CO-OPERATION. 15 



plantation commands the services of 5,000 'born thralls' of 

 Wm. Astor. Every 10 years, according to the rate of increase 

 on the investment, the city, from rent, is rebuilt and given 

 to the land-^r(7s/ Already, in Fifth Avenue, the ground 

 rent exceeds the improvements, and io! there are the Five 

 Points! In 10 years, these five acres will call for the labor of 

 10,000 men; this is London. In 20 years, it takes the labor of 

 20,000 men. Yet still, the land 7'ises! In 30 years, it takes 

 the labor of 40,000, in 40 years, 80,000, in 50 years, 160,000! 

 Good heavensi where can they all stand? how can they live? 

 They cannot live, twelve are in a room, the sewers give way, 

 life is unbearable, death a boon, home and citizenship are al- 

 iens, the city sleeps on a volcano. Was Paradise a gardeyi'i 

 here is a living hell! Hark, there is the sound of an explosion, 

 the heavens are filled with a lurid glare, revolution has begun! 

 Now shiver the palaces of glass, now shrivel the rainbow col- 

 ored walls and not a vestige remains of the iniquitous system* 



INTEREST. 



Interest is the twin of rent. It has no labor equivalent and 

 denies the right of private property. It is not payment for 

 any service performed, nor, since loans are made on security, 

 is it for any risk incurred. Neither is it payment lor a share 

 in nature's increase, for this is free and equal to all. Neither 

 is it because capital employs labor, for capital is the child of 

 labor,and when properly organized, can employ itself. Inter- 

 est is a tax on exchange, through a monopoly of credit. 



Republicanizing Credit. — Money is not a 'tool,' a 'medium,' 

 or even a 'representative' of value, it is simply so much tcater, a 

 floating account. And banking is but a method of securing, or 

 keeping those accounts. It is not a 'creature of law,' but of 

 commerce. The right to issue money is as inalienable as the 

 right to produce. It is 'law' which has wrought all the mis- 

 chief with money. If it is not solvent, can it be made so by 

 calling it 'legal tender?' If it is already solvent, can it be 

 made more so? If the banks should discard the trade dollar, 

 what could the government do? Then why meddle, why 



♦i'here is no foumlation in uii' uic, or natural laws, why a sef of icords on parch- 

 ment, should convey the dominion of laud.— Blackstone's Commentakies. 



