Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-23

#HwW@8m was 9M Affecting
Americas CommoHeo aHd Fas
nnmee-sNesaheEn View
Every recent European war ha-
materially affected American con
merce, nor can any considerable
event Ia the way Of war, pestilence
or famine occur IN Europe without
largely and directly influencing our
own afalrs. The Irish famine Of
1857 reused commerce from its
lethargy, crowded the ports Of the
great lakes with shipping, built
cities 10 western swamps, bridged
the Erie Canal with q raft Of con.
tinuOus boats laden with grain, and
added immensely to the treasures
Of our City and State, and Of their
great lines Of transportation. The
Crimean war gave us a similar i'm
pulse. By cutting of the supply Of
wheat from the Baltic, 1t re-opened
the marts Of Chicago, Buffalo and
Oswego. The PrussO-Austrian
conflict which ended at Sadowa,
brief as 1t was, had q similar effect.
Indeed, experience teaches us that q
new European war at this moment
would materially effect our home
interests, and that in several im-
portant respects.
Both France and England have
suffered from drouth, aud will be
purchasers in the grain market Of
the United States. Already the
peril Of q short crop In France is so
evident that the Government has
adopted decisive measures to cheap
en- the prices Of grain-measureS
which have had the effect of aug.
menting prices here. Taking intO
account this scarcity, which was a
recognized fact before the new
prospect of war, and remember the
effect which both must have upon
power of all Western Europe, and
we have future before us which
calls for careful preparation. In
France, especially, the surplus crop
is too email to feed the nation In
the most prosperous years. Lessen
II by CONSUMPTION, ravage its fields
by the waste Of the march Of armies
whether friendly or hostile, and the
demand for American grain which
promised TO be large, must become
immense. Its effects may be sum-
med up in q rich West, with q vast
purchasing power, awaking every
avenue Of trade, and whitening the
seas with its eagerly.sought pro
ducts.
There lie, Of course, an Offset TO al
this. The brief Prusso-A Austrian
war seriously injured, and almost
broke, the market in Germany fol
American securities, and cOnsidera'
BILE amounts Of five-twenties werC
reshipped to this country. Colo
went up, and there was a renewed
spirit Of reckless speculation. Tit
same conditions exist now as then
save that we have a far higher ma
tional credit, aud are assured be,
yond doubt Of being able to main
tain 1t. The power of the Treasury
at Washington to Illustrate thl
plans Of the gold gamblers at any
time is another consideration
which should be also borne In mind
We only mention these facts o.
suggestive with regard to what hai
already and may occur in Europe
The war may not last long. Should
1t not we may 20 on as we are, get
ting out Of debt with unnecessary
rapidity. Should 1t be continued
for some time we have great Op
p~ortunities, aud also dangers Of
certain kind. We therefore say I,
our business men, begin to look I,
what is cOming-provide agains
possible Inconvenience, and pre-
pare TO avail yourselves Of the grea
opportunities which the Enropeal
war will afford.