The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-03-20
ralls about Hard Times.

Talk about Hard Times.
From the American Union.l
: Businessi is dull, the timesare hard and
many men are.dopressed and discouraged
Who we're. never dishoartcned before.
Where is relief to come from2 What
will make business better and give men
work and pay? TO read articles with
which the papers abound, one would sup
pose that Congress has only to pass this
measure, or that, or the other, and the
whole difficulty will be at an end. That\
august body has but to adopt this financial
scheme, or that line of policy, to contract
or expand the currency,to buy up bonds
with greenbacks, or replace greenbacks
with gold, to tighten the taxes and in
crease the tariff, or reduce all imposts to
a nominal figure, and cut expenses down
to the minimum-lot it but say the word
and Southern plantations viii be covered
with cotton, Northern manufactures will
run.night and dag, every railroad, canal,
iron and copper mine, and oil we'll located
Gu any SPECTATORS map, but nowhere else,
will pay enormous dividends, and every
mans pocket will overflow with cash ach-
ing to be spent and make room for more.
1t is marvellous what power some men I'M
agine government to possess, and what
magical properties they fancy reside in
law. We have done our best to fathom
the profundities Of political economy, at
least far enough to understand some Of the
conditions Of public welfare but all the
knowledge we have derived from Adam
Smith, and o score Of writer's between him
and Stuart Mill, whose ponderous vol
umes are weighed down with the richest
political wisdom, is ignorance itself in
comparison with the sage suggestions, sub
Titles and reGnoments, with which the
daily press abound. Such knowledge is
altogether too deep for us, and we are
Obliged to betake ourselves to the dry and
comparatively easy ground of common
sense, for any assurance of hope. We have
no faith whatever in miraculous measures
nor magical laws. We are so incredulous
as to disbelievo that even Congress can
vote cotton crop into existence, or enact
prosperity, Or add to the real wealth of
the country by statutes. Trade obeys laws
of its own. Production and consumption,
the relation of values, the worth Of money,
the demand for labor and its price, depend
for the most part upon causes which lcgis-
lation cannot materially affect. Our pres
ont business stagnation and commercial
collapse are not the results of one specific
act or measure Of Congress; they are caus-
ed by series Of circumstances running
back to tie beginning of the war. The
peculiar and unprecedented events and al
together exceptional legislation of half
dozen years have eliminated in this mer-
camille and financial crisis. And however
much temporary relief this or that measure
might possibly afford, the only permanent
relief to the country must come gradually
and by the slow and steady readjustment
of disturbed equilibrium of interests
and enterprise, currency and wealth, capt.
tai and labor. We have no faith in patent
medicines. Nature will work her own cure
if we will but give her chance. Rest,
diet, the patient suffering of a little or even
considerable inconvenience, are better
than any quackery. We hope and trust
that the wise men of the Capitol will do
what is WISE But we must do our part,
and by economy and industry and patience
and by conducting our business on sound
principles, and by frowning down any and
every species of illegitimato operation and
dishonesty, prepare the way for speedy
and permanent prosperity.
| Railroad A eci6ant