The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-08-06
sMALLsAvINGsA AND GREAT RESULTS

Those who are under the delusion, and
their name is legion, that small savings
cannot accomplish great results, can ca
silly have their minds disabusel of this
error, 10y taking a glHuct at the financial
history of France during the past TWEEN
ty five years. People are generally aware
that France has paid to Germany the
enormous war debt or indemnity, but
few know, or take the trouble of inquir-
ing, how the thing was done. 1t is gen
orally looked upon as something not far
short Of n miracle, and people content
themselves with admiring the thrift and
economy of the French nation, who, In
year or two, by some latent power
which scarcely anybody seems to Under
stand, raised tlIemSelvr, from beneath IL
load or debt that WIS universally con
silrr,.d suiliairut tn crush ANY power in
tHe warld ln. ~ i",,S, ii:;ir . century
How, then, WAS this wonderful iinancial
feat accomplished, Simply 10y small s;,-
wings In another word, 10y tlir econo
my, industry and Torrthouglit of the
people.
France h,-.an this habit uG economic
ing omly about twenty five years ago, and
she learned it from England, HAT nation
Of shop keepers at which sap"ieon tn.
First was acGnsfrInrd - 5neer. This
saving WAS done 10y what is called in finan
eial cirflrs ''tlr eolonization Of cap
ifal, A." which means that France lent
certain sums ofmoney, the accumulation
of small savings, tn other nations; in
fact. dcpositing this money in the Say
ingS Banks of other countries, where it
drew good interest, aud where reliable
security was given. Taking n still wider
view Gr the sghi"ct we iai.hi NOTICE thnt
this money was frequently employed In
tile improvement Of the public works of
the country 10 which it was lnrt, thus
going to increase the wealth and happi-
ness Of iGs iniialiii;pis. As am iliustril-
tion in point, wr might quote the loan,
Ia nrarrss or negotiation at present be
tive, u England and Russia, for the puT-
pose of extending the railroad system in
the empire of the latter. Nodoubt, these
railroads may be used with fatal effect
in some future war with England. But
business interests cannot afford to make
any iu;urr eaieulatious Of this kind.
Englniid gets ii iarse interest iar the loan,
the security is good. both parties are ma
teriaIly benefited at present, and the fu
f.lre may be left Ia take care OF itself.
When Everybody was speculating on
the bankruptcy of France. at the close
of the war, and nobody couid see how
or where She could borrow thousand
U-i.,ioug of dol:ais. size s.mnly solved the
problem by dFahs ing i,er Awn capital from
li-r foreign Savings Banks, paying tile
rXuIbitani claims of Ciermany, and pre-
sa.rviug the country from ruin. The
small savings, then. which the frugal
rrnele OF Franpr had bern !jnarding in
foreign savings i.i;n:ls for IA quanter OF
a century. constituted tile REAL reserve
inrca which drove the German invaders
from the soil. THIS eaRifal siofiF chiefly
belonging fa hsr Woodworking citizens
was the Only power tlr;,t Non Molika and
the "Nan nf BLOOD and iron" were an.
abb 20 reslsi, The mighty armies OF
France were conquered, the flower Of the
chivalry subdued, ,iis Nag trampled in the
dust, and in this woful condition, the
slaail sayings q .i.s F.eagant arose supe
rior TO the greatest disaster and hamiIia
| ;ian thGt, RfThal.s. sny naiiUn has evel
experienced.
Let no one then, d"spiSe small saw
ings, or imagine that they can only pro
duea iriliing results; since we see tha
they are mighty TO move empires whe:
| every nilrr force iaila.
Ittns been sald tia,t history Is philos
opIiy teaching 10y example. Let US en-
deavor, then, 10 keep this great example
OF philosopic economy clearly in view
and though, it IS 10 be hoped, this couu
try may meyer b. called men .o nse tn
Swings OF ITS people, after the manne
Of France, set suoh habits of frugalit!
would tend Ia MAKE us a happier anC
more independent people; and the lessor
Is especially worthy of being inculcate'
in the minds Of a people who excel al
others III thoughtless extravaganza.
lF You would prosper in business al
ways borrow your money from the Han