Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-12-23
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.
Busfness-Lower Prices-The Wheat
Market-The Secular and Religious
Press-The eAdvanee-The Little Cor
poral-The .Weather-Eew City and
County OfHcers-Am us m ents.


County OHcers-Amusement
CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 1s69.-The year H. draw
ing to close, ana business men are begin
| ming to estimate it's profits and losses. There
| has been a larger amount of business done
during the past year, than in any preceding
| year, but it has been done at less profit, ana
! in the case of wholesale dealers, whose goods
are largely sold ON trust, the balance sheet
| cannot be struck till the collections are made,
which, in the present scarcity of money in
the country, is a slow and difficult work.
Money is close at the banks, and none but the
best customers are accommodated with all
the loans they require.
| LOWER PRICES
obtain for almost all fancy goods, with pros
pect of their going still lower, and our retail
merchants are selling off their stocks as fast
as they can, at great reduction on the prices
of the early fall; proof of the want of mon-
ey to meet maturing obligations, and of the
downward tendency OF prices. Every one
knows that there must be great shrinkage
in nominal value before we can reach a spe-
| Gle basis.
Tie general reduction in prices, and the
decline of gcld-or rather the appreciation of
greenbacks--shows that we are approxima-
ting the specie standard. A few weeks will
reveal the disposition Congress will make of
the tariff, taxes and finance. If these ques-
items are settled satisfactorily, business men
and capitalists will have new point of de.
parture, and feel that they have a stable
basis for the establishment Of new enterpris-
es, and greater activity in old ones. In the
meantime, the leading business men are pre-
pairing for increased activity another year.
THE WHEAT MARKET
is inactive, receipts are light, shipments by
water have ceased, and prices continus low.
The dull season is fairly upon us, as far as
trade is concerned.
THERE'S nothing new here in the line of
lit rature. The Agitator has hidden Us fare
well and begins a new life in Boston with the
opening year. There is talk of a new woman's
paper here of a broader character than the
Agitator, but no hill & 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 othsr, within single ge era
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 Teviv-
als 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 marked. From being devoted solely
TO religious TOPICS, and thus giving quasi
sanction to the practical heresay that relg-
ion was rightfully divorced from business
and politics, these papers, be side giving re-
, igious news, discussing religious questions,
and enforcing religious truth, now
rent news, chronicle all inn
portant events, give full commercial reports,
and discuss, with marked ability, financial
> and political questions. Taking lively in
tsrest in all that concerns human weli-being
, they GEEK to mould the government ana bus
6 mess OF the country, In its national aspects
: as well as in the detalls of private life, into
harmony with the laws of God. The leading
religious presses of the country not only
Z command q large circulation and influence
= but are sought for by business men and poll
' tlcians, as indices of the future and guides
OF q healthy public sentiment, i'll relation tC
trade and politics. The infusion of he althy
moral sentiment into channels of business
and politics IL a public beneiaction. In this
connection / cannot forbear noticing re-
cent fagf ant breach of good manners-noi
: to say good -morsls-in a widely circulated
{ religious journal, with which / have beer
: familiar from it's origin-the New York indie.
: | pendent. For the last four years it has
, watered it's columns largely with commercial
= advertising and Wholesale putting Of railroad
bonds and mortgages, banks. Insurance com
q panies &c, and prospered pecuniarily n so do
I ing Independent OF ali religious organization
: and representing only its editor and publish
g er. it had right to use it's columns As il
chose, subject only to the laws of morality
|, and to the courtesies and amenities which ar,
: observed by all the decent portion of the
: secular press. But in its issue Of Decembel
I'd. it has two cuts occupying half of the frs
Q and last pages OF triple sheet, representing
i the first-the principles of the Independ
r ent and what it claims to have accomplished d
4 and-the last-the Birthday Banquet of tn
. Independent on attaining its majority o
: twenty-one years. In this last cut are repre-
sented the publisher, editor and contributor
: OF the Independent, at feast, while in on
l. corner the waiter is driving out q lean
s hungry dog, on whose collar is printed, il
4 capitais the name of it's Chicago cotempo
4 rary, the advance" Its self-glorifcatio
a is matter of aste, but it's pictorial vilifca
s ton of it's neighbor is unworthy of Chris
. ian newspaper. What is the character O
% the cotemporarv which the Independer
?, caricatures and contemns?
THE ADVANCE
. is religious family journal, published b
D the Advance Co., in Chicago at $3.50 q yeal
l. 1t has q very able editorial corps, and q lon
array of contributors, embracing the best re
igious and literary talent in the country
peer in ability, character, qualifications, an
Is In all the attributes of Christian gentleman
Of any editor in the land. The Advance hs
all the excellencies wit the egotism of th
" Independent. never sells it's opinions to col
4 porations or individuals, discusses publ
~ questions ably and fearlessly, is free frol
bigotry and sectarian controversy, activel
D. promotes the cause OF Sunday schools, ten
90 perance and every good work, and circulate
IL widely among the members Of all religion
er denominations. The progressive Henr
eff Ward Beecher says, II regard it as standin
90 ~ % nhaS
r. religious Journals in America" and the col
VI servative DIR. Bushnell d. clsres, ''the AZ
II. vance is the ablest, best and most out-spOke
OF religious journal published" I am glad
IT. learn that, since tho publication of the Ind
IA pendent's indecent cartoon, the mails frol
in all parts Of the country have brought host
in Of subscribers who have quit the Indepen,
1- ent in disgust to take the Advance. Its alb
y political, financial and commercial articl,
er commend it to businesses men ar
r statesmen, and its Agricultural, Seize
ly tifc and Literary departments, its fl
e. market reports and its admirable synopsis
"a current news, give it the breadth and scol
a of frst-class secular paper. Whoev
~ wishes q frst-class religious journal, repr
~ senting the genius, spirit and enterprise
m 'mn the Great West, should subscribe for II
w ADVANCE.
ID, SUBSCRIBERS FOR THE LITTLE CORPORAL
ISL come pouring into the publishers, Alfred
Ire who subscribe for 1870, before the Isl Of Jan
W. dyy, get the November and December No
on free. So excellent Juvenile Magazine ca
is not be found in the wide world, save this, 1
in one dollar.
he inA
ler has been moderate for the past week, wi
tilt occasional slight rain falls. Navigation
in nearly suspended, . few boats only runni
81 | short distances. The new
crrv a rorvrv ovrynvpa
have been installed, and the people are loc
l. ing anxiously for the promised retrenchme
~ and reform, and hope to see it.
lh5 AMUsEKENTs.
INT Dominick Murray has been the reigni
ng star, tor two weeks, ut Mcyicker's, and jus
ck- fes his high reputation. Maggie Mitch
nu- begins an engagement here next Tuesday.
ns- Emerson 6 Manning's minstrels at {
~. Dearborn draw full houses.
nd The Lydia Thompson troupe Of blont
m lnu finish their engagement at the Opera Ho,
III this week. Next week the Parepa-Ro CO
uIt fros, rat for for1r y,sO nd 4