170 LAND AND LABOR. 



that had so long been crushing the life out of every in- 

 dustry, and would inevitably have intensified the busi- 

 ness distress that existed before the war. But the 

 quick consumption, or destruction, of their products 

 gave life and activity to every interest, and filled the 

 land with comfort and wealth. 



The war destroyed not one dollar of property that 

 did not absolutely depend upon its destruction to pay 

 for its production. If it took years to produce that 

 which was destroyed, it only shows how long the pay- 

 ment for its production had been deferred. Nothing 

 was wiped out. There was simply a conversion from 

 the useless to the useful. 



The only possible reason that can exist for the pro- 

 duction of a single bale of cotton cloth, or one bushel 

 of wheat, or one pair of shoes, is the life and comfort 

 which are obtained by and through their use and con- 

 sumption. Unused, unconsumed, they fail to repay 

 the labor and cost of production, or in any manner to 

 contribute to the sustenance of life, the comfort of 

 mankind, or the wealth of society. But it is in their 

 use, their consumption, that all the required condi- 

 tions are found. And, manifestly, the quicker they 

 are brought into use and consumption, the sooner will 

 the producer and trader reap their reward and profit. 

 It is consumption that makes the demand for re- 

 production, that fixes the value of products, creates 

 the volume of trade, and pays both producer and 

 trader. Production and consumption, growth and 

 destruction, are the law of progress and develop- 

 ment ; and this talk of wiping wealth out of exist- 

 ence, except by and through idleness, by stagnation, 



