The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-12-10
WHOLE NO. 1877.


REVIVAL or BUSINESS.
For the first time since the crash Of 1857
the business propects OF the Wcst b~gin to
wear healthy and progressive appearance;
our business men are beginning to hold up
their heads, rs if they knew what they were
doing, and knCwing 1t were satisfied. We
do not mean to be understood as prophesy-
ing very flush timer Immediately, but a.
merely noting the improved condition Of
financial affairs BOW, rs compared to the
last TWO years. When the hard times COM
menced some twenty eight months ago, the
people were totally unprepared for them,
and the consequence WAS that thousands
upon thousands of our merchants, mechanics,
farmers and specuiaters, who had thought
lessly involved themselves in debt when
money was plenty. suddenly found that they
were worth nothing, alter paying their
debts; while other thousands belonging to
to the same classes Were indeed far beyond
their means, with httle hope, and no imme-
diate prospect, Of satisfying those who had
placed confidence IN them rs honest and
capable men, when the commercial horizon
OF the country wore bright aud smiling
appearance.
Over TWO years have pnssed since our
monetary troubles be- N, nnd during thus
time u very large number Of our active
business men have succeeded IN e1tricatng
themselves from the difficulties hat sur
rounded them, and are now again-if not
on the high road TO fortune--makiny a
comfortable living. with hopcfu. prospects
for the future. There are Others Who have
not vet succeeded in gett NJ out of debt, and
perhaps. there are many of them never will;
tuF a thIS Infer ria-S ihalr
sma! in comparison with their more for
tunate neIghbors, and they will but swell
the Jist Of those who have before them
sunk beneath the troubled waters of COM
merce there is no hope for them but
through long yenrs Of economy, perserer-
ance and toll.
The Iarge crops raised hy our farmers
this year have went far towards liuuidating
the debls lhe West is owing to the East,
and by the time all our surplus products
have found their way to tLe-water, we shall
have---if not all our Eastern indebtedness
squared up-at leas: placed ourselves in
such a position as to command Eastern
credit and confidence, with iair prospect
o: being able by this time next year to
balance accounts with them.
At the present time the prices for all
kinds of farm products are on the rise, and
if We Judge the signs Of the times Alright, it
is only the beginning of our greatest pros
perity as people. For the last two wears
gold has been accumulating in ali the com-
merCial centres Of the world, thereby drain
ing the agricultural portions of the Union
and especially the Hest Of healthy circu.
latlng medium, and placing it beyond the
the reach of those communities who were
in debt to the larger cities to respond to
the ervousiy pressed claims Of their credi-
tors. And for he last TWO years the West
has experienced the misfortune of short
crops: and even the surplus We had to sell
would hardly paT for lis own transportation
t. market. But now the tables are turning,
By one turn and another very large pro-
portion of the Eastern indebtedness has
been paid off, and the balance if not alto
geth-r provided for now, will be before
another twelve months have rolled aron.sd.
The general and gradual rise in the prlce
of articles Of food We look upon as inevita-
BILE, and the consequence will be that within
the next year this Upward tendency will be
felt throuEhou al! the different RAIN locations
of trade, giving healthy tone and vigor TO
all the business transactions of the country.
For the last two years the immense gold
productions of California. Australia and
British Columbia have been added to the
idle capital constantly accommodating in the
money centres OF the world. and the con-
sequence has been, that trade of all kinds
has been para!yzed, and our business men
were compelled t. struggle through untold
difficulties 10 keep their heads above water.
1t is well known that this state of things
could not last alw.ys-that eventually the
holders Of this idle capital would begin to
regain sufficient coDiiLnuce 10 re-venture
their means into the channels Of trade, but
to some. this happy day seemed to be far
distant. hut We believe il has now arrived,
and if our people will only arm themselves
with some patience, a great deal Of industry
and economy. they will soon find the troubles
disappearing as the mist before the morning
sun.--uaquoheto Excelsior.
WASHINGTON AND PETER MILLER.
During the Revolutionary War lived Pc
ter Miller, "a man Of great learning, and
highly respected by the first men of tho
Rev olutop." lie was the representative
head of an humble community Of Seventh
Day Baptists, losated IN Lancaster county,
in the State of Pennsylvania. Adjoir'ng
or near to this community lived a man who
disting ulshed himself for very base conduct
toward the society of which Miller was the
head, and treason TO his country. On the
latter charge he WAS ARA gued, convicted,
and sentenced to death, and his property
confscated to the United States. No soon
er had this been announced, than Peter Mil
! Ter, with motives which they who know ex-
perimentaliy what IT Is TO love their enemies
are alone qualified to appr, ciate. set out on
! foot to visit Gen. Washington, at Philadel-
pha, for the purpose of iutercedlng for this
mans life. lie had tn interview with the
! General. and stated his petition; hut in an
sw er was told with characteristic decision Of
purpose, that much as Washington esteem
! ed his friendship, the prayer of Miller in
behalf of his unfortunate friend could not
be granted. ..My friend - eXc,nlmed Mil
| Ter, "on the contrary, have not worse
enemy living than this same man." "What."
rel jnined Washington; ''vou have walked
sixty miles to save the life of your enemy!
! That, in my judgment, places the matter
in different hight; ; will grant You his par
dDn.'
The pardon was Immediately made out
and placed in the hands of the disinterested
petitioner, who, without losing moments
time, proceeded on foot TO Chester, fifteen
miles distant, where the execution was to
take place the afternoon of that day. Mil
Ter arrived at the spot just as the man was
being conducted to the scatiold; who see
ing Miller with his long white friar robe and
tall staff. in the crowd which had assembled
to witness his death, remarked to a bystand-
er, .There is old Peter Miller; he has walk
ed all the way from Euphrata to have his
revenge gratif ed to- day by seeing me hung"
These words had scarcely been spoken,
when he was made acquainted with the very
different nature OF Miiier's visit. The Grim.
nai's life Was spared.
Here is an example of the representative
head of Il young and great nation yielding
to an humble representative Of Him who
died for sinners. -&5 .-
..Them that honor me will honor and
they that despi,e me shall be highly esteem
ed. "Thnt," said Washington, "in my juds-
ment, places the matter in different light"
Washington was man of "sound judg-
| ment - he knew what was Christianity, and
k.pVpp Ia tA slIsd