Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-13
EIGHT 8. PAGES
b s5,yR IS, spprEnInlsR Is. 1883.
snTHE PRosPERITY, OF FooLs.o

Z = 4 4 : - .
a9a In another article, the Vlrgnian-P Pilot
1.-THE proofs of general prosperity which
fools have found IN it, and knaves and
professional optimists have affected to
I find in 1t; exposing the fallncy TINT
5underlies this Interpretation of the
bounty OF nature and showing how
mans inordinate coveteousness and in
1 humanity to man has created an UNI
L natural condition in which even the
Sgenerosityof heaven and earth is mega
igtiyed. Attention was called TO the fact
shat as far us unemployed labor is con-
4 cerned. the work supplied by the har-
west was q relief as brief as "a flash
h Of lightning In the called night and
THAT the Wheat Itself chiefly served as
+ "a pnwnLeither the pawn OF pawn
i brokers. or the pawn of gamesters,-
leaving precious little for producers and
Elaborers.-unless the pnwn-b brokers and
s gamesters-the middle-men of every
Slsind-,were forced toSn real competition
blythe demands of war, drought, plague
gand famine, as in 1S97-1S9S.
The Richmond Times and other OPP
l, tlmistic, monopolistic and gold mono
%metallistic organs insist daily that the
was only one evidence
Bnf thousand to the prosperity of the
gnation. and that all things work to-
&gether to demonstrate that there Is an
abundance of money, n Dlentyof work,
and q plenty Of every supplyito meet
every demand. This Is Very important,
SIC true; for it establishes every neces-
sary condition of prosnerit28 and IL
,ssmen are not prosperous, It Ii, their
fault.
sSs2 The Virginian-Plot Dfonounces the
statement OF the Times to he, unfortu-
& nately a very great error; and Swe as
aert. first, that in this nl.e of .Saiisi ness"
s. HrIt : progress. neither the world. nor
Europe. nor the United States, nor Vir-
Sglnia,S can be truly prosperous without
\ aSsufficiency OF current moneys second
that there Is not enough money for the
world nor for Virginia, and that the
s.9sfaet that q few (chieny speculativc)
spersons and pursuits may have enough
4 money. This gives them unjust and in
curious advantages over all men ana all
pursuits that lack money: and. third
!. that such q situation destroys, prevents
and forbIds. prosperity, or that general
$Seond ition of things which enables all
honest and Industrious people to make
\ q gcomfortable living, freely. for them
8sclyes and families.
sSSs grlculture Is the fundamental inter-
fsest OF man, and IL it, and its managers
L; and employees are unprosperous it Is
Ia flagrant mistake TO impute prosperity
9sto the State, nation, or people, of which
5sstheyanre the producers OF the chief ne
xpessnrles or life, as well as of it's com
forts and luxuries. 1t Is true that a
community may abandon agriculture
salt therSand set It's industry to other
I productive pursuits, depending on an
Exchange for bread, meat, &C.; but that
does notEat all ispeach the truth that
y a. country, ordinarily fertile, have n
due pro- portion ofits population devoted
ITO agriculture, it cannot Justly profess
$40 be prosperous, unless It's agricultural
i people share In the alleged prosperity;
& and ~ the agriculture of the world do
mol Io bring prosperity to those engaged
4 ny ~ theworld Is not prosperous; and
on II the direct road to general pauper-
ISM or universal famine.
griculture In the United States is
mot rosp erous or is only partially so;
1 END sas lon g ne cotton, corn, wheat hay
Eaiid sot her leadin products remain at
I: present prices .-Hit tn little or no profit
For arniers Ind planters, and the
{ ctuai yoIkera of the land reduced to
apit me- he scompela them to live III
ioysls; 80 bare foQt and In rags, subsist
!. an reaspte cured bacon aud musty