The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-01-08
netter Time. CsmingI

Better Times Comtugy
There is probably no better way of securing
hard times to come. than to anticipate them
and predict them and croak about them.
Times are hard enough now, as every bus
mess man knows, but it is to be presumed we
have seen the worst we shall be called upon
to experience. it is useless now to invest.
igate the causes of the great pressure which
has been felt in every part of the country,
and in all branches Of trade and commerce
and manufactures. II is sufficient to know
the evil, and to realize that nearly every de-
partment of business has been affected by il,
and that in the larger cities thousands Of
workmen are out of employment and thrown
upon the charity of more fortunate neighbors.
There is nothing ithout cause, and the
causes Of this unusual and unfortunate con-
dtion Of things might very easily be pointed
out-but the future deserves our earnest
consideration, while the past lives but in
its regrets and experience.
We have been reading an ably written
article in the Cincinnati Price Current, by
Richard Smith, one of the best commercial
writer's in the West, as he is one OF the
closest observers of cause and effect i'm the
money and commercial world around him.
This article reviews the CONNER cial featu.er
of 1854, aud dips into the causes Of the presen,
general pressure. We are glad to perceive
that IN closing his article, Dir. Smith locks
cheerfuIly at the future. and thinks the worst
has passed. We extract few paragraphs
| from the close Of his article:
The failures of Banks and Bankers already
referred to, frauds, defalcatons, and embt z
elements that were developed in places high
and low, together with the fact that these
crimes were committed in most cases by
men who had stood high in the estimation OF
the public, increased mercantile troubles un-
ill it was generally feared that season SIM
liar to that Of 1861 would be experienced.
The worst Of the pressure has been felt since
the LIST OF October, and through matters now
show only slight symptoms vi e.overy, yet
it is evident the reality fell far short of an
ticipations, and from present indications it is
fair to infer that the worst has been expe-
rienced.
In some respects the pressure was as Sc.
we're as at any previous period in the history
of the country, but in other and material re-
spects it was not equal to the difficulties OF
1861. There was no general suspension
either oil the part Of Banks or individuals,
and the tact that the failures OF either have
been comparatively few, while it is extreme
ly gratifying, is an evidence, than which
there can be none more satisfactory, OF the
entire solvency Of the leading intereste If
the country. In addition TO this, the agricul-
tural wealth Of the United States is larger
now, in proportion to the .OpulatIon, than
at any previous time. In former periods OF
disasters, these interests were greatly de-
pressed.
Having thus presented brief and in some
respects imperfect review of the leading
commercial features Of the past year, we may
remark with reference to the future, that the
prospect is by no means dark. Though day.
break may not be visible to those who have
been harrassed by the cares of the counting
room for SIX months past, the approach Of
: b .tter times is nevertheless observable Fol
some months past the great majority of PEG.
pie in every line of business, have been con.
tracing and economizing. The aim has
been, and is still. to get as nearly as possible
out OF debt. The banks have also been con.
tracing. The effect Of all these movements
though not felt now to any great extent, will
as soon as confidence gathers strength, bt
ex perienced in degree that must secure
: sudden change for the better; and the fact
tqat this improvement is not generally an
ticipated, will render the result the more Ger
tain.