Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-19

It is doubtless received as an axiom BY
nine-tenths Of our readers that "war times
are hsrd times" and hence that we are now
in time OF almost unparalleled poverty and
strIngency. But if we ask the believer in
this preeept to point out to US wherein
We are poorer TO day than one or two years
ago, or to show Us more signs Of a depression
in business than might have been found in
1883 or so. it may be found difficult thing
to Dc. For it is a fact that these times are
not hard times, and that our people have no
reason for complaint of the condition of either
the money or the labor market. Business is
better than it was six months ago. There is
more public confidence, more activity in
trade. We have touched bottom, and are now
steadily rising. The wheels Of trade turn
more swiftly, the order-bOOk and the cash
book exhibit a more cheering condition, and
the merchants and manufsotnrers' faces
shorten perceptibly.
There is good reason for this, in the very
war itself In the first place, thousands and
tens of thousands of young men who would
otherwise suffer for want OF employment this
winter, are in the army. There they have
good wages, good board and clothing, and
have an easier time, upon the average, than
working men in our cities. By the new al
lotment system, they can have part or all Of
their pay (whatever proportion they chOOse)
psid in regular instalments to their families,
or those dependent upon them, during their
absence, and as there are fewer temptations
in camp, they can save more from their wages
than they would do at home. Beside better
ing their own condition, those who go to the
war do a service to those who stay at home,
BY creating demand for labor. Five hun
dFed men in a county can be better supplied
with work than one thousand.
Tue necessities of the government for pros
eouting the war are furnishing labor to thou
sands who would otherwise be idle, in the
manufacture Of all the implements of warfare,
TIE founders are busy with making cannon,
shot and shell, and ali tine machinery pertain
ing thereto. The machinists are all wanted
to keep government supplied with the most
approved enginery requisite for a scientific
conduct Of the war. The ship builders were
never so busy as now, in the construction Of
steamers, gunbOats, and sailing craft for our
navy must as quickly as possibly be put in a
condition 10 defy all foes, whether rebel priva-
teers orforeign intermedlers. Our leading rail-
roads should pay heavier dividends this year
than ever before, for they have all their ener-
gies taxed to meet the demands of the Gov
ernment for transportation, and the convey
auce Of supplies to eastern markets Manu-
facturers OF all classes may congratulate
themselves, for if the wares they have been
accustomed to produce are not needed, q
slight change in their machinery may enable
them to turn out some useful article that is
Wsnted Clothing merchants are coming
money as they never coined it before, and
viii mark this as golden year in their calen-
dar. Leather workers-either in boots snd
shoes, harnesses, saddles, knapsacks, holsters
or drum heads-haEe their hands full of
work. Carriage makers are employing
their utmost force in the building of trans
portatioR wagons, gun carriages or ambu-
lances. Aud so we might go on almost in
definitely with the trades, finding activity
ia all Of them, unless perhaps with the deal
ers in fancy articles and the BARRIERS, with
both of which this age is learning to dis
Psnse.
Meantime the farmers receive liberal pri-
ces for their cattle for beef their horses for
cavalry and artillery, and their wheat and
corn for the subsistence Of the soldiers Ct
tie Union. The demand for all of these will
continue good as long, at least as we can
now see into the future
To meet all its liabilities and presefve lis
honor and its credit the Government asks
of the people loan Of their silver and gold
but for this the most undoubtad security
given, and it is also to be borne in mind
that the gold is paid directly back to them
for their manu- sctures and productions
Il is therefore kept in active circulation, and
all kept in our own country.
In view of these facts, shall we not have
good courage to look forward with conf
6enceP Shall We not trust implicitly to
the Government, which has enabled US to
speak thus encOuragingly2 ? and is it not wise
to remember that the men and tie money
furnished the Government are for our own
financial, as well as political, social and ma
tional prosperity