The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-01-17
The 'H'iHnncs

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we hope and think. In common with
our readers we have personal inter
est in this institution and therefore,
apart from the performance of our
duties rs a journalist, VIC have our
own reasons private and personal, for
looking after our own Investment in
Z" The Times" Money has, to all
seeming, had very little vitality, late
ly it has circulated with difficulty,
and, SO dry had the land become. that
the sluggish shallow stream seemed
likely to soak back into mother earth.
Some us are troubled with notions
about periodicity like Peter Simple's
carpenter, who was certain that every
27672 years the same events happened
overagain precisely in the same manner
to the same, persons and in the same
places. That was q comfortable cy-
Gle enough and allowed of Il good deal
Of variety; butnot few alncng us arc
accustomed to limit ours to the rcvo
luton Of only 20 years, which comes
round too soon again for comfort In
1896 the financial world was seized
with cramps and violent convulsions
and therefore We should look for a
similar attac: in 1856. We arc not
inclined TO laugh at the idea: we think
it would be well if men were some
what influenced by it. AS long as love
Of money and sanguinc hope continue
elements Of the human heart, so long
will there be tendency to think ha.
reverses, when once passel through,
are forever behind us, and past "xpc-
ricnce of what can happen will throw
no dark shadow upon the future, nor
restrain from these inflated operations
and hazardous spcculations, which will
in the end bring about disaster again.
One more turn Of the wheel will bring
us to 1856, and complete the 20 years,
and the ending cf the cycle is not so
bright rs was its meridian. The con-
fidence, the bouyancy, Of ten years
ago is not now felt. The war, the
losses by FIRE and water, the ravagcs
of pestilence, the miscrics of the un-
employed poor, the heavy failures of
commercial houses, the falling off of
prices in our staple products, and the
scarcity Of money, all pres, upon the
mind and incline it to fatality. But
we hope and believe that the gloom
will not be Of long continuance, and
that, like All arctic sun in midsummer,
!" The Times" will but just dip below
the horizon and commence Il new,
bright day. In 1886, there was an
almost universal crush of banks; in
1856 we may with confidence expect
cur banks to be rs sound as they have
ever been. They seem to have had
the revolution of that 20 years cycle
in constant view, and managed their
affairs with judicious reference to it.
Speculation, tho rife and active ell.
ough, has not been so visionary and
baseless Us 90 years ago. Years of
prosperous, active improvement have
developed and increased tenfold the
wealth and resources Of our great
country, and it will be no puny storm
which can now PROSTATE her. The
blast has been strong and keen and
here and there we see marks of its
hurtful sweep; but it has been bravely
met, and we hope its greatest power
has. been spent. One striking proof
ofthis we think is to be found in The
firmness with which New Orleans has
kept her footing. Low water has kept
back from her two. thirds ofthe cotton
crop and three fourt 8 Of al the other
Western produce. While these were
delayed inactive, the commercial
transactions which had been based
upon them were coming to maturity,
and few would have expected that
liabilities to the amount of twenty
millions of dollars. compressed within
tho short space Of fortnight, con'