman can now have such
rugs in his house.
The advances in all that softens the
natural ruggedncss Of life have certain
lv Jeen immense within the past thirty
years. and laboring men can now live as
very few Of those thought weh-to-do
could live before tcse advances were
made. This is an obvious fact. But
whence has this great change and I'm
provemcnt arisen? It has arisen from CO.
operation of men who have means in
Incorporated companies, where no incor-
porator risks more than what he actual
~ puts into the concern.
and the principle Of Incorporation with
limited liability encourages men VINO have
capital to experiment with the Inventions.
II the invention proves failure they
lose but little: If it proves success
they make enormous profits. But, while
they are making their prc|s mankind
at large is having most beneficial
change worked in its condition.
Now. If they are denied their profits
or if the principle of limited liability Is
to be interferred with. men with means
will certainly not experiment with inVeh-
tions. And If men with means refuse TO
experiment with inventions. how will the
Inventor get his invention into use? He
will be unable TO do IT, and invention
will practically come TO an end. where
as. If the situation is left as it Is. there
IS no reason to doubt that the improve
ments of tho past thirty years will go
on. and indefinitely. indeed, in which
case the human race generally must nave
its condition greatly improved over what
X Is even now.
This IS a view OF the case that should
be always kept before the minds of these
who make war upon combinations IN
business. 1t is the principle Of co-opera-
ton AMONGST men with limited liability
TO the individual Engaged I'm the enter
prise that is at the bottom of all the
etrides civilization has made.