Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-22
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.
husiMess-LOyver Prices-The Wheat
Market-Ihe Secular and Relisious
PresS-The Advanee-The Little Corr
pOral-I be Weather-EeNv City and
County Ofhc ers-Amu " 9 enemts.


CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 1SG9.-The year il draw
lR8 to close, ana business men are begin
ming to estimate It's profits and losses. Ther
has been larger amount of business don
during the past year, than in any precedint
year, but it has been done at less profit, ant
IN the case Of wholesale dealers, whose good
! are largely sold on trust, the balance shee
cannot be struck till the collections are made
which, IN the present scarcity of money il
The country, is slow and difficult work
Money Is close at the banks, and none but th
pest customers are accommodated with al
the loans they require.
LOWER PRICES
obtain for almost all fancy goods, with a pros
pect OF their going still lower, and our re tai
merchants are selling off their stocks as fas
as they can, at a great reduction on the prices
Of the early fall a proof of the want of mon
ey to meet maturing obligations, and of the
downward tendency OF prices. Every one
know that there must be great shrinkagt
~ nominal value before we can reach a spe
Gle basis.
The general reduction in prices, and the
decline of gold-or rather the appreciation o.
greenbacks--shOws that we are approxima
ting the specie tandard. A few weeks vii
reveal the disposition Congress will make o.
the tariff, taxes and finance. IF these cues
items are settled satisfactorily, business mer
and capitalists will have new psint Of de.
pax Ss aiO l06I tHab bneV nave StaDIe
basis for the establishment of new enterpris.
es, and greater activity in old ones. In the
meantime, the leading business men are pre-
parlng for increased activity another year.
THE WHEAT MARKET
ia inactive, receipts are light, shipments by
water have ceased, and prices continue low.
The dull season is fairly upon US, as far as
trade is concerned.
There is nothing new here in the line of
lit rature. The AgitatOr has bidden US fare
we'll and begins new life in Boston with the
opening year. There is talk of new woman's
paper here OF q broader character than the
Agitator, but no .ha g is yet matured.
THE SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS PRESS
flourish here in the greatest perfection, and
are types of western progress and enter
prise. The changed relations which busi-
ness, politics and religion have been made to
sustain TO each other, within single ge era
ton, Is marvellous. In the early history of
secular journalism in this country. religious
topics were regarded as foreign to the secu-
lar press, and the proceedings of religious
BODIES, and the progress OF religious ieyiy-
ais secured but meagre notice. as matter of
news-often accompanied by an apology, as
If the press were treading on unusual if not
forbidden ground. Gradually, however, the
secular Journals attained to greater freedom
and broader views of their duties, till now
nothing Of human interest escapes their no.
tice.
The change in religious journals has been
quite as marked. From being devoted solely
to religious topics, and thus giving quasi
sanction TO the practical heresay that relig-
ion was rightIuly divorced from business
and politics, these papers, beside giving re.
ligious news, discussing religious questions,
and enforcing religious truth, now
publish summary Of the cur
rent news, chronicle all i'm
l. I'll
and discuss, with marked ability, financial
and political questions. Taking a lively in
terest in all that concerns human wel-beinc.
they seek TO mould the government and bus
mess Of the country, in its national aspects
as well as in the details of private life. into
harmony with the laws of God. The leading
religious presses Of the country not only
command o large circulation and influence.
but are sought for by business men and poIi
t1cians, as indices of the future and guides
of q healthy public sentiment, in relation to
trade and notifies. The inf17 aior of a healthy
moral sentiment into channels of business
and politics Is a public beneiaction. In this
connection / cannot forbear noticing re-
cent f1agtant breach of good manners-not
to say good mCrals-in q widely circulated
religious journal, with which l have been
familiar from its Origin-the New Yorl, Tnde-
pendent. For the last four years it has
watered its coiumna largely with commercial
advertising and wholesale putting of railroad
bonds and mortgages banks, insurance COM
panies &C., and prospered pecuniarily n so do
ing. Independent Of all religious organizations
and representing only it's editor and publish
er, it had right to use It's columns as it
chose, subject only to the laws of morality,
and to the courtesies and amenities which are
observed by all the decent portion Of the
secular press But in its issue of December
I'd, 1t has two cuts occupying half Of the first
and last pages OF triple sheet representing
1rUI tJ1T1 .Tr,la cr !, 4
ent, and what it claims to have accomplished,
and-thc last-the Birthday Banquet of the
Independent on attaining its majority of
tWenty-one years. In this last cut are repre-
sented the publisher, editor and contributors
of the independent at feast, while in one
corner the waiter is driving out lean,
hungry dog, on whose collar is printed. in
capitals the name of its Chicago cotempo-
rary the advance" 4" It's self-gloriicatiOn
is matter Of aste, but its pictorial viIifica-
ton of it's pei2hbor is unworthy of Chris
tian newspaper. What is the character of
the cOtemporary which the independent
caricatures and contemns?
THE ADVANCE
is religious family journal, published by
the Advance Co., in Chicago, at $3.50 D year.
1t has very able editorial corps, and a long
array Of contributors, embracing the best re-
Ggious and literary talent in the country.
kev. DIR. Patton, its or-in-chief, is the
IN all the attributes of a Christian gentleman,
of any editor in the land. The Advance has
all the eXcellences Wi63out the egoti8m of the
Independent, never sells it's opinions to COR
porations or individuals, discusses public
questions ably and fearlessly, is free from
bigotry and sectarian controversy, actively
promotes the cause Of Sunday schools tenn
perance and every good work, and circulatee
widely among the members of ali religious
denominations. The progressive Henry
Ward Beecher SAYS, 4 regard it as standing
fairly on the highest ground yet reached by
religious journals in America" and the con.
servative DR.. Bushnell declares ''the Ad
vance is the ablest, best and most out-spoker
religious journal published" I am glad tC
learn that, since the publication of the Inde
pendent's indecent cartoon, the mails from
ali parts of the country have brought hosts
Of subscribers v no have quit the Independ
ent in disgust to take the Advance. Its able
political, financial and commercial articles
commend it to businesss men ant
statesmen, and it's Agricultural Scien
tifc and Literary departments, it's ful
market reports and its admirable synopsis @
current news, give it the breadth and scope
Of a first-class secular paper Whoeve
wishes a irst-class religious journal, repre-
| senting the genius, split and enterprise 0
| the Great West, should subscribe for TIL
ADVANCE.
SUBSCRIBERS FOR The LITTLE CORPORAL
come pouring into the publishers, Alfred I
| Sewell & Co.. Chicago, by thousands. as thos
who subscribe for 1870, before the Isl of Ja9a1
arg, get the November and December No.
| free. So excellent Juvenile Magazine can
not be found in the wide world, save thts, 70
one dollar.
THE WEATHER
has been moderate for the past week, witt
occasional slight rain falls. Navigation
nearly suspended, a few boats only RUNNING
! short distances. The new
CITY COUNTY OFFICERS
have been Installed, and the people are look
/ ing anxiously for the promised retrenchmen
/ and reform, and hope to see it.
ADJUSTMENTS.
Dominick Murray has been the reignin
star, Tor two weeks, at McYicker's, and just
| fies his high reputation. Maggie AIitche
begins an engagement here next Tuesday.
Emerson s Manning's minstrels at tn
| Dearborn draw full houses.
The Lydia THOMPSON troupe Of blonde
finish their engagement at the Opera Hous
this week. Next week the Parepa-Rosa COZ
cert troupe reappear for tour nights and Oh
| matinee.
At Aiken's Museum new American con
edy, entitled Bogus" draws a real crowt