New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-12

From 1870 to 1873 the amount Of imports Of
each at these articles was almost doubled. La 1873
the importation OF spirits and wines amounted TO
%0O0O,OOO; tobacco aud cigars, O,UOO,OOO ana
silks, $4,000, coo making $JO,OOO,UOO foreign
valuation in gold IN these articles alone. Add the
gold premium, the dat ties and commits ions, and the
cost TO the consumer was over PlOOOOO,OOO FOR
VINES spirits tobacco, cigars and silks imported IN
1873. The imports of the manufactures OF silks
alone foreign valuation IN pOld for the three Years
IS7ll72'73 were SOS. 49,, 100. which 10 the con-
snmer would amount 10 not less than pZOO,OOO,OOO
The increase in the total importation Of foreign mer-
chaudise in 1870 over that of lSUO-tcn years
$50 3.32 $50 aud the increase of 1873 over 1870
three yeaTs-was $2O6. III SO2 the increase for
these three years being greater than the total mpor
''''o''' - oyER-C oNsUMPTIoN
SO far rs National wealth and general prosperity
In business concerned there can be no Oycr-con-
sumption SO long as the consumer pays from ms
earnings for the consumption. But whenever ne
fails 30 do that and INDUCES in wasteiul exraya-
nance in authorization of fortunes 10 be made, and
continues any length of ume bankruptcy Is sure 10
follow with It's attendant ana manifold Ills TO honest
industry. The statesmanshlp which excuses such
state of things by calling 10 undercOnsumpton, rs
akin 20 that which claims that money worth nothing
makes n country rlch.
There is remarkable instance OF nnder-consumpI
tion in the case OF the PrOdlgal Son, when 10 fed
upon husks; but II was the necessary ana inevitable
result of oxtrayagant and riOtous living.
As n Nation, Tor years we spent more than we
earned. And human ingenuity has never vet been
able 10 devise a scheme by which individuals or
nations, whose expenditures exceeded their income
A
and ruin. There IL no scheme OF Legislation or de-
vice Of cheap worthless money That will convert
such folly into wisdom, or such extravaganza into
economy.
Dnring the whole time of this unprecedented ex-
pansion IN everything else. there comparatively
10 increase in agriculture. From 1890 to 1860, by
the census returns, the Increased acreage OF I'M
proved lands at the rate Of 40 por cent for the
ten years From 1860 to 1870 it was at the rate of
15i2 per cent The increase OF acreage IN farms
IRON 1880 tO 1860 was az tho rate OF 40 per cent,
while from 1860 TO 1870 1t was only One-hau OF
prr cent. Our agriculture was, therefore, greatly
disproportOned 10 all our other branches OF i'll
dustry.
The suspension IN railroad building the paralysis
in all business, caused in part by that. and by pro
duction beyond the capacity OF consumption, filled
the country with unemployed men, and forced
honest and willing labor 10 beg it's bread.
THE CURE FOR HARD TIMES.
The wastes of war and the prodigal expenditures
of peace must be retained in order to restore the
country to its old prosperity aud renewed growth in
wealth and power. How is that to be done, and in
what way can the Government aid IN ITS accom-
plishmeutf
private trusts, thus restoring confidence and secur-
ing faithful collection and honest disbursement OF
public aud private revenues; next, less indebted,
ness abroad aud greater production at home and
lastly, rigid economy IN public expenditures,
thereby Tightening tho burdens of industry and
enabling labor to enjoy the fruits OF its toll.
1t is not economy, however, in public expendl-
lures for the lawmaking power TO withhold appr0-
priations Of money indispensable for carrying on
| the necessary operations OF the Goyernment-that
is simply defeating the purpose and destroying the
| very object of g0yenment-nor is It economy 10
| withhold tho money for the payment of the awards
of the Court Of Claims, or for the necessary ex-
penses OF tho courts of justice. The first IS dis
| honor TO the Nation refusing to pay It's honest
debts the other great wrong to its citizens, by
denial of justice. Nor is it economical or patriotic
to reduce the Army. when II is already too small 10
secure protection against the savage to the residc
OF the pioneer settler who goes forth into the will
derness to open pathway for science and ciyihza-
| tiOn.