The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-05
The Winter Season.

Now that December has come, the fashion
Ahio world il busy with preparations for its
gay season, which begins along about
christmas and lasts until Ash Wednesday.
The more hopeful feeling which prevails in
business circles will tend to make tho
winter an exceptionally brilliant one in
New York, though from London We get
reports that society is cast down in spirits
by reason OF the great commercial depres-
sion which has been experienced there since
The opening OF the present year
While in the United states We have already
borne the worst effects Of the hard times,
md are now gradually approaching an era
of solid prosperity, in England the business
stagnatiOn is greater and more extensive
than 1t has been within this generation.
Our enforced economy has proved Of value
10 us in the reduction OF our imports and in
the development OF home industries, upon
which we have learned to rely. Whereas
Ten years ago we imported nearly all our
railroad steel. we now make IL ourselves, and
tho leading manufacturers Of It at Pitts
burgh and other places declare that they
are able to compete with England without
tho help Of protection.
4 II is significant that at Birmingham and
Sheffield there begin to appear advocates OF
protective duties. a fact which must prove
hiscouraging to the doctrinaires OF our Free
Trade League, who have spent many years
In the vain attempt to make the question OF
free trade leading issue In our politics
Probably at no time within n quarter " a
century has there been SO slight chance as
now that the dreams of the free traders
will be- realized. The issue will not enter
Into the Presidential campaign Of 1880, and
Dur free trade friends will be unable TO in
ierest any large number Of the voters in it.
In the ordinary progress Of things, free
trade and protection will settle themselves.
Meantime we have the solid satisfaction
Df knowing that. though they may not be
making large amount Of money, our
manufacturers were never on so good a
foundation as now, and never so well able to
Bustain themselves. Our cottons are finding
y market in England itself; our woollens
are now of so good quality that they are
worn by thousands OF our citizens under
the impression that they are Of French or
English make; and our edged tools have
begun to drive out OF the market the Shelf
Held manufactures.
All this is encouraging, and it's effect
is seen in the better spirits OF business men,
who may not make So much money as they
hid during the period OF speculation, but
who are no longer chasing illusions. If the
profits Of industry and enterprise are less
than formerly. 50 also is the cost of liv-
Ing much less, and there Is a diminutlon
in the poverty which calls for relief in New
York at the opening Of the season Of cold
We do not hear 50 many stories as last
winter about the incursions OF tramps
whose numbers even then were much exag-
gerated. The percentage of the population
who can get no work is probably smaller
this December than II has been since 1873 A
country which has balance OF trade in its
favor of hard on three hundred millions O
year cannot be in n very bad way, though
such low prices for all sorts of commodities
n are now prevailing must carry with them
small profits and reduced wages.
We anticipate a winter of unusual gaycty
md rejoice to think that the mcrrment o.
the frolckers will be less Offset than last
year 10y the cries Of the suffering. still
there is plenty Of opportunity for the doing
OF works OF charity