The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-16

the levity of those who go their
daily way without stopping even
to reflect whether they may have
a daily way to go a short time
hence"
In modern times, the old aristocracy
which had been established by the
sword. and for the foIlies and extra
VACANCIES OF which, the people paid,
has been destroyed. We know at
what costs. of blood and tears, and
human agonies. There is another arts
tocracy today, dominant in the world
the aristocracy established by mon
ey: and unless its power be checked
and gradually taken entirely away
we do not know at what costs, it. viii
be destroyed. The purpose Of this
document is to point out how this new
aristacracy has been built, into what
subsection it has brought the people
Of the civilized world, and holds them.
how il is at the root of present econ
Omic ills; and how the situation may
be peacefully remedied. 1t IS not in
tended as a mere criticism; FOR it is
fully realized that the system COM
planned of. as we'll as all other human
institutions, reflect both the best and
the worst impulses, motives, lolglngs
and accomplishments, of ever strug-
Cling, and oftimes erring human ma
ture In defiance Of no one, yet firm
", and with the fearlessness which is
born of the righteousness of belief, it
is submitted as an honest effort to-
wards the ameliOrations and better
ment of all
AS man settled down to life of
industry and huSbandry, when ne
ceased to roam, and began to live by
toll. instead of by chance, he at once
became a producer. and as his needs
and desires increased. he grew more
skillful and intelligent, and by his
physical and mental energy, he sup
nljed them. There was the necessity
of something to represent the value OF
his work, and serve as medium by
which he might exchange his pro
ducts. for that of his neighbOr, with
out being forced to exchange, say a
sack of corn for a sack Of rice, etc.
Here is the origin OF the use of mon
ey, a medium of exchange. At differ
ent times among different people, var
ious things we're used as money. Al
one time the use of skins or animals
was in vogue. From which fact sur
wives a vulgar expression with refer
ence TO shady financial transactions:
Skin them" that is TO say, take away
their skins, their money. The word
pecuniary, relating to money, is de-
rived from the latin word Pecus,
meaning skin.
Originally there was no such thing
as interest on money. Money was
priced simply as a representative OF
value and medium of exchange. In it.
self. it was of no value TO mankind.
II could not be eaten, nor used as
clothes or shelter. It supplied one,
and only one human need, it was a
medium Of exchange and representa-
tive Of value. created by work, ply
steal. mental. nervous, muscular. Note
the fact that it would have no more
value. in itself to-day, than it had
then. if interest on money had never
! existed. Interest on money original
! ed as a penalty for the non-return on
a certain date. OF an amount borrow
| ed. As a survival of that fact, under
| our present financial system, We fire.
quentIy find obligations bearing in
/ terest from maturity" except tina;
| to-day such a provision at once suS
gests the fact that the interest has
! been charged in advance.
/ The moment interest on money be
gan to be charged. that moment value
/ 10 money, other than as medium OIL
! exchange. originated. Money began
J Ii n TO be priced, not so much as a
means BY wrich one might exchange