514 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



must address his attention if he would overcome and 

 relieve the distress everywhere prevailing. With the 

 proper means of distribution production will be stimulated, 

 but instead of producing wide-spread distress and poverty, 

 as is claimed by some, would add to the wealth, the hap- 

 piness and comfort of the producing classes. To have 

 over-production is as impossible as to become too wealthy. 

 We may have under -consumption by cutting off th2 

 means of transportation or having an inadequate amoun 

 of currency or medium of exchange, and the product of 

 certain commodities may become gorged on account of a 

 deficiency in the means of distribution, and that distress 

 exist, which is felt in times of excessive drouth, which is 

 produced, not by a scarcity of water, but by improper 

 distribution of it. 



To remedy this we must have what nature has pro- 

 vided in her economic system, compensating laws, or laws 

 that will properly distribute that which has been produced. 

 It is rather strange that it has never occurred to the advo- 

 cates of over-production, that it is those who produce so 

 much who are the real sufferers, while a rich harvest is 

 reaped by those who provide and control the means of dis- 

 tribution. The farmer who produces large quantities of 

 the cereals may suffer for want of the clothing and shoes 

 of which the men who make them have large quantities 

 on hand. And the men who make the clothing and shoes 

 may suffer for the breadstufFs of which the farmer has 

 plenty. But it is not on account of an over-production of 

 these necessaries of life and comfort, but owing to excess- 

 ive rates of transportation and want of a sufficient medium 

 of exchange. There are two things which the future 

 patriotic statesman will take into consideration. 



The first is, to stimulate production by encouraging 

 labor. The second is, to provide the proper means of 

 distribution. On these two points the greatest writer of 



