The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-12-14
THE COUNTRY.

a year OF distress, and bankruptcy In the
United States. With each returning
cycle that added to the numerals of
the maturer years of the nineteenth
century disaster has come to the codntry,
eliminating in 81 and 81 in revul-
sions that brought Bankruptcy and Mis-
cry, untidden but persistent guests,
alike to the homes of opulence, comfort
and poverty. The initiation of currency
and excessive pleutitude of the circula-
ting medium during the war the ex-
cesses and extravagances begotten or its
diffusion among the class unaccustomed'
TO the possession of greater sums than
those actually required to maintain life,
and the spirit of speculation engendered
in another class who accumulated prime
ly fortunes by the necessities of the
government, all led to the belief that
succeeding this abnormal condition of
affairs would come a financial crash un-|
paralelled in the history of the govern
ment The question was agitated, men
took a look ahead, the decks were clear
ed, and the return of peace found the
little business barks moored in safe har-
bors, while the stauncher ships lay to,
close reefed, and nearly all rode out the
storm in safety. Financiers and com
mercial men were still distrustful. 1t
was not believed possible that the coun-
try could emerge from the vortex of war
without some terrible disaster, and the
mystical year was looked forward to
with dread assurance, that its coming
would bring the inevitable crisis. Fore
warned is forearmed, and for once super
stition has been of good service. 1867
came. the country was prepared, its
days have been numbered with the re-
corded past until but a few remain, and
while prices have deprecated CORES
pondingly to the approximation of cur
rency to specie, somewhat embarrassing
business operations, there has been no
crisis, no general bankruptcy, no wide
spread distress. Manufactures, conse-
quent upon the enormous surplus man
ufactured for government, and since
thrown upon the market, have, in some
few branches of trade, been reduced,
and operatives thrown out of employ
ment. This, however, could not be
otherwise, and be desirable. The sup
ply is regulated by the demand. Con-
sumption goes on, and as the surplus
supply is exhausted, manufacturers will
resume and the regular, constant, de-
mand of a prosperous and increasing
population will drain with a steady flow
through the old legitimate channels,
The excess of manufactures in the
country is not sufficient to retard re-
sumption until a general and long con-
tinued suspension would lead to destiti-
tuition among operatives. Generally,
labor finds employment at present at
steady and high figures. Trade is a
mere Interchange of commodities. Mer.
chandising, the buJing and selling OF
them, and Commerce, their transporta-
ton. The prosperity of any country,
depends, as rule, primarily and main
ly upon the product of the necessaries
of life The earth has yielded her in
crease during the past year. The grain
crop is larger than ever before. The
husbandman's granaries are overflowing
1t will seek the avenues of trade and
commerce, beneftting and stimulating
all branches of industry at home, and, 10y
export. procure what foreign commodi
ties are required without draining the
country of specie. OF the precious met
ais the Rocky Mountains and the Pacifi,
slope produce more than the balance o
the world combined. The President
computes the average of the last siI
years at $53 100000 annually. In 1866
the product was $106,OOO,0O0. In 1867
it is estimated at $74,O00,0 900. The de
crease may be attributable to the trans
ition from placer to quartz mining, more
permanent, but requiring time to max,
such immense yields as the placers
This alone, however, is almost double
the entire product of the world seven
Teen years dSo, anu 10 FlOuuOeu ny lSs
than $4,000 people, only about one
fftieth of the population of the Union
who besides are self sustaining in man
ufactures and agriculture. In al
branches of material prosperity, tn,
country is to day, in as good condition
as it ever has been during its gloriou
history Our terrible war shook tb,
State to the centre, but it's dangers ar
past; its disasters being rapidly retriey
ed; its incumbrance of debt being re
moved with speed and freedom from
oppressive taxation +; industry is re
warded; great national enterprises ar