Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-15

lC0MMUNICATED.
IUMMUNICaTED.
Hard TimeS.--A few Practical Facts.


Hard Times---a few Practical Facts.
A great deal has been said and written dur
ing the past two years in regard to hard times.
Presidents and governors have written long
messages; Congressman and legislators have
delivered volumes of speeches, ard editors and
writer's on political economy have devoted col
umn after column explaining the cause of
the present financial troubles, and suggesting
plans to restore confidence and briOg back the
country to the good times of yore when the
humblest laborer received his two dollars Il
day and roast beef
After all that has been said and written no
practical plan has been agreed upon and car
ried into effect to relieve the country Of its
present financial and commercial troubles.
Many are silly enough to think the election
of a president, governor, i majority In Cou-
gress, or State Legislature would secure the
relief desired, but the chances of the country
being specially blest by the mere election OF Il
ia Iorite to office, is exceedingly small. \ VA
ton, a State and community is composed Of
individuals, and each Individual as well as
Office holder, Is more or less responsible for
the veal or woe OF his country. Lord Nelson
impressed this great truth on his mcu when
he said "Eugland expects every mau to do his
duty!'
It is the drones in the human hive that
makes hard times Drones consume more than
they produce, aud the natural consequence is d
famine. When the people of couutry or
section consume or use of the productions OF
other sections or countries more than they pro-
duce and sell to other SECTIONS, the result will
be that that people will become poorer and
poorer as long as such state Of affairs exists.
| If farmer sells FIVE hundred dollars worth OF
produe from his farm annually, and during the
same period buys double that amount from
foreign country, the result OF that unequal
trade will be deeper and deeper 10 debt, and
final winding UP of affairs 10 bankruptcy.
Virginia in this respect and at this time, is
peculiarly unfortunate. The money so much
needed at home is sent abroad for almost every
article of common use; articles SO simple 10
construction that the "waytaring man though
a tool'' could manufacture. For al illustration,
the Legislature of Virginia, a few days ago,
| wanted new chair for its Speaker, and
straightway an order was sent to Boston, the
hub of Yankeedom for that Insignificant article.
at cost Of from one to two hundred dollars
Such is the regard politicians have for home
| mechanics and the welfare of the State. Near
! ly every man, woman and child you meet in
the streets and 10 the country are clothed aud
| shod with materials brought from other States
or from foreign countries. Bedsteads, chairs,
tables stoves, cooking utensils, carriages, wag-
eus brooms, buckets, axe-helves, rakes, shoe
pegs, cradles, and even cothus are imported 10
meet the wants Of people more dead than
alive. Such policy would ruin the richest
country on Gods footstool.
10 passing up King street few days ago |
noticed large number of new bedsteads in
front Of one of our furniture stores. Inc un-
usual large quantity attracted my attention,
and to crafty my curiosity asked where these
| bedsteads were made. The reply was, In
New Hampshire!" walked along two squares
and noticed bundle of pressed cut hay secur-
| ed at each end with canvas. | was told that 1t
| came from New York city, and thatilt cost one
dollar and twenty-five cts. per hundred pounds.
| This caps the climax of absurditles. Carrying
hay from New York city to Virginia Is equally,
| if not more ridiculous, than carrying coal TO
New Castle !" Yet how 10 keeping with the
policy adopted at Richmond. II State officials
and legislators send to Boston for chairs it is
reasonable to suppose that their constituents
would send to New York for hay.
What nonsense to look to presidents. COZ
gressmen, governors and politicians ior rem
edy against hard times and scarcity of money
while at the same time the people are sending
all the funds out of the State for articles that
can be, and should be, manufactured at home.
Success 10 electing lavorite candidates to office
will avail nothing if the people sit down in
idleness and Indifference, and make 20 effort
to improve their condition. u. l.