The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-01
The Actual Condition OF the Country.
It is astonishing how perseveringly the

they have been SO perseveringly singing.
of the prosperity of the country, when
they know directly to the contrary
Trade languishes, labor is dull and poorly
paid, and everywhere among the middle
classes ofsociety the pinching influences
of poverty are being felt moro day by
day. Burnett, somewhere in the history
OF his times, relates q conversation he
once had with one Of Cromwell's Fifth
Monarchy men. He asked him how he
could EXCUSE all the prevarication and
downright lying Of which Cromwell and
his saints were clearly guilty. The old
fanatic replied to him that he believed
there were great occasions in which some
men were called TO great services. in the
doing OF which they were excused from
the ordinary responsibilities of mortals.
Such were the practices Of Ehud and
Jael, Samson and David.
We have not the slightest doubt that
IN the Wholesale fabrications with which
the people were so grossly and cunnihgly
deceived during the war, that our radical
fanatics found similar excuse with that
of the old Roundhead. But now that
the bloody war is over, and the occasion
which invited, and, as they say, justified
SO muoht tpfevafication and falsehood is
gone. why do they persist in its continue
tion, unless, perchance, they plead the
excuse that ''use doth breed habit in o
man p Why can they not tell us the
honest truth about the condition of the
debt, and reveal the hHgger-mugger by
which Secretary Boutwell, makes IL an
pear that it has diminished, when he
knows thet it has Increased WHY not
make an honest and faithful report of
the situation of the business of the coun-
try, that by over-trading and over.specu-
!atlon ls now nearly ruined? Why not
tell the country plainly and honestly the
facts, instead Of deceiving it with delu
slye pictures OF coming prosperity, that
they know very well will never be re-
allied Why not rebuke its shameful
e3trayaganceFand immortality, and call
upon it to retrench and reform, instead
of deceiying, it with these rose colored
statements about our enormous resources
and the brilliant prospects Of our future?
The Depocratio press, ON the contrary.
has all along been warning the people of
the deceitful condition of our apparent
prosperity, and have been studiously
engaged in pointing out the deceptions
by which the people were being beguiIed.
The following exhibit of the actual con-
dition of our business relations, by a
contemporary, is so exact and 1nndenia-
BILE, that we invite the attention of our
readers to it:
snhe widespread stagnation in trade
which now exists rs exciting grave ap-
prehensions in the minds of business
men while the working classes, aware
work, have indicatod the, cause of the
trouble, and demanded Immediate re-
form. -
'"At this Seasoh Of the year trade is
always Btagnant with retail and jobbing
houses; but it is just the time that
farmers, manufacturers and importers
are usually most busy. Yet last years
farming disguised so many agriculturists,
VINO held their crops in vain for return
to former high prices, that many turned
their attention to other branches of in
dustry; and the result is that, except in
wheat and cotton, we shall have smaller
crops this year than last-certainly no
larger ones. In corn especially the crop.
will be deficient
Ihe manufacturers are equally de-
spondent. Though cotton has advanced,
cotton yarns have not In wooden yarns,
the season has been disappointment.
In cotton goods, linens. woolens and
silks, the trade is ominously dull. / Buy
ers who were sent into the West to pur.
oAooo "ooi, nave Deens 9EeCalleQ.lt The
same condition of affairs exists in the
crockery and hardware and metal trades.
Building materials are dull; and with
the exception of o few gun boats for the
Spanish Government, .ship-builders have
no orders to build vessels. The import
ers are equally inactive Large orders
for European goods have been counter
manded. The demand for fall consump
ton is unusually light. The imports of
dry goods at this port have fallen from
Sl3,421. .O59 in March, to 81, 3GS, 1874 in
June-an unprecedented decrease. Last
year they amounted to $9,3G1, ,G54 in
March. and 81, ,191 ,629 in June-a fall
ing Off of but one half rs compared with
the present year.
In fact, the lookout in all directions
IS decidedly ominons. The Southern
trade is poor; for although the South
erners made money on their last cotton
crop, they are boarding their profits and
eXpending as little rs possible. The
Western trade is failure. The farmers
have held last years crop for higher
prices, and they hold it still. Money is
scarce, and prices do not rise, and can
not.
ttTha Two 1ao