Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-22
9radford geporter.
Towanda, Thursday, December %, 1854
THE CONDITION OF OUR COUNTRY.

Besides the noble stand taken by the
President in his message to Congress, that
there would be no backward steps taken
on the question of slavery, there are other
significant facts disclosed, i'll this document
which are of no less value to the cause OF
the country and one of these is, that there
is really no elimination of strength, or, nc
sign of exhaustion on the part of the govern
ment Inasmuch as we could only call the
readers attention to this wonderful-for
such in truth it is-disclosure in our last
ISSUE we propose now to refer more par.
ticularly to it. That there should be nc
visible exhaustion in the country, as well
i'll resources generally as of men, after
such stupendouS war as we have suS-
tanned during the last four eventful years,
is marvellous indeed and yet the election
returns show a gain of not less than 25O,-
600 votes over the election returns of 1860
If there had not been Il full vote four
years ago, it might account for the present
increase but it is patent to ALL that that
election was more warmly contested, was
more acrimonious, and consequently, more
exciting than the one just passed. So that
with all the losses incident to the great
war, we have to-day MORE MEN than we had
when the war began. 1t seems hardly pos
sible, that the maturation of our young
,..-., I1 liya+ +ipn Of fNrnicrp T.
izens, should account for this great increase,
and vet il must be SO. We thought we had
an idea of the rapid growth of our nation,
but this far surpasses any thing we dreamed
of, and is beyond all measure the most hope
ful sign of our vast power, and sure trl-
umph Taking into account, also, the fact,
that our other material war resources, are
now more complete, and abundant, than at
any time before, it does appear that the ma
ton is growing in strength as her energies
are called into requisition. Perhaps, in
nothing Is this more manifest to the people
themselves. than in the unbounded prosper
itv of the free states. The enhanced value
Of products of every description has re-
ncwed the hopes and consequent eXertions
Of the dcspondent, and begotten enterprise
t. such degree, that almost all are now
either out Of debt, or in a fair way of be-
coming 50 and thousands upon thousands,
who before the war seemed hopclcssly in
volvcd, are now free with surplus funds to
invest in govemmentsccuri y govern
ment is strong when her people are strong,
and weak when they are weak. When this
war began, the government could not bor
row money at IA high rate of interest," to
meet ordinary wants Now she is receiv-
ing all she needs for the extraordinary de-
mands Of this gigantic war. Before the
war the people, in a great measure, were
restless, and unproductivc, and moving
from state to state, looking for rcmunera-
ton for labor Now this has come to every
mans door; and as sequence, thrift and
advancement is the order of the day Here
tofore the wonderful progress of our nation
in all the elements Of greatness has ever
been a matter of amaZcmcnt t. the reflect
ing people of the old world and yet, with
in the last three years, we have more than
doubled in this respect, any six years of our
rrcyious history.