The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-03-19
Communicated.
Hard Times and Commerce..

BALTIMORE, March 18th 1870.
Hard times is n cry which has engrossed the public
mind from time immemoria, but at no time with such
weight the present 1t has proven ITSELF nowith
standing the horror associated with it, most popular
topic of nversaton and it is needless to remark that
combined with the stagnation in business which the
whole country has experienced since the termination of
the late civil strife, its cry has greatly intensified On
the street in large and small Cities is the
theme of among the gentlemen of leisure
who infest those sunshiny localities In puphc debate
and the social circle it is alike popular and to passing
friends it is most acceptable salute. TrIe, the times
hard and it would be unreasonable to expect any
thing to the reverse recently after the country has
been visited by devastating war. But they have not
dcterorated SO much as represented look in almost
any direction displays to sight the people dressed in
the finest fabrics of this and foreign countries, and
feasting and gaiety and riches asfy the assertions
that the times have assumed such radical degree of
stringency These mournful accounts more than
popular illusion, and simulated cloakof truthfulness
under which the avarcious conceal their greed There
but throe percptibe ways fbanshing this incubus
ION the minds of our Baltimore friends upon whom it
seems have sliced with unrelenng fingers and those
are by giving it further credence awakening from
lehargic state which they have long ndulged and
let the merchants evince that spirit of enterprise which
has so long lain dormant, and is requisite to the
commercial welfare of city.
incidental trade from Southern States caused by
Indifference there has been vague feeling pervading
the commercial community ofour Metropolis, that some
efforts should be made to increase the commercial
interests of that city But in what manner have they
set about accomplishing this happy result Simply by
obeying the precepts of old fogyism, and contentng
themselves with what few emouments that may arise
from ordinary exertion. They have tn, feeling of
enterprise and have long entertained it, but that feel
ing has not eloped tselfnto the vigorous and
y enterprise which presages great results 1t has yet
burst into that rich ullness which forces action and
will raise that city to the high standard of commercial
supremacy that occupied AT present the great
commercial mart Of Maryland is far from such stand
ing instead recognize existing among the citizens
an individualsm negligence of public interests and
an engrossing selshness which must disappear before
great results can be accomplished There is coop
peraton among the merchants, unity of purpose,
which always rebound satisfactorily to the commercial
interests of city.
1t has been well said that "eterna vigilence is the
price Of liberty and it is equally the price of CONNER
Cial Prosperity Notwithstanding the severe shock
received by the late war; there
enough of in this State to build Commerce
richer, and wealth durable than has yet
been enjoyed by her people. Possessing harbor of
superior advantages and such tributaries of wealth
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, besides numerous
other accessories to prolific and fertile sections Balt
MORE with the proper display of energy the part of
her people, and the support that will be accorded her
by all Marylanders whose native pride and beraity
forbid their paronizng any other Commercial Port for
their merchandise than that of their State must
inevitably regain the reputation she enjoyed of
being the second commercial city this continent
The cry of hard times is than popular llu
son which has been long INDUCED that its hurtful
influences sadly impaired the commercial interests
of Baltimore, as well as other cities and unless the
merchants take hasy steps to counterac these sad e
fects stagnation in business, and financial crisis
far worse than the present will be experienced.
Yours, &c, COMMERCE.