Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-23
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MONTPELIER VT.
WEDNESDAY. JAN. 90, 1878.
The Hard Times.


Since the panic of 1873 there have beer
many prophecies of better times near a
hand. The utterers of them have founC
themselves very much in the situation O
Mr.. Seward after his ninety days effort r
1861. This winter is certainly about a:
hard on business men, on the smaller
debtors throughout the country, and or
those who depend on day wages for sup
port as any season previous since the de-
preston in business set in.
Things having come.to be about rs bad
rs they can be, is, when all is considered
about the best reason going for think
ing any important improvement is tc
come. Whatever pinching would come
from an inflated currency to sound one
has been endured. The greenback dollar
commands n market value of within 4
cent or two of the gold dollar and but 4
little time is needed to bring them on the
same plane. But even when this is done
business is not going to spring up suddenly
into renewed health. The change for the
better, when it begins, will be slow-slow.
er than the downward steps have been.
1t is better to have this slow change fol
the better and have it healthy one thar
to have the country dosed with silver into
state which merely deceives by the sem.
blance of health. But if the dose is to be
administered it had better be taken a
once. The talk and uncertainty abou
what is to be done make more trouble
than would II swift decision one way OF
the other, The west and the south de-
mand trial of the nostrum and we arc
inclined 10 think will get it in some shape
or other. If they do all the east can dc
will be to grin and bear it till all know
its effects.
The last year began with promise of AZ
Eastern war which soon changed into 8
certainty, and brought up the prices O
western farm products. This year begins
with n more than an even chance thai
Turkey will be forced into peace before
the time for getting crops in is at hand
During the last week the Russian armies
have swept on from the southern slope oil
the Balkans and now occupy Adranoplc
more than half way from Plevna to Con.
stantinople.
1t was condition imposed on the Turk S
who proposed to treat for an armistice
that this could only be done when the
Russians were in Adrianoplo. Beyond
that city there is no vantage ground OF
defence till the immediate Notifications of
Constantinople are reached. So the Turks
are at the mercy Of their northern enemies
unless England and other parties to the
treaty of Paris come in and help. Austria
and England will no doubt object to /,
peace that violates the conditions Of that
treaty unless they are consulted us to
what notifications may be allowed.
Out of this attitude of Austria and Grea
Britain comes the only reasonable belief
that the war now apparently So near it,
close may suddenly enlarge itself by the
addition of more bellgerents. The peace
that promises to be near ut hand will de-
prive the owners of the grain fields of the
west of good deal of hoped for income
from high prices.
With the silver bill, and peace in Europe
near at hand, folks may make up their
minds to go along for time in the hard
ways we are on. There is one consolation,
the nation is learning the need of economy
and with this once learned when times do
begin to favor the people what prosperity
comes will be more lasting.