The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-01-06
The Old and New Year.


Since the last issue of our paper, we have
seen the last of 1858, and have fully entered
upon the realities of another year, and we
embrace the occasion to wish our readers,
one and all, a cordial "happy new year.
happy in the realization of every reasonable
, desire, happy in altl,A-in prosperity and
improve,nelit--happy in every thing that
can be comprehended in the word-and hap
pier than any year of their existence has
been.
In reviewing the past year, as it is fitting
and will be profitable for us to do, we End
much useful and profitable food for reflec ION
1t has been year marked by distinguish
ing characteristics, to an extent that perhaps
no previous year of our history has been, eli
matically, pecuniarily, and politically espe-
cially.
We have never approached so near a
famine in this country, especially in the west
where we inhabit, as we have the past year.
The wet weather which prevailed and char
pSSSi wv diilIOSt tilS NIlolc VI tItt ScitSOII,
filled our soil and kept it so full of water as
to prevent the growth and maturity of our
crops, the effects of which are now manifes-
ting themselves in an unwanted scarcity of
bread-stuffS, threatening rise in price which
will occasion general distress if not actual
want to thousands of our population. Al
ready do We see the anamoly of reversal
in the direction of the trade in bread-stufTs,
in our own region, which ought, and in Or
binary seasons will, export largely of wheat
and flour, having become purchaser to a
large extent of those articles, which are now.
being shipped largely from the east, into this
State. One of our citizens is now absent at
Chicago for the purpose of buying wheat to
be manufactured into -four by one of our
mills. 1t is distressing to think of the large
amount which must be taken from our limited
means at this time of severe pressure in pc
cuniary matters, for bread to feed not only
cities and Towns, but our farmers themselves.
Pecuniarily, 1858 has been hard year
The commercial revulsion which commenced
in the fall of the previous year, continued in
full force throughout the last, and still con-
tinues, intensity being added in our own
section of the country, by the partial failure
of the crops. How much longer the present
scarcity of money, and depression of prices
will continue, is beyond the power ofhuman
sagacity to predict, the laws which govern
the present state of things being different,
seemingly, from those which have originated
and controlled previous depressions. Capital
has all the time been abundant at the centers
of trade, and the banks, though temporarily
embarrassed, have long since recovered
sound and healthy condition. We have had
no general failure in production, the present
scarcity being confined to limited portions
ofthe country, while in other portions prices
rule lower than for many years before, show
ing an abundance Of production taking the
country together. Why under this state of
facts, the hard times should continue is
strange indeed. The cause must be below
currency, and the crops, and the machinery
.
ofbusiness, and is doubtless to no inconsid-
cradle extent to be found in the foolish and
fatal persistence of the government in the
policy ffree trade, which is killing our ma
tional industry and undermining our wealth,
through the competition of foreign labor and
capital. The present condition of things is
gradually working change in our system
Of doing business, by which less will be done,
with dimunition of risks, and profits, too
Politically, a good deal has been gained for
Republcanism~ The standard ofour gallant
party has been advanced everywhere, and
there can be no doubt but that we are on the
eve ola National triumph. The Democracy
broken and dispirited, cannot hope to har-
monte their dscordant elements in time for
the next Presidential canvass, and the Re-
publicans united and confident, must sue
coed.