Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-10-05

the Democratic party has been that the
Republican party is directly response
bic for the hard times which have pre-
vailed the past three years. Their
papers have been filled with innumera-
bic lies and Misrepresentation, out of
which they have hoped to make politi-
cal capital, and with few their false
arguments have had a certain amount
of weight. That manufactures have
suspended operations in many of the
states is true that there has been a
terrible stringency in the money mark
ct is equally true, but to charge such
a condition Of things upon the Repub-
lican party, making it directly or even
indirectly responsible, is unjust, and
reveals the depth of meanness to which
a party mey descend to carry its ends
The hard times which came upon US
during period of fancied security
from financial disaster was the direct
result of commercial recklessness, and
extravaganza on the part of our peo-
pie irrespective Of party, who have
not, as yet, learned that all capital is
the product Of labor, and that pros
perity can only follow careful and
economical administration of the fnan-
cial affairs, either of an individual, a
corporation, municipality or nation,
Recklessness in expenditures in the
family will bring disaster upon the
representative head of the family anC
the same results follow IN the case Of
people or nation. Not only have
we as a people as well as individual'
suffered financially, the past three
years, but all Europe has been expert
encing the same condition Of things
and not only Europe, but all th'
world.
To say that this condition has beer
occasioned by Republican administra
ton Is not only absurd, but absolutely
silly. We have been getting down t.
"bed rock" or 'shard pan" as it i
termed, and facts are developing which
show .conclusively that the loves
depth has been reached. During ;
! trip East in September, we watched
carefully the financial news of the day
confident that the tide Of misfortune
must soon turn. We were not disap
pointed. The tide has turned, ant
business which his been so long de
pressed is cautiouly reviving in ever.
section of the country. The manu-
winch have been either wholly or par
TALLY closed, have started up sine
Sept. 18th and are running to thei
maximum capacity. Our industry il
New Hampshire, which has been run
ming the past pear with only half it
force, and which had reduced the pa,
of its operatives 10 per cent, is nov
running on full time with full force
and has refunded to its operatives
per cent. of its reduction. When We
passed through Pittsburgh, going Eas
not half the blast furnaces, glass works
and rolling mills were in operation
When we returned, month later, the
city was covered with one dense cloud
of smoke issuing from its hundreds oil
smoke stacks. In New York, the dry
goods merchants were rejoicing in q
business revival. The sidewalks were
were crowded with cases of goods fol
shipment, and new activity had come
over the great city. Everybody spoke
of the ''good tine" so long coming,
but which had arrived at last. Money
was plenty on good security, and at
reasonable rates Of interest. All this
betokens the better condition of things
which will soon be apparent in the
West. Chicago never was so prosper
Gus as to day. The recent advent OF
the House Of A. 7. Stewart & Co..
and the speedy coming of III. B. Olaf
fin & Co., tell but too plainly that the
darkness is breaking and that the sun
shine of prosperity will soon dispel the
clouds which have so long hung over
business of every character. Now to
charge that this change is the result
of Republican rule, would be as fool
ish as to charge that the depression of
business has been the result of Repub-
lican misrule, as our democratic friends
are fond of charging. The fact is
confidence in business matter and in
financial circles has been restored, and
without doubt the new prosperity will