THE END OF ENDURANCE. 223 



ters as well. Speculation became rife in our cities in every 

 possible direction, but especially in money and in stocks, the 

 latter either real or fictitious, made to represent money. 

 Thus was built up that system of hollow unreality in mone 

 tary affairs, coupled almost constantly with fraud and cor 

 ruption, that has lately culminated in * the failure of Jay 

 Cooke & Co., and a general collapse of stocks of every kind, 

 showing at once the entire rottenness of the whole system of 

 building apparently colossal but really fictitious fortunes 

 upon the bulling and bearing of stocks. 



THE END OF ENDURANCE. 



\The encroachments and vexatious discriminations of the 

 transportation companies, and the exactions of agents and 

 middle men, had all been increasing, the farmers meanwhile 

 steadily growing poorer and poorer. On all sides were 

 heard the mutterings of discontent, like the scattering, des 

 ultory fire of skirmishers, preliminary to a general engage 

 ment. 



The enemy laughed at the wri things of their captives. 

 bound, as they had them, with iron bands. &quot; Pay us three, 

 or four, or five bushels of corn, and we will take one to 

 New York for you ! You object ? Then keep your corn ! 

 Burn it, or let it rot ! Ingrates ! After all that we have done 

 for you!&quot;) 



Again, it was the middle men who spoke : &quot; You want a 

 plow, a reaper, a thresher? Pay us, then, three or four 

 times its cost, or you must do without. You will buy it 

 direct? No, you will not buy it direct from the maker! 

 We have stopped that little game ! You have it from us, 

 or not at all.&quot; 



The wealthy farmer found that farming did not pay ; the 



