The Portland daily press., 1874-05-29
Nav %. 1874,
What SOlutiOng

The business stagnation in this country is
only an example of the lethargy that prevails
all over the civilized world. There is an ap-
pearance as if the business world was tired of
work and on sort of quiet strike. There is
money enough in Europe at low rates but
the holders look for investment in securities
which pay regular dividends rather
than in business. Here, that is, in
the money centers, there IS money enough
at fair rates, but it makes no difference.
There is kind of''goneness' or else there has
been more manufacturing than we want caus-
ing full market at time when buyers have
suddenly been taken with fit of economy.
In this connection it may be added
that the present s.fit" of economy on the
part of buyers is rather forced than volun
tary-that if the average of mankind had the
money or could get it, the factories would be
running and the dealer in goods and gar
ments of the latest styles would be cheerful.
A thoughtful exchange leads us to infer that
it believes that one of the causes Of the
present quietness is the large portion OF the
people who propose to live by their brain
rather than by what is called "labor." The
boys now growing to be men are not content
to follow in the footsteps their fathers on
the farms or at the trades. They rush to the
cities, they loaf about the villages, they be-
come agents for a thousand things that never
should have had principals; they are intent
on getting the dollar That they have not
earned-anything to live without manual
labor.
Wehave frequently noticed this same tenden
cy and pointed out some OF the agencies which
have brought, and still are bringing, the old
occupations and modes of life into disrepute
We could again enumerate these causes that
have so sweled the ranks OF the non-pro-
ducers. False ideas Of life, constantly in
stiled into the mind of the young by parent,
school-teacher, and school committee man
nave done the WORK ana are dOIng IL. Ine
young man starts in life with an example be-
fore hint may be of merchan. prince, or
of an eminent lawyer or statesman. He
fails to become either or anything. He goes
TO the city to find every place full and fifty
applicants for every vacancy that may occur.
ANO1 u.oCOul dSCu uC JUulS ulCdWUCI uOSb
and in ninety cases of hundred lives in pow
erty and often in want. This army of nom
producers has increased immensely in this
country the past decade, and to the fact that
so large part of our population has been
absorbed by it 10 live upon the labor of the
producers, may be attributed much of the
present 'goneness" in all kinds of industries.
1T is to be hoped that our people are begin
ming to see the error of the present policy
and that thousands of those who are starv-
ing or half-living in cities by brain work, or
no work, or are looking ia vain for job,
will take time to look over the field and see
that they can, without the present worry and
humiliation, obtain a good living and quiet
life by returning to the old and possibly de-
serted farm of their ancestors. They need
not go to the West, for the census shows that
agriculture gives better returns in New Eng
land than elsewhere in the country.
The one lesson that Young America needs
to-day more than all others, is to check his
desires for wealth and power. The country
has passed its speculative period when large
fortunes are ma de in day or year and when
large incomes are obtained. The next gen
Grafton must expect smaller incomes and
consequently must adapt itself to more frugal
expenditures. Hereafter, bread must be won
by work and no field offers so sure a return
for toll as intelligent agriculture in New Eng
land. We do not declare that general rush
to the desoate farms of our State, will afford
a complete solution of the present business
crisis, but if the tide of people rushing
cityward could be turned back to feed them
selves and Others from the farm, the result
would gre new life to all branches of indus
Try.