The Way to Outdo England Without Fighting Her : Letters to the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the Paper, the Iron, the Farmer's, the Railroad, and the Currency Questions (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Way to Outdo England Without Fighting Her: Letters to the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the Paper, the Iron, the Farmer's, the Railroad, and the Currency Questions

The gentlemen connected with the press, publishers Of books and newspapers, have been for two years past, and are yet, engaged in the performance Of an act that, as it seems to me, closely resem bles suicide; and it is because Of my desire to open their eyes to the fact that it really is suicidal in its tendencies, that I venture to trouble you with the perusal Of this letter. Throughout by far the larger portion Of my life I was one among them, and although many years have elapsed since I ceased to be connected with the business Of publication, the feeling Of interest in those concerned ih it has remained wholly unimpaired. It is, therefore, as an Old friend, late a co-laborer with themselves - a fellow-citizen having no interest in the question except in common with all who are around him - that to you, and through you to them, I propose to speak, hoping that they may be disposed to reflect carefully on the views that will be presented, and confidently believing that they may be satisfied that their recent course of proceeding, however injurious it may be to the makers Of paper, tends to the production Of results utterly destructive to themselves.

Most naturally they are anxious that paper shall be cheap, and that their business may be large and profitable. SO am I, well knowing, as I do, that it is to the universal development Of intellect among our people that we now stand indebted for the fact that this Union has bebn maintained; and, that if we are to prosper in the future it is in the direction Of a further and more complete develop ment Of the national mind that prosperity must be sought. TO that end, books and newspapers must be placed within the reach of all, Old and young, poor and rich, black and white.

Thus fully agreeing with them in the result at which we should desire to arrive, I propose now to ask both you and them to look with me to the measures by which it may be attained. To that end, allow me now to ask the question - What are the circumstances under which commodities Of all kinds tend to become cheaper? Is it not when and where there is competition for their sale? What, On the contrary, are those in which they tend to become dearer? Is it not when and where there is competition for their purchase? To these questions there can be but one reply, and that in the affirmative.

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