The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-01-10
Lur m AManroA.-It is usual during

LRE M AMRRrCA.-It is usual during
q seasoD Of financial disturbance. for
men to look at everything through a
dsrkly-coloredj medium; which hinges
every object with melancholy hue
Panics are, the result Of the errors or
crimes Of private speoulatoYs, or OF the
blunders and grimes OF public officials.
In some instances, public officials and
private individuals are equally involved
In blame. because the Government may
ehspe its measures so as to encourage
speculation at the expense of healthy il :.
dustry. All money panics are bad
enough. While they prevail, large
numbers OF innocent parties and honest
laborers are apt to suffer. The chan
nels OF trade are obstructed, distrust and
suspicion check the best enterprises,
and tho ordinary work of industry is
more or less hindered. But while there
may be just grounds for severely csnsur-
ing either the policy of the Govern nent
or the injurious ventures Of speoola-
tors, or for oensurinY both, it is the
duty of the people-that grand body of
men and women who occupy the posi-
tion of private citizens, and work ont
their own fortunes by some regular trade
or profession, and whose aggregate
wealth is counted by billions-to keep
in mind the fact that, to large degrne,
they are the masters of their own for
tunes. This country to-day, in spite Of
reckless speculation, wildcat railway
enterprises, and blunders OF public po-
licy, offers greater advantages of sub
stantial nature to the poor and people Of
limited means than any country within
the bounds of ancient, rich, popuious
and highly.civilizsd Europe. Day ID
borers, mechanics, house servants and
sewing women in this country ore, in
the great majority of cases, better
lodged, better clothed. and better fed
than persons of like employmeuts are
in London, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Ma.
drid or Berlin. They wear better
clothes and eat better beef, bsoon, poul-
try, bread and vegetables than persons
OF small means do in England, Germany
or France. The United States, waving
all discussion of many notoriousIy in
famous frauds and pecnlationa, is a bet
ter country for the poor, in spite of the
present disturbanoes, than any country
in Europe.
Sixty cents day is considered good
wages for working man in any of the
European countries, except Great Bri-
tain, where the wages are somewhat
higher. In the Tyrol silk region and
in Italy, they often do not get more
than ten cents. Ia the country in Ger.
many ten cents is the common pay.
Women there often get but i've cents.
In Sweden, men often work from 4
O'Clock in the morning till 8 in the even
ing. and do not get more. During the
late war, many poor women in Berlin
were hired to knit stockings for the
soldiers for five cents. The profits of
the poor who keep petty shops, sell
trinkets in the street, or act as suffers,
do not average moro than three or four
per cent. Barbers in Berlin, since the
raising OF their prices. get tive cents for
hair-cutting and two-uud-a-half cents
for shaving. Servants ut hotels ge,
from three to eight dollars a month i.
Servant girls in private families often
get but ten dollars year. Sometim mes
these clnssess cannot get work at my
price. The best proof of the truth OF
our statement ia seen i'll the fact that,
OF the millions of immigrants who pour
lnto this country from Europe. muuy of
whom amnss independence aud wealth
IN few yenrs. ouly small per centage
return to their old homes, to which they
are bcnnd by the strongest ties of afre. :
ton. The ucw world is recognized as
tho host homo for the poor by the vast
majority of psrsnus who have tho
roughly tiled life in the old world al d
in the new. It would bs un unwarrant.
able deduction from the foregoing state
ments to argue that the people should
lake no interest in public nfflirs and
tolerate official profigacy. 1t is the
duty OF the people in the country to
exercise continual watchfulness over the
conduct OF those who are at the head of
the Government. A largo part of our
prosperity is due to our large territory
and small population. to our fine eli.
mute and fertile soil. People are not
forced to jostle aud crowd one anothe,
here Tor spot to live on, AS in tho old
world. We have great country. Let
1t be the chief object of every citizen
to keep it so.
UNITED STATES Court, CuAKLEsroS
January 5.-In the case of Alfred John.
son, tried for retailing li1aor without
paying the special tax, tho jury rem
dered q verdict of not guilty. An orde,