Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-02-16
CHAPTER VIII.

"A Il certain widespread pfeJu-
NN dice which attributes to mon
ey magic power. Having
come so near enchanted ground, we
will not retire in awe, but plant
firm foot here, persuaded of many
truths that should be spoken. They
are not new, but how they are forgot
tent
see no possible way OF doing with
out money. The only thing that theo-
rists or Legislators who accuse 1T Of all
our ills have hitherto achieved has
been to change its name or form. But
they have never been able to dispense
with n symbol representative Of the
commercial value of things. One
might as well wish to do away with
written language as to do away with
money. Nevertheless this question of
n circulating medium Is very trouble
some, 1t forms one of the chief ele-
ments of complication in our life. The
economic difficulties amid which we
still founder, social conventionalities
and the entire organization Of modern
life have carried gold to rank so
eminent that it Is not astonishing to
find the Imagination of man attribut-
ing to 1t n sort of royalty. And 1t Is
on this side that we shall attack the
problem.
The term money has for appendage
that of merchandise. If there were no
merchandise there would be no money,
but as long as there is merchandise
there will be money, little matter un-
der what form. The source of all the
abuses which center around money lies
in n lack of discrimination. People
have confused under the term and idea
Of merchandise things which have no
relation with one another. They have
attempted to give a venal value to
things which neither could have 1t nor
ought to. The idea of purchase and
sale has invaded ground where 1t may
Justly be considered an enemy and a
usurper 1t is reasonable that wheat,
potatoes, wine. fabrics, should be
bought and sold, and it is perfectly
natural that Il mans labor procure
him rights to life and that there be put
into his hands something whose value
represents them, but here already the
analogy ceases to be complete, A mans
labor is not merchandise In the same
sense as sack of -four or ton of coal.
Into this labor enter elements which
cannot be valued in money. In short,
| there are things which can In nowise
| be bought-sleep, for instance, knowl-
| edge of the future, talent. He who Of
| fers them for sale must be considered
n fool or an impostor, and yet there
are gentlemen who coin money by such
| traffic. They sell what does not be-
long to them, and their dupes pay ficti-
| tious values In veritable coin. So, too,
there are dealers In pleasure, dealers
! In love. dealers in miracles dealers In
patriotism, and the title of merchant,
SO honorable when 1t represents man
selling that which is in truth n COM
| modify of trade becomes the worst OF
stigmas when there is question of the
heart, of religion, of country.
Almost all men are agreed that to
barter with ones sentiments, his hon
or, his cloth, his pen, or his note, Is In
| famous. Unfortunately this idea, which
suffers no contradiction rs theory
and which thus stated seems rather n
commonplace than high moral truth,
has infinite trouble to make its way In
practice Traffic has invaded the world.
The money changers are established
even in the sanctuary, and by sanctu-
airy l do not mean religious things
alone, but whatever mankind holds sa'
cred and inyiolable. 1t is not gold that
complexities, corrupts and debases Ire
it is our mercenary spirit.
The merccnary spirit resolves every
thing into a single question, How
much Is that going TO bring me? anc
sums up everything in n single axiom
with money you can procure anything
Following these two principles Of con
duct, n society may descend to de
gree Of infamy impossible TO describe
ar 70 imagine.