Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-05-20
National Depression.
From the Boston Daily Journal. NAV |

| N''N 'o'Noh baiy MAY 4. II
Nations. like individuals. are liable to
I periods OF depression, when they are "out
oi sorts, and nothing goes exactly right
lhere are some symptoms of such state
Oh things at the present time. The kind of
ooastlng which used to flourish in our
Fourth OF July oratory has gone out OF
style. No one talks about our whipping
all creation, and even the declaration that
ours Is 'the best Government that the sun
shines upon is not met with so frequently
rs IN former days. Admit that this change
Is partly due to improved taste and to the
chastenlnS OF the great war, which advanc.
ell Us IN brlel time from the Ureenness of
| youth 10 the soberness OF maturity, still, it
Is manifest that other and, as we hone
temporary causes have colored the nation
al feeling. The panic, the heavy taxes and
the still lingering hard times, the unsatis-
factory condition Of the South, the Credit
Mobilier developments, the defalcations
and einbezzlements which are breaking out
Ike ulcers all over the surface OF the busi-
ness community and seemingly indicating
organic corruption, the scandals which
have attained worldwide notoriety-
these are among the sources of the seri-
business and gravity which, according to
foreign visitors, are already obvious in
the changed manners and bearing OF the
American people. 1t is a strange accom-
plnlment to the centennial era, when il
might have been expected that we should
| eVlnce an enthusiasm which should fire
the hearts OF even our envious brethren of
the Old World.
That all this is but a mere shadow like
that OF Il passing cloud cast upon the land
scapc, to be all the brighter for its speedy
removal. IS evident from the similar vista
tons III the past. Mr.. George William
ourtl, referred To some of these in his Con-
cord grafton, As when Fisher Ames mourn
ell over lost America, when William
Writ declared that he did not know man
nt Tor the Presidency, and Chancellor
Livingston had no hopes of our future be-
cause Congress was 50 feeble. Even a
/ hundred years ago, when, ii ever, a sa-
cred patriotism would seem to have ami
mated our whole people, Washington
found such eXtortlon aud low devices to
ama>s wealth that he said he ''trembcd at
the prospect. OF the army itself, which
had undertaken to face the formidable
power OF England FOR the sake of liberty.
Johh Adams wrote. II am wearied to
death with the wrangles between military
officers. high and low. They quarrel like
eats and dogs. They worry one another
like ma>tIil>, scrambling for rank and pay
IKE apes Tor nuts The history of the pc
ROD abounds in developments equally as
tohl>hing and mortifying. except to those
who have good practical knowledge OF
average human nature.
10 >uch all events will be judged in con
ncction with contemporary influences
winch Will be allowed their full force both
III 80 and In 1870. We, too. have been
SUBJECTED TO the terrible ordeal of a long
and destructive war, to great social and
business changes, which have upheayed
the very element of society and scattered
/ confusion and di>organzatiou on every
hand. The effect cannot be transient. Tn
| derheath all Is a sound, growing mdomit-
ab!e nation, which, on the large scale. il.
not oniy becoming stronger, but better
"ith every advancing year. These periods
OF soOerneSs are essential 10 the seasoning
/ OF our vitality. the So!iditying Of our pow
erN and We shall come out OF them all
the better fitted for the work We have be-
/ iort u. Already, indeed, innumerable
! sign, on every side arc tinged with the
brightness of the future