Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1891 — UNCLE SAM AFTER THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM AFTER THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.

F or Tbe Republican. The general business operations of the day and generation, are conducted for the sDle and only purpose of making money. All charitable work including church and benevolence, though of the greatest importance and necessity. are but “side shows” in a business sense. Money or gain are at the bottom of every business venture, and on the proceeds or profits of secular business, church and charity as well as the gratification of unholy appetites and passions depends. The day may oome when the whole world is converted to Christ; when a new order will obtain, when the pleasurg of self, will consist in rendering the greatest pleasure, to others. But this article is written of business tjs it now is, and without any reference to the good time coming when “no man will live for himself’ The successful conduct of any business depends upon a few indispensible conditions. Ability of the active agent; this ability must be acompanied by an earnest interest to succeed. There is an intense competion in all the general industries of our land, and only the interested can prosper in a business way. The slothful, ease loving, half hearted, indifferent business man is run over in the race for dollars, The brightest of intellect, the honest intent, will go part way, and cannot well be spared in the make up of a business.agent, but to win, they must be connected with an earnest interest to accomplish the Tindertaking. This earnest interest has for a basis of promotion but one sure, always abiding, life giving matter; and that is the reward that comes from sucess. And that r.eward has prompted the opening of every mine, runs eveiy factory and farm, is behind every locomotive, is the very root of every enterprise, and the life of business. It has made the millionaire, and the lack of it has made the beggar. Our country is what it is, because of individual enterprise; the richest and most prosperous land in all the earth. And this enterprise we have as a people only because eachindividual has the full reward of all his inventions, of all his risks, of all toil, economy and industry. The sources of wealth have been many. The men to enlist in enterprise have not been lacking, the conditions of property were here, and were seized upon by the American people; not only with eagerness but with a relish which promised success from the start. Many have won, some have failed, such is always the rule. Is not the number winning, when compared with the number losing, greater with us, than with any other people ?

Uncle Sam as a business man—to judge by the past—is not a shining light. His traffic with the contractor for supplies in time of war or peace does not show on the part of our Uncle any inherited or cultivated tact for trade. In fact, Uncle Sam is, as a trader, is something like the writer of his article. I never could sell or buy a thing for what it was worth, but in trade invariably get left. Uncle Sam pays for grain and beef —through his Quarter-mastter —one third more than any one else pays for the same kind of property. Has “Samuel” guns or clothing to sell? He never gets half price for anything, if .he gets a a cavalry horse it costs him $l5O. If he wants to sell the 6ame horse, he gets S4O. If he wants to build a house it costs double, what it would if built by a private person. Our dear old Uncle is cheated at every turn. The honest Indian Agent cheats poor Loo and “Sam” and steals from both: Sam’s woodlot is robbed by the citizen and stranger; the citizen and alien gobble hisland and trespass on him continually, manufacturers of liquors and cigars unite with the revenue officers to pilfer his income, ‘as do the Begister and Beceiyer of his Land office. “Samuel” has never bden able to keep what belongs to him, nor in many instances to obtain restitution when robbed; only one poor Agent of all Uncle' Sam’s thousands of employees hashe ever been able to successfully hold level; the poor hard worked Postmaster, Sam sets down on hard, he doubtless thinks the one animal he can ride should be rode for all he is worth. The trouble with Samuel’s business transactions is the Agents he necessarily employs are all working for their own interest instead of his, their interests lie that way, and the greater their ability, the better their opportunity to obtain our Uncle’s money. Uncle Sam has one qualification, Be excells all others in his ability to be cheated, but this particular quality will not generally be con. sidered as rendering him anymore

fitted for a business mantU" *. Ib it not best for us as a people, that the management *of business affairs have been almost completely left to private enterprise, energy, ambition and talent? Sam don’t care for the dollars, he don’t need the power their possession would give, he knows if he needs them he has only to demand and they will come. “Sam” is not an enterprising individual. He never opened any mines of coal, iron, silver or gold’ not even salt; Had it not been for private enterprise Sam himself, would be to-day eating his potatoes without salt that is if he had any potatoes to eat. Sam is not a genius, he never invented so much as a fly-trap, and when he got in a big war, he for want of guns bought some old antedeluvian Dutch muskets more dangerous to friend than foe. (Continued next week.)