, 1862-03-22
Eoonomy the Imperative Duty of us all.

Economy the Imperative Duty of us all
The world has in these last days been living be-
yond its income. 1t must either go into bank
ruptcy, or retrench. From top to bottom of the
social SCALE from the proudest nation to the most
seriously " sick" and crippled, from the richest
empire to the humblest sovereign in our own re-
public, the truth is general France, with her an
nual expenditures far exceeding her revenue, is
trying every style of credit to escape her thick
financial embarrassment With a deficit of
thousand million francs to meet her crops threat
en- to be very scant. The potato famine in Ireland
is flank movement upon old England that must
sadly worry her, at an hour when she wants every
dollar she can raise to maintain her pretensions
abroad Russia has widened the circle of her ex-
tent so very largely that she cannot make the
two ends meet" by long gap, this year. Aus
tria is cramped just now even more than usual
and what is worse, retrenchment with her is revolt
in Hungary and Venice. The Pope is living on
loans that come more slowly at every call. Our
own country is to have debt next July of $751;
100000, and if war must be employed still anoth
That is to say, if some Yankee should devise
way of travelling from San Francisco to the sun,
and it would cost but So mile to go there, he
could make the trip and be out of pocket little
less than Uncle Sam will be next 4th of July or,
if said whiting Yankee were to be paid $40
mileage for bis travel to the god of Day, he would
be entitled to receive, landing at the fiery cap
itol, but tride more than Brother Jonathan ex-
poets to be out of pocket if the war continues on
Independence Day of 1868. But the Union must
and will be maintained. The expense is not to
be haggled about, but Mr. Chase clearly had very
good reason for saying in his annual report, "Re-
trenchment and reform are among the indispensa-
bic duties of the hour"
Economy must be in fashion henceforth neces-
slty and Paris agree on that. They have made a
good start at Washington. Congress repudiates
a contract of ex-secretary Camerons, by which
the Government to be swindled out of mil
lions. Congress abates the franking nuisance, by
which members with laudable selfsacrifice waive
the privilege, so long enjoyed, of sending their
dirty linen home to be washed and of making
every little pot-house politician, by means of a
musty Patent Office report, bis friend forever If
Mr. Conklins bill passes, the reform goes farther,
cuts deeper, and reduces the salary of every man
in office, from President Lincoln down to the range
of those who get $4,000 a year. Mr. Chase has
already reduced about 20 per cent. the income of
every Custom House officer and Mint employee
ybor, ba oo,,ld raaob MI bo,,+ Co,, ~
position. Seeing how strong the tide sets towards
reduction, we may presume that Frank Soule has
gone to Washington on bootless errand
When little boats, sailing on a calm sea in the
Gate, observe great ships furling sails, and those
that had lately gone out scudding back for safety,
they are generally wise enough to take the hint.
When Empires and great Pnwars, i.~-. c~--s-~--
men and Secretaries take in sail, why should we
hesitate to prepare for the coming storm If by
economy we reef down tightly and keep within
-..sy OF the port, we shall escape all peril
put peril aside, indeed. Now is no time for new
schemes that involve expense unless the money is
within reach to pay their way. 1t is no hour to
be issuing new State or City bonds for anything
but the absolute necessities of State and city life
Our Legislature will not fail to note the signs of
the times Economy is the fashion; we sincerely
trust at the new State House on Battery street
they will play the fashionable role The COM
ing man" in our State is he who shall signalize
his career in the Legislature this winter by plug
ging every leak in the treasury, putting the
State on short allowance and starving every pub
lie hummer.
But our sovereigns, the people, must endorse
the fashion, or Congress and the State will prac-
tice economy in vain. 1t becomes a sacred duty
of all men and women in San Francisco to re-
trench useless expenditures, to study thrift, and
devise ways and means of living well inside their
means The calls of charity must be needed
there must be no meanness in that direction, for
stinginess there makes the soul of man lean, after
which the increase of his bodily comforts is
matter of little account. But it is the time to