Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-03-23
How 10 Meet the storm.

The signs of the times are ominous of
evil. All around the commercial horizon are
indicating coming storm. The
air of the financial world is hot as if with
latont lightningn, and is flloi with potent
of approaching disaster. Men appreciate
these things; they have premonitions of
coming dangers, OF whose character, extent
or duration they know nothing. Like those
who dwell at the foot of Nesuvius and see
on the rim of the Volcano, they expect au
outburst and yet know Of no direction in
which they may fly to avoid the impending
destruction.
The results OF the present war are not con
fined to eXorbitant taxation, to future ma
tional Indebtedness, or the loss of life There
is another result, and yet unfct, but whose
existence in the future has always been known
and whose arrival, at some time, has always
been confidently expected This result is
that fearful typhoon Of the business world
known as "a crisis, "a rcvulsion, "a
panic" 1t is one of those periodical tor
nadoes that sweep through the commercial
world, leaving its route strewn with the
wrecks of industrial interests and the debris
of shattered fortunes. 1t is one of those re-
actions which are the inevitable sequence of
seasons of great inhatons and universal
speculation. They are the penalties which
follow persistent and extended violations of
immutable laws the assertion that the prin-
clples of legitimate commerce and industry
cannot be violated with impunity.
! 1t Is perhaps not so much the fault of the
people rs of their financial rulers, that the
nation now finds itself on the brink of Il pc
cuniary precipice. Had the people been con
suited they would much rather have sub,
mtted to taxation which took even half
their fortunes, than to have been allowed Il
season Of fictitious prosperity, be to succeed
ed by revulsion that will take from them,
not half, but all their POSSESSIONS In a
purely dolar-and cent view of the history of
this country for the last four years, the ma
tion would to-day have been richer had the
pockets every dollar in gold AS fast as it was
have been left less seeming, but more actual
wealth. The nation would been richer by
just precisely the difference between the
actual value of our indebtedness and our
possessions, and their aggregate value in
currency.
But repining at present. is useless and
what is now needed is another and totally
different kind OF action. What is now to
be done is not to PHILOSOPHERS upon the
origin of the coming storm, but to prepare
To meet 1t, The veteran seaman, when he
sees the barometer falling rapidly, when the
ali is compressed and hushed, and sharp
llghtnings leap out from inky masses of ris-
ing clouds on the horizon, does not stop to
inquire as to the theories orcauses of storms,
but turls his sails closes his matches, and
makes every thing fast and then awaits its
coming.
To-day the barometer of finance is sink
ing, aud now almost reaches to the point
upon which is registered "crisis. 1t may
rise again, and, iora time, the storm be de-
layed; but it may go still lower, and in less
than month the tempest which it indicates
may he upon us. In view of this, wisdom
would indicate that We prepare for the worst,
and in case the crash does come its Ill effects
will be lessened in proportion to our readi-
ness to meet them. What is needed now Is
GOODNESS aud deliberate action. Undue haste
by individuals will only hasten the very
danger which they seek to avert. If men,
possessed only by frantic desire to rid
themselves Of what they are carrying, are
precipltate in their action, u panic will come
us ssurely as Tomorrow. If everybody throws
his load into the market at once, the gravity
of the mass will be increased and its decent
will be only the more rapid. What is i'm
peratiye is, that meh should act coolly, and,
above all, with deiiberaton. Let every man
who desires to unload de-so without haste,
making up his nindt to lay down as much as
he can, and to carry the rest, although it
involve sacrifice.
A very little haste or imprudence will pre-
cipitate q catastrophe, which otherwise
might be avoided, or at least be greatly nit
igated, Men should be unselfsh and resolve