The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-27
NEW YEAR

Before another issue of The Wing greets
our subscribers the present year will have
been gathered with the ages which have
passed. and a new year entered upon
Let us hope that the New Year will be
less omnibus of financial ruin, one of few
err panics and business distress, Of uncel-
tainty, and auctuation in values, and in
which we may again reach the long looked
forperiod ofspecie payment. Hard money,
like hard bottom, insures steadiness and
permanent prosperity. The protracted era
of paper money has produced paper morals
in trade, and strongly predisposed men Of
easy virtue and weak resolutions to thievry,
and the public conscience to charity to-
ward enormous defalcatiens and wholesale
thefts.
But rural folks have to do, principally,
with the business of the farm and the
workshop, and the ebb tide of credit and
paper money has been felt severely among
this population, too, as we'll as at the
"great financial centres" For several
trials in partial failure of his crop, in
comparative low prices for produce while
in the producers hands, and the dspropor-
toned high prices of labor and his neces-
sary implements. But the rush down in
stocks is an Indication that the values of
other things as we'll as the farmers pro-
duce will settle back within the year, till
that uniformity of prices is approached
which existed before the rebellion.
At the commencement of the New Year
is the proper time to take bearings, to ex-
anime accounts and mark out some definite
plan for the business of the advancing
season. At this imaginary line in the
ever varying seasons, every man who
makes any pretensions to method in his
affairs, takes retrospective view of the
past year, and resolves to profit by his
mistakes which being past, are beyond
remedy; but those resolves are too often
forgotten when the heat and burthen Of
the day again overtake US. There is no
class, as a class, so careless in this matter
rs the farmers. Large numbers Of the
agricultural class allow matters to drift,
and take whatever fortune the day ina.
bring; if good word of satisfaction, if
"bad luck" attends his ventures. the con-
stitutional grumbling at the hard lot and
alternative. There is no valid reason why
farmers should not pursue definite plan.
with as much-or even more success-as
any other class of business men. What
ever that plan might be its fundamental
principle, to be successful plan, must be
a constant improvement in his land. With
rich fields all things within the scope and
sphere of agriculture are possible; and
without good rich soil very little can ever
be achieved in farming. The spirit of CO
operation now taking so strong hold Of
the agricultural communities, is the most
hopeful sign of an increasing prosperity,
and more happy social status that has
been known among that class within the
present generation. Much more cordial
relations used to exist among the farmers,
and social feeling and intercourse which
went far to tighten labor, and bring con-
tentment. Since The modern era of rail
roads and telegraphs, the glittering prize
of the speculator, the selfishness and de-
ception of fashion have nowhere cast their
baneful influence with more chilling effect
than within the rural home.