New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
BENEFITS From HARD TINES.

Even constitutional grumblers are beginning
to admit that business is generally improving.
The statistics of what the nation has lost are
abundant. Let us rather consider what has
been gained. 1t is time to examine the pre-
cious Jewels that have been extracted from
adversely.
The first and most evident good result Of all
periods of commercial distress is that the ten
dency to give large credit and TO embark In
wild speculation Is repressed. The result to
the loser is to make him resolve hereafter to
stick more closely to his legitimate business:
and when men stick to their business aud give
short credits, they rarely fail. 1t is generally
conceded that mercantile affairs were never III
A more heathfu condition in such respects
than they are at the present moment.
Economy is the hardest of ali lessons for the
American to learn. IL is also the most profit
able Compared with the efforts at economy
during the present period, it may be SAID that
he virtue has zen generally unknown III this
country for nearly forty years. 1t has now
suddenly pervaded all ranks and conditions
from the National yclnment down to the
day labOrer. Just at present it may be called
the fashion. Let lis hope that 1t Will last Tor
more than one season ; while it lasts the nation
will grow in wealth In fact there is very little
chance for any community TO grow rich except
by what it saves. That permanent habits OF
economy have been acquired by any large pro-
norton of Americans during two or three years
of hard times, is too much to hope: but be-
ginning has been made with the majority in
the right direction, and many VIII be more
provident for the rest Of their lives.
i q f., do OF fha
Centennial Exhibition has not tempted our
countrymen into their usual layishness. As a
nation we are becoming known as more
careful buyers it used to be said abroad that
ANYTHING could be sold in America. Our own
manufacturers. though s0rely tried, have been
more fortunate in selling their goods here
than our importers. Hard times have
favored our manufacturers by reducing the
price of labor. All the intelligent foreigners
who visited Philadelphia this year agree in
admitting that Americans can proftably make
everything needed here. NJ. Slmonin, care
full observer, whose words are of weight,
frankly announces this fact. America ne says,
can feed, as it has already clothed. Europe.
While it can give gold and silver for all it
may choose to buy, America can do without
manufactured goods. In short, while America
can dispense with Europe, Europe cannot do
without America.
The depression of business at home has
forced many of our manufacturers to seek
markets abroad. NJ. Simonin is among the
many foreign observers who look mt this
feature with some concern. Speaking of
iewelry, watches, bronzes, and the like, he
declares that our work displays solidity and
good TASTE and that i'll the contest for trade
the American is more to be feared than the
Englishman. A civil engineer by profession,
he notes especially the excellence of our ma
chinery, and dwels upon the superiority of the
locomotives and cars made here for export,
and preferred abroad to any of European
manufacture. The Hon. Henry s. Sanford,
in recent letter, gave large number
of instances of newly established lines
of export for our manufactures; among
others mentioning that of the 80 or
900 articles made in the Naugatuck Valley,
only two or three used to be salable out of
the United States; now "A third or half of the
whole number find foreign market. Many
of the American goods shown at Philadelphia
have been the means of creating demand from
other countries. The surprising cheapness of
boots and shoes made by machinery here is
sufficient to enable them to be sold at profit
in Germany and France, and orders thence for
mems shoes ut 81 20 and boots at So 50 per
pain have been sent 10 and accepted by New
England manufacturers. We have previously
given some facts respecting the new export
trade in paper for writing and printing. To-
day we add particulars concerning The cxpor:
Of wall paper, Il product Of taste as well rs of
skill ami ingenuity. The opening of new
markets for our goods is more certain source
of wealth to the county than che discovery
of n new bonanza. There Is 10 likelihood that
any of the good results above enumerated
would have been attained nj present, except
for the pressure of hard times. Perhaps if the
balance be struck ten years hence, it will be
found that more profit than loss will have
accrued from the reverses OF 1886.
The vote of election day gives ample evidence of
dissatisfaction with Republican rule as well MS dis
N. Al. loA4