Year: 1871

dom, "This is all very well as
principle, but not in practice" 1t is
all very well as principle to say that
too many boys leave agriculture and
useful callings, to become merchants;
but, in fact, the temptation of
pseudo-respeetability, and the one in
a hundred chances of becoming rich,
are too strong Tor the principle.
Opposing stock gambling is also a
theory which yields before the prac-
tice of our most respectable and up
right citizens.


Yet it remains true as ever, that
the world is best off when most gov
erned by principles; and that, as
society improves, it approaches them.
How much, Of late years, their infiu-
ence has been brought home to US.
How much railroads and telegraphs
have taught the world of the princi
pies of intercommuuication and as
sociation. And what an array of
sound principles are called into life
by commercial panics and their re-
suits. How decidedly are we Taught
that by getting foreigners to manu-
facture for us, we are often placed in
dependent, and sometimes ruinous
positions and how apparent does it
become that the principle of short
credit, steady business, and economy,
are vital truths, and not old fogy no.
tions, to be carelessly passed over by
Young America.


The greatest principle which has
been inculcated, practically, by our
long experience, is the fact that the
country has had too many idle
agents; too many non-producers,
consuming the capital which should
have passed directly from consumer
to producer. We have great deal
too much of that business-too many
middle men between the manufac-
turer and the ultimate consumer-too
many agents between the farmer and
the bread d-eater-too many shops and
too many business men altogether.


One might: however, have preached
forever to teach this, without receiv-
ing attention. The great proportion
of the young and enterprising world
do not Enoao that between the broad
cloth-respectability of city business
life, and. the less envied condition OF
2 sSan agriculturist or mechanic, there
are gradually springing up a great
number of educated occupations, and
facilities which qualify the producer
manufacturer and farmer, to make
money, and take rank with any col
lege graduates. This is all too new
a matter as yet; but in a few years
we shall see the good results, when
every young man, instead of rushing
into counting room, will think first
of the steadier and more assured fu
ture which awaits the one who ha:
passed couple of years at an Agri
cultural college, or who has learned
to be scientific manufacturer.


But, as we have said. all tht
preaching in the world would never
have shown the soundness of the
principle that we have too many
business men. The knowledge o.
the fact that we have one place o
business to every sixty men, Wome1
and children, would not have KEEP
people from entering into the over
stocked calling. Fortunately, the in
evitable progress of business itself
and the tendencies which it involves
are themselves beginning to shoI
clearly and plainly that we cannot g.
astray without being recalled in tn
long run. Every evil has within it
self its own corrective. OF late tn
facilities of transport, the perfection
of railroads, the concentration o
capital, have facilitated trade directl.
between consumer and producer
When Eastern manufacturing com
panies have their agencies in al
cities, and when importing is chief
in the hands of a few large house
which retail, it is evident that th
jobbing and commission business
and all the various phases of goods
brokering, must be gradually losing
Here is principle which has TO
years been awaiting its realization
one which mast eventually prevail
the principle that. as society pre-
crosses, the transfers from produce
to consumer must be greatly facili
tated. -...-


We say it would be well if mes
could be raised on the largest scale
and directly transferred to the cor
sumer. If it be true that a create
number of middle men and small or