The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-11-26
Breakers Ahead.
NAV York Suul

Perhaps the greatest recent calamity that
has afflicted Germany was the payment of
the indemnity OF q thousand millions exactec
from France, in addition to the loss of ter
the war which Louis Napoleon had reck-
lessly precipi.ated. That fact may be ssid
to have caused y great change IN the habits
and character of the German people, and
especially of those in the capital.
Berlin. though large city, might have
been called quie. one, the seat of much
learning and sciencs, not given tt ostenta-
sious display, like Vienna, ST. Petersburg,
Paris, London, aud other great capitals
The frugal and simple tastes OF German life
had been preserved long after the love OF
pomp and the pride OF wealth had become
ylling passions ali over Europe. Bat the
fnmense indemnity which France, to the
S'rprise of tho world, paid promptly, over
howed the treasury OF the empire. and uiti
pnately led to the widest speculation and
ruin. The old proverb that it is harder to
endure prosperity than adversely, was made
good again.
An exactly opposite effsct was produced
on France. The people there trained in
thrift and small economies, had no..sacrifice
to make when they applied still closer re
uenchment to their persocRl and household
expenditures. The result was that France
though stricken with all the cost and priva-
lions OF a war of invasion. with the re-
luctant surrender OF two o, her best prov
inces, and with the ready money exactions
OF hard conquerer like Bismarck, who
never expected to see his terms fulfilled,
came out comparatively rich. while Ger
many is still struggling with bankruptcy,
depressed industry, and the reaction against
rash speculation.
1t is we'll that nations, like individuals,
should take warning by the experience of
Others. After five Years of severe trial, this
country is just beginning to emerge from
the gloom and hardshIps OF that long pro
baton. Many Industries have been revived
by absolute necessity. Great crops have
come at a season when those in Europe are
short, and the demand for them is extraer
dinary. Gold has been pouring in upon Us
for Two or three months past to buy pro
visions for the hungry across the Atlsnlic,
aud it still comes
Applied to the restoration OF worn out
rails on half the roads of the country, to
| legitimate business, and to proper enter
prise. this rush OF gold would be blessing.
Applied as much of it has been, 1t may
prove n curse, worse than the indemnity
which demoraiIzsd Germany. The rage for
stock gambling which seems to have seized
| the pubic can only work mischief in the
long run The waste places can not be re-
| stored, broken fortunes can not be repaired,
| commerce can not be expanded and solid
prosperity can not be insured, by desperate
| ventures in which the thousands who put
| up the stakes ars victimized by the few who
| play with marked cards or loaded dice.
| A reaction is inevitable unless the storm
| signals are heeded in time; aud when it
bones the crash may be terrible. Bitter that
| al the millions which have come to buy
bread should have been sunk at the bottom
| OF the ocean. than that this Madness for
| gam mbiing should be stimulated aud encour
| aged.