The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-05-21
The Effect Of the European War ON the
West.


Among the many newspaper specula-
tons with regard to the probable effect
OF the present European war upon this
country, the following from the Chicago
Press and Tribune strike US as truthful and
judicious, and particularly interesting in
our own region.
The Crimean War is too recent an event
in tho recollections of our farmers, and
indeed of all Western people to call for
any argument on the probable effects. in
this part of the world, of similar strife
at the present juncture. 1t will be re-
membered that the prices OF -four, grain,
meats, and nearly all the products of the
Northwest, rose to figures that made it
seem that the good time coming had &C
tuaily come. The abstraction Of quarter
million of men in the old world from the
vocations of peace, requiring to be fed and
clothed, and producing nothing but empty
stomachs continually; the closing of ports
whence the surplus products OF other
countries were shipped to the market of
the world; the diversion of capital from
| the usual channels of commerce to the
! great business OF lzilling-all these COM
blned to set premium on the staples OF
the West, and resulted in the most re-
| markabie harvest of dollars we had ever
enjoyed But another effect, not nearly
50 agreeable, will be equally well remem-
bered The initiation of prices and the I'M
| wonted prosperity consequent upon these
unnatural conditions, induced the belief
| that that state of things was to last forev-
er, and the investments and expenditures
Of the country were regulated very much
on that opinion. Hence, when the war
ceased, as all wars must cease, and the pri-
ccS OF wheat. corn and beef came prccipl-
lately down to their former STATE quo, there
was not only very general and grlevouS
disappointment, coupled with heavy fail
ures IN different parts OF the country, but
it was found that the benefits expected 10
accrue to the West from the long oontin
ued season of high prices, We're only par
TALLY realized. Money soon began to be
tight. Speculations of all sorts became
unpleasantly slow, or took n turn adverse
to the Spectator, and times got harder
and harder, until the crash of 1917, when
it seemed that tie end of all things had
come The late reyulsion is not 10 be at
tributcd to the Crimean war or to its in
opportune close, though doubtless each con-
trlbuted a share TO the result.
, The effects OF the war now begun in Eu-
rope, upon the Northwest will be similar
to those experienced in the late conflict III
theeCrimea The cultivation of the soil
Will be largely .intcImittcd in France, Ger
many, Italy. Austria, and perhaps III Eng,
land and Russia. The ports Of Austria
Will be blockaded, and the large export
trade which finds its outlet through the
Danube, viii be suspended Nearly all the
large grain-producing countries OF Europe
: Will become purchasers to a greater or less
: extent in the American markets Prices
will 90 tp. unquestionably, III the degree
that the war seems likely to be general
and pro.racted And nothing apparently
but failure Of our growing crops can pre-
vent speedy return OF the prosperous
. times OF l,J5-6.
But let it not be forgotten that peace is
the normal condition OF the world and
: that a year or two of fighting is very sure
to turn the attention of fighters 10 an ar
rance.nent Of their unsettled accounts
| III its present aspect, the war lust com
Inenced in Piedmont. bids fair to be bloody
and long continued. Nothing III the cle
ments OF the strife or III the condition o.
/ the world elsewhere, suggests the idieneS'
} Of single man or a single acre OF decent
: -ol III the West On the contrary, every
thin" calls fora strenuous. careful and uil
I ccasing labor IN the broad fields OF Illinois
Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri anc
,, ! Minnesota Let Us then profit by the les
sons Of the four years since the first gun
was fired at Scbastopol. At best, the fiusl
! times we shall soon enjoy from the com
/! Incnccment Of hOst!iities in Europe, vii
:. not last hall a lifetime. But the capita
), thus furnished to our farmers and bus
: ness mon. may. il not fritted away III use
:. less luxuries. or locked up III speculation
. for the next century 70 realize on. becoIn
= the basis Of great and enduring pro.
q perity.