The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-09
FRIDAY. JULY 3. 1897.
HOURKE COCHRAN ON 0
Nv


Gently returned from Europe CAV" 49,
New York Sun a day or so OacN ii'9
,.,e,vs unon some OF the issues OF the day.
Tn the course OF his remarks ne saiu'
.r an, one OF those unfortunates VINO
,,,nnen 20 cherish certain political Denels
ana TO regard parties as merely oeN4Oo
for the enforcement Of them. 90 no,
believe that can share the pontiCai
,aitb which animates either one OF inc
poltical parties at present am one "a
those who believe in the cheapness oi
commodities. while both the great poilu-
cal parties seem 20 consider that 10 IN
crease the cost Of them IS to promote
national happiness. / believe that the
march of civilization is the growth OF
cheapness. IT rejoices me 10 realize that
the laborer enjoys more comforts TODAY
than q prince could command five hun
dred years ago, while the carpet IN a me-
CHANCES parlor, at the close Of the nine
teenth century would have been worth
a kings ransom at the close Of the four
teenth. These are the results Of the fan
in prices which Populists bemoan and
which others seem anxious 10 arrest
CheaTness 10 me is a sign Of abundance.
md / am nairow-minded enough to think
that abundance is prosperity DEAFNESS
OF commodities IS always a consequence
OF scarcity and I cannot conceive that
scarcity and prosperity are Synonymous
terms. II high prices be q panacea for
all evils we must revise our views Of
what hitherto we have been accustomed
10 regard as great national calamities
IL high prices mean prosperity, the Irish
ftmine was a blessing from Providence
which w5s not even thinly disguised. If
high pri' ca be the object for which en-
hghtened craftsmanship should strive
then the Prussian armies that encircled
Paris with n wall OF steel and fire were
not enemies. but ministerng angels to
the Parisians, because they caused prices
in that city TO rise so high that cat
meat became worth s. n pound. ! can
not rise TO the heights Of a statesman
ship which seeks 10 raise prices either by
taxation or by debasement Of the coin
age. I must postpone my active partici-
patton IN politics until some substantial
number Of my folllow-citizens come 10
share my views that men are more pros
porous when goods are cheap. and, there
Sore. abundant. than when they are
dear. and, therefore scarce"
IT IS n long time since we saw sounder
thoughts better expressed. The man with
convictions IS wholly at loss 10 know
now Nha' &c do. The sincere Republican
must be Disguised TO see those in control
OF his party straining every nerve TO place
tie Government OF tho United States in
tho position of forcing one set Of our
countrymen 90 take money out Of their
pockets and present II TO another set and
the sincere Democrat IS simply sickened
when ne sees his own party committed
10 the idea that our standard of value
must be reduced from 100 cents 10 so
cents without any provision whatever be
ing made for compensating those who
parted with 100 cents. but. upon the con-
trary, with distinct provision that they
shall be forced TO receive only 20 cents
in return. The sincere Democrat feels as
Mr.. Cochran says he feels. lie does not
know whittier to turn. He cannot sub
scribe 10 that as Democracy and he cam
not 20 10 the Republican party with its
odious programme Of favoritism and
spoils.
And Mr.. Cockran's remarks upon high
and low prices are entirely sound What
he says is wha, The Times has been
preaching day in and day out ever since
the present political issues were raised.
How the great bulk Of the people are to
be benefited by having TO pay high prices
for what they must consume passes
our comprehension. How the sum of hu-
man misery can fail 10 be reduced by
bringing the prices Of what people need
In everyday life within the reach OF all
Is a thing we cannot understand The
free coiners claim. however. TO be the
especial friends Of the poor man. and
yet they tell Us that they want 10 raise
the prices Of everything. and that means
putting such things out Of the reach OF
poor people. This is. 10 us. strange con-
tradiction.
All OF this is humbuggery. that It is
surprising 10 see so many sensible men
committed TO- The true principle Of life
IS 20 require every man 10 return 100
cents when he has received 100 cents. and
then to let all men labor as they please.
singly or in concert with others. so long
as they trospass upon the rights OF no
other persons and are not animated by
malicious purposes towards others. and
then We will see everything come down