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

the product Of his work, for that OF
another; but as reprOducer Of It
self. and particularly so as this repro
duction- did not necessarily involve
the application of any kind Of energy
on the part of the owner of the mon
ey. In this respect interest on mon
ey forms the principal incentive for
the accumulate and boarding Of
money, because the greater the accu-
mutation and boarding. the greater
may be the reproduction: and, as one
produces the other. that is. as the
accumulation increases the produc-
ton. and the production in turn in
creases the accumulation. we have
here, indeed. the nucleus for the most
tremendous and dangerous power that
has ever influenced mankind. Quite
early. the danger was apprehended,
and it was sought to curb it, or les
sen it by the establishment OF rates
of interest in excssS~Of which, such
charge should not be made. Here
originated a fundamental error, for III
the very enactment OF regulations as
to rates of interest. was involved he
admission of the right to charge in
terest on money, the inaniElated
thing, in itself powerless of reproduc-
tion, and the use of which had origi-
mated as a medium of exchange and
representative Of the value of the
work physical, mental. muscular ner-
vous, of men.
In this connection. it is worthy Of
note. whether we view the Biblical
writing as the word of God. or mere
ly as authoritative human historical
data, that only, on one coca sion, IS
Jesus Christ recorded as using force,
and that was when he scourged the
Dealers in Money out Of The Fem
pie.
Money. whether in the form Of
shells, metals, stones, or skins OF an
finals, which had been prizei As a
representative of value and medium
of exchange; the thing with which
men might obtain food and clothing.
and shelter, or supply other wants
for themselves and those dependent
upon them, was given the power to
reproduce itself Practically worth
less. Heretofore in itself. immediate
ly it becomes valuable, and is priced
for the other purpose, the reprOducer
OF itself. The more it is priced in
that relation, the less available does
it naturally become as a medium OF
exchange; for the more it is with.
held from the channels Of trade. the
greater may be the return by way OF
increased rates. This situation pro
duces a double ill-effect; the increas
ed earning capacity Of money, and
the reduced prices of the products oil
the farm, the factory. and N general
the varied products Of toll, industry
and intellect. Concrete examples OF
these effects are in evidence in tbs
fact that obligations may De renew
ed, or money obtained, provided a
higher rate Of interest be paid; and
in the fact that the price obtained fOI
many raw products, Is below the lev
ell Of the costs Of production, while
others. such as sugar cane and rice
cannot be marketed at all, and cotton
the staple clothier of the world, i;
priced at less than one fourth Of
what it brought twelve months ago
Yet. in the very region where these
products are raised and harvested
and placed in crowded warehouses
thousands Of the population go hun
CRY. and are half clad.
Designed and put into use among
men as a symbol of value a represen
tative of the toll and industry. physi
cal and mental. of men, a medium o.
exchange; by reason of its earning
capacity, by way Of interest charges
money has become. itself the thing o
value. with an Increasing price upot
| itself, which grows and grows, a!