The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-25
ASCENDING PRICES.

Two causes are responsible for the
legitimate advances in the prices Of COM
modities in the United States. First,
the heavy demand from the nations at
war, where production has been cur
tailed; second, the large increase in
gold, shipped to this country from
Europe, with consequent multiplica-
ton of currency based on the gold
standard.
1t must be borne in mind that coal,
iron, food, clothing, land and so forth
are the real things of value, while money
is only the instrument with which those
things are measured. The greater the
volume of money, therefore, the more OF
it is required to be given in exchange
for real values; while the greater the
necessity of those who have not, the
greater the exactions of those who have.
1t is the old and unchanging law OF COM
merce, as remorseless as political econ
omy. Thus the poorer nation becomes
the heavier this law of commerce bears
upon it and the more profitable the trade
the richer nations carry on with it.
China is good example of this. Trade
with her is the most desirable because
her people are not provided with wealth
with which to defend themselves against
wealth. A better illustration is found
in the crop mortgage system Of our own
country, wherein those who pledge the
future products Of their labor pay heavy
interest and profit tolls as penalty for
lack of cash that would enable them
to buy in the cheapest market.
Where the tendency of prices upward
will end and in what it will end are two
things that no one knows. A financier
is only human being and there are no
king financiers who rule such matters
from disinterested elevation. Certainly
this country is having the greatest sea-
son of prosperity it has ever had. Its
new wealth is being measured in billions
of dollars as the wealth of the old world
decreases by many more billions Of
pounds sterling, rubles, francs and
mares. The warning nations are exchang-
ing their boards of gold and credit for
veteran armies and navies. America is
taking much wealth but is growing pro-
portionately less able to defend it.
Wars are fought for the things that
men hold most valuable. Wealth is q
dangerous thing to those who are not
prepared to defend it..
Thus it would seem that poor nation
is the victim Of the richer nations; the
rich nation is in great danger OF attack
from those who have left only the means
of making war. To grow rich-and
strong in armament that riches may be
defended--is the present world madness.
To take from the poor that the rich may
grow richer is the end of commerce.
And these are not new tendencies. They
are as old as intercourse between men.
A sort Of commercial cannibalism has
always preyailed-each nation striving
to consume its neighbor and each sub
ject or citizen endeavoring to grow rich
from tho labor of his neighbor.
The system is faulty one, no doubt,
but all experiments with the aim of i'm
proving it have failed. It seems to be
in accordance with human nature and
therefore it endures from generation te
generation, century to century and age
to age.
And as the prices continue to advance
America grows richer each day, while
Europe grows hungry and experienced
in war.