New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-06
SOME OF TEE CAUSES.

It is the fashion these days to groan !
over hard times, and perhaps there is some
reason for il. Money is certainly not
easily obtained. and men do not squander
small fortunes in a single festive season as
they did fifteen years ago. New Orleans
does no: transac. the large business It did
previous to the war. nor do We revel III the
luxuries CT former times. The daily
habits OF c,os: people are changed and
the word economy is often heard where
its meaning was At one time quite IN
known. People to-day discover that
many articles will serve good purpose
much longer than was supposed: even
clothing tina. looks little rusty is not
cast aside as worthless or only fit for a
servant; an Old fashioned coat is tol-
Grated and worn yet a few weeks longer 20
save expenditure for new one. Men who
once ordered their 1aiment LON stylish
tailor without deigning to ask the price
now demurely purchase from "Caeap
| John" and even question the cost. This
kind Of economy is also practiced at home
| to q certain extent.
This change in TIC habits and condition
Of our people nust result from some
cause. and perhaps it will do some good
to find only single reason. The crop Of
cotton this year bids fair to be an average
one. During the months Of September
and October. Just past. about one
hundred and sixty thousand bales
reached this city. Fully one hundred
thousand Of these have been sold, and
at good prices. Mich Of this cotton was
sold 70 foreign purchasers who must have
paid for it in coin or goods Of some kind.
That portion which was paid for with
goods is where the trouble commences.
Good cotton IS battered for trinkets OF az
.icles which can easily De dispensed with.
Wines, liquors. costly fabrics, manufac-
tured truck. jewe.ry. ard all sorts Of I'M
necessary things are accepted in payment.
Every bale Of cotton exchanged for artii-
cial goods is equivalent to debt, or worse
Almost every article nee: ssary to our COM
fort or luxury can be produced in
this country. ty artists who are
quite as pertec: as those in foreign
countries. We Go rot need English or
French iewelry. and we can survive if
France and Spain never furnish Us with a
gallon Of wine Or manufactured liquors.
We can weave a.! the cloths required for
consur, ption. and as tor costly laces the
less we have the better. Our manufac-
turers are able TO supply every piece Of
cabinet ware needed, also every kind Of
cutlery, machinery, jewelry and the like.
. Such being the case. and there will be but
, little argumen: Oh that question, every
!, pound OF bushel OF produce exchanged fol
such things ainov.ts to almost an actual
loss.
LIE. our people fo,sgo the presumed
, pleasure Of purchasing many or all Of the
; goods mentioned, and prosle,ous times
will come again soon. Some enc once
? calculated that if the people Of this coun'
| try would abstain from buying foreign
productions for given term and donate
! the savings to the United States treasury,
5 our national deb: would be cancelled il
a very shor. tine. If that be true. ther
: how speedily, by individuals pursuing
l that course. would small corporations ant
persons find themselves free from fuau
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