Smyrna times., 1871-01-25
=" Hard Times"

1t seems to be agreed that these are excep |
uOnally Hard lines. The winter is rather Sc
we're some merchants and some speculatOrs
have failed; debts are collected with difficulty:
and most people seem to have less money than
they wish they had. So we agree that the
times are hard; and our agreement tends to
make them So
Why should there be hard times?
Primarily, we answer, because too I0r0e q
share Of our people are trying to Ire bg some
thing else than Productive MduStry Other
Influences contribute; but this is far more DO
tent than the whole of them
That our cities and villages are inordinately
swelled, Is not necessarily theme for regret
1t those cities and villages were all duplicates
| of the Old Worlds Lyons, Manchester, Brim-
iDgham, Mu!house, Sheffield, KiddrrmnSter,
ETC., etc, and thus satisfying at least our home
wants with their Wares and Fabrics we might
regard their gOurd-like growth with compla-
cency. But, considering that they are in fact
mere reservoirs and conduits for the reception
and distribution of goods largely of European
manufacture, their growth is seen to be un-
healthy and precariOus They do not grow
because they have more business, but because
more and more seek to live by doing it.
Take as a sample this great hive, with its
population over Nine Hundred Thousand and
as many more in its suburbs; what share of
that population really contribute to its growth
and Well-belngF Suppose One-third of the
number now live (if it can be called living) by
keeping grOgShOps, haunts of pollution gam
bling dens, stands or stalls for petty traffic, or
by dropping sham pocket books, stealing about
the docks, burglary, picking pockets, &c, &C.,
IN what respect would their departure impair
the strength or impede the real growth of our
City? Ii the tens of thousands who pretend
to be seeking work where work is not and can
not be, were drafted away to improve and til
the soil, or into some department of Produc
tive Labor, who would he worse for theil
change of base? Who could show cause why
, it should not be effected
The topic will yet force itself upon publ,
attention. We are fast becoming a nation O
schemers to live without genuine work. Gu
boys are not learning trades; our farmers son
J are CrOwlng into cities, looking for cerkship
I and petty Offices !; hardly one American girl il
each hundred will do hOusewOrk for wages
1 however urgent her need so we are sendini
: to Europe for wOrkmen and buying of her al
: tlsans Millions worth of products that W
u ought to make for ourselves. Though ou
IS crop OF rascals Is heavy, we do not grow Ou
/ own Hemp; though we are overrun with lad
u VINO deserve hagelation, we import our Wi
W lows. Our women (unless deceived) shine
IS European fabrics our men dress in foreig
~ cloths; the toys which amuse younger childre
u nave generalIy reached us over the sea. HenC
Is it Is that, in spite of our high Tariff, we pung
ut deeper and deeper into debt to the Old Worl
he NOT nearly SO fast as we would under Ere
sr Trade policy, but still entirely too fast W
, are like the farmer who hires his neighbor
lie sons to cut his wood, feed his stock, and ru
as his errands, while his own boys lounge at Il
grogshop, playing billiards, and then wonder
n. why, in spite of his best efforts, he sinks a
is nually deeper and deeper into debt, till Il
ISL sheriff cleans him out, and he starts West
or begin again.
OK We must turn over new leaf Our bo
lis and girls must be taught to love labor by qua
Its flying themselves to do it efficiently. We mu
'G' turn out fewer professionals and more al
OK more skilled artisans as we'll as food grower
a. We must grow and fabricate Two Hundr
ID Millions worth per annum that we now il
sc port, and so reduce the foreign debt that
ry, have so long and so successfully augment
rs- year by year. We must quality our clev
'ry boys to erect and run factories, furnaces, re
OF lug gmills, tanneres, machine-shops, &c :
Ter open and work mines, improve and lashi
all implements, and double the present prodl
to Of their fathers farms. So shall we stem t
IN tide Of Debt that sets steadily against G
to shores, and cease to be visited and annoyed
lld Hard Times.-N y Tribune