The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18
THE SPRIN6 TRADE.
Prospects frsm a Chicago Standpoint.

from the Chicago Tribune, 1Oth.1
The banks are the baromcters Of trade,
nd in their business the prospects of the
pring trade reveal themselves speedily
nd accurately. The leading bankers Of
his city, who are, by the necessities OF
heir position, the keenest observers OF
he course of trade, are found to hold
he general opinion that the business of
he season now opening will be probably
he most favorable since the panic. The
buyers have been held back by
he unusually severe weather Of the first
week of spring, but the wholesale dealers
report that they have at last fairly made
their appearance.
THE DISCOUNT LINES
Of the banks, as shown by the summary
Of their statement which appears IN the
financial column in this issue, have all |
reached high figure. This shows, among
other things, that the merchants Of the
city have been borrowing literally to lay
in their spring stocks, although it is the
same time true that the amount they
have borrowed of the banks has been
very much increased by the interruption
of their collections. The bankers are in
formed by their customers--the whole
sale merchants--that all the indications
are for a heavy trade. Their country
customers are forced to buy literally. be-
cause of the low figure to which stocks
have been reduced IN the country. :.
THE POLICY OF RETRENCHMENT
which has been everywhere pursued has
hitherto induced country dealers to buy
the smallest amounts with which they
could meet the demand. This has been
the case ever since the panic, and while
consumption has been decreasing, and
stocks have been working down. the
country has been growing richer.
There is no more familiar law
Of social economy than that the
habit of thrift among a people is
the best restorative of wealth wasted or
destroyed. The thrift of the French
people has become favorite subject OF
reference on account of the wonderful In
stances it supplies of the recuperative
powers Of such saving habits. 1t is
doubtful whether any other nation in the
world could have responded TO the terri
BILE demands of an extravagant govern
ment and victorious enemy as
the French have done. The secret of
their wealth lies in the fact referred to
by Sir Robert Peel, when he told cele-
brated French diplomatist that Gin Egg
land one person in five spends his entire
| income or earnings, while in France only
one in forty spends all he gets, while the
other thirty mine make savings" France,
which sets the fashions for the world,
could do nothing better than make this
prudence worldwide. 1t is fortunate
that its example has been SO far followed
in the United States. This frugality has
two conspicuous effects: it reduces the
consumption of luxuries. and increases the
accumulation Of surplus capital IN tho
hands Of the people-a surplus which
must find investment in commerce, man
ufacturing, real estate. railroad building
and other enterprises
THERE Is ANOTHER FACT
Of great encouragement: the country !
richor than it has ever been before. wi tt
the exception of the grasshopper devas
cations, which have been local, and tn
trouble with the wheat districts Of Min
nesota, whose product has not found s.
l
has been poured by millions into tn
country around Chicago for hogs, corn
and other products. The promptitude Q
collections, till the country became i'm
; passable. was proof of this, and it is
fact so familiar as to need no comment
1t is not to be expected that we are t
return at once to an era Of the old fast
; toned prosperity, with easy and extende
, credits. inflated enterprise, and univers:
money making. We are in better siti
alton. The prosperity before us Is
:. gradual improvement, proceeding
! sound and conservative Methods Of bus
ness. 1t will be succeeded, therefore, NJ
BY . collapse. but by still better time
That these arc in the immediate futur
: cannot be doubted on general view Of Il
= situation. With the market towns
!, the interior nearly bare Of goods. Co
sumers well of. manufactures cheap, n
= waiting sale, an improvement visible
o the prices Of breadstu9s abroad, vi
!, the surplus capital of the country CO
. stantly accommodating, and tempting DO
J, ro~ers with cheap rates Of interest, q
= pressing lenders with the necessity OF
u vestment. the future is as easy to re
: and interpret IS the almanac.
in The Catholic Church In A0ssxia.
LONDON. March Q. 4 London dispat
sc from Berlin says the Pope has permit
e the Austrian bishops to comply with :
r Law. which requires that the authorIt
t. be notified OF the names Of priests
ne pointed TO livings- This Is consider
&c. in BERLIN evidence that the Pope is ac1
he ated by political motives, 8 the re-
It. lance Of the Prussian bishops which
On encourages, to . similar law, IS the pm
~ pal cause of the recent troahle with
ia Catholic Church.