The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-17
RecuperatiOn.

1t is trite, but just now pertinent OBJ
servaton, that "when things are at their
worst they begin to mend" This maxim is
as applicable to political economy as to in
dividual fortune. We think the country has
seen the worst that can befall it, and it is
now in order to consider the alternating cir
cumstances of our condition. The storm,
We confess, has been much more severe than
We could have believed possible three months
ago; but we believe as firmly now as we did
then that the prosperity of the country rests
on stable foundation-on vast natural re-
sources, on immense accumulations Of capt.
tai in all needful FORMS and on the indomita-
bic industry and energy of orr people. All
we have to lament now are the miSfortunes
which have swept down multitudes who de-
served to stand in their old places of honor
and influence, and who would have maintain
ed their position but for the piratical war
that has been sosrecklessy waged upon the
great business interests of the country. 1t
IS sad to see the man who by we'll directed
industry and enterprise had secured COM
petence or fortune, suddenly stripped of
everything, and himSefand family left to shv-
er in the blast. Such cases never call forth
our sympathy, however clearly we may be
convinced that the present evils will not Sc
AaOaSiy ohCNt OuT NclldIc Us IL EdllOn. w
ought as far as possible bear each others
burdens, and thus break the force of the gen.
eral calamity.
DIsmlssing, however, the consideration Of
individual misortunes the prospect ahead is
by no means gloomy. AS before intimated,
we are now suffering from plethora rather
than poverty. To use the language of the
medical faculty, our disease is arrangement
OF functions not an organic decay Strictly
Speaking, We are as rich to-day as we were
before the first gun of revulsion sounded in
our ears. Our farms, workshops, manufacto-
rles, warehouses, stores, ships, steamboats,
and railroads, remain to us, and ere long will
be more valuable than ever. In one
important respect we are richer than we were
three months ago. for then the harvest was
l. some measure problem now its marnifi-
cent results are are assured beyond contin-
gency. 1t will require some tme-a few
months at the outside-to bring the relations
and the machinery of business into order,
and then new era Of prosperity will have
been lnaugurated. With the return of conf
deEce, real property and securities based up
on substantial values will gradually come up
to their proper level, and all the manifold one
ratons OF industry and traffic will 60 on as
II no such thing as panic or revulsion had
ever been heard Of
Let 1T be borne in mind that we have an
immense capital to go upon in starting anew
III business. The railroads, whose deprecia-
ton has no doubt contributed largely to-
wards our present difficulties, are worth
greatly more to the country than they have
cost at the largest estimate and stand ready
to aid in the work of regeneration, as they
have hitherto aided in increasing the general
wealth. The multitudes who have settled in
the West during the last two or three wears.
and whose wholesale emigration and with
drawal of capital from the East NAV have
done something towards prccpitating the
present crisis, will soon be in condition TO
contribute greatly more to the national
wealth than they could had they remained
where they were. In agriculture, we shall
take fresh start aided by all the inventions
and discoveries of science which the last fifty
years have brought to light In manufac-
lures, we shall commence anew with an
amount of machinery, capital skill that can
be matched by no other country save Eng
land vi our commercial machinery and ia
clls!es, it is enough to say of them that they
are IN the main adequate to our need and
commensurate with the other great interests
OF the nation. The present crisis has dis
closed serious defects in our commercial sys-
ce'h' out general conviction of their eXis.
day. ~ "0 "''''''''
Tins is a sober statement of the condition
OF the business community. Who will saw
that our confidence in the future is not vol
founded 2-ChicGgo Press.