The herald., 1897-03-14
cE M MONTH FOR ALL DISEASES cS M
spO.VO VOsVV
DR.. AL. Shores Co.
inc Hus-oa m.
$ p m. Evenings SUNDAYS 10 UNTIL IL NOON.
NOT COzHR TODEYq

save. Therefore, any increase In the
wealth of nation is dependent on pro-
duction rather than on unproductive ex-
penditure. In just the same way as an
individual increases his fortune by pro-
ductive expenditure in necessary build
ings, public corporations, etc., or de-
creases 1t by unproductive expenditure
in lavish entertainments or riotous liv-
ing, will this nation of 70, ,000, 900 individ-
uals increase or decrease its capital by
the productive or unproductive expen-
diture of each one Of its inhabitants.
Let the reader ask himself this: How
many unproductive balls he can give
without becoming bankrupt? Let him
figure out how many balls similar to
Mrs. Bradley-Ma would be neces-
sary to ruin the people Of this city, or the
million or more who go to make up the
population of the state, and apply the
same calculation to the whole country.
and it may. help him to7accept as true
the unqualified statement that the $780,
600 Cor 100000, whichever it may be)
spent to crafty Mrs. Bradley Martins
Unsuitable vanity has been lost, not only
to her husband, but to the entire ma
ton.
The wealth of the United States Is de-
rived from the labor Of the whole peo-
pie, and it probably matters very little
whether it belongs to one or to all, pro-
reapplied. 1t Is, however, in the misap-
plication of wealth through the extrav-
agance of the rich that is, In the unpro-
ductive expenditure by few of the earn.
ings of the whole that the source Of our
present misery is to be found It IL
owing to increasing accumulations Of
wealth, and as a result of this increasing
extravaganza. and the bad example
which the more highly favored set to
their poorer neighbors, that each year
sees vast sums taken from production
and applied in unproductive channels,
| thereby robbing the earth Of its natural
increase and proportionately adding TO
! the misery of the poor. 1t Is owing to
such unproductive expenditure that ex-
treme wealth and exterme poverty are
found side by side. AS a direct conse-
quence thousands are without any em-
ployment and many thousands without
= steady employment, to all of whom the
struggle for existence Is becoming un-
bearable, and hence the present discon-
| tent.
Temporary prosperity may allay the
fears of the rich, and lessen the suffer-
ings Of the poor, but the evil will be
scotched not killed, only to come up
| again III more aggravated form. The
| time has therefore come in this country
to face the problem raised by Mill half
century ago and by legislative action
regulate or lessen the possibility Of
| large sums accumula ting in the hands of
| single individuals This is question
! that should be met by all in the interest
CT all. and / shall conclude by quotin9
Mlll's suggestion as possible eolutlou3
Were / framing a code of laws" s6yo
he in his Political Economy" Book H..
Chapter H., paragraph 4. according g
what seems to me best in itself. without
regard 10 existing opinions and sentI-
ments, l should prefer to restrict. not
what any one might bequeath, but what
any one should be permitted to Acquire.
| by bequest or inheritance. Each per-
SON should have power to disposs ~
will of his or {her whole property; bnt
not to lavish 1t in enriching some ono
individual beyond certain maximunn
which should be fixed sufficiently high -
afford the means Of comfortable iu6o.
pcndence.' !.
JAMES T. VAN RENSsELAER i
Los Angeles. Cal. March 1a. 1851.