Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-10-14
Another Grow for Victory.
Business Men Anxious.

OH SATURDAY dIleTnOOn, uIdy SGOI-
ped before the Office of a prominent
banking house in this city. A we'll
known, energetic, and enterprising
man, worth several millions, entered the
banking house and called for his gold.
He had sold on Friday S15O,OOO and on
Saturday $4,000 worth of Government
bonds, and caused the bags of S325,O0O
in solid gold to be loaded on his dray
and cartel off to place unknown. He
was unwilling to leave the. money in
any bank, for he feared that some extra
ordinary financial or other disturbance e
resulting from a Democratic victory
might make it embarrassing to draw
out the gold after an alarm had COM
menced, and deprive him of immediate
use of the money when wanted. Few,
indeed, will consider that the ac-
tion of this man was wise, but he calcu-
lates that the coin will not eat OF drink
anything, nor cost much to guard safely
for few weeks, while the possession of
it under his own hand may be worth a
great deal, in certain contingencies
which Democratic politicians now think
probable. There is no danger that other
men will follow this extraordinary ex-
ample. But the statement of the fact,
in this extreme case, serves to illustrate
the growing disposition of men who
have property to get it out of the way of
risks which are ordinarily taken with
out hesitation. No man can tell, they
say, how far commercial and financial
alarm may go. if Gen. Hancock and the
Democratic party should succeed, while,
if the struggle should be close and doubt
full, the revolutionary temper of the
Democrats might lead to serious distur-
bance in some localities.
The markets tell the same story. No
body is eager to buy or to take any new
risks. The most complete ard remarka-
Die Stagnatlon was seen yesterday i'll
the loan, bond and stock markets, not
because belief in Democratic success
prevailed, but because Few felt sure
enough of results to undertake new and
large ventures of any kind. Feeling
was growing intense among business
men. On the floor of the Stock Ex-
change, it was said, political excitement
was greater than it had been since 1860
Not a few active Democrats were ap-
pealing to their associates to vote for
Garfield in order 10 prevent disturbance
of the general prosperity. An energetic
broker, while arguing in this way, was
told by an associate: "Surely there can
" be no cause Cor apprehension when
" men like M. Belmont are supporting
" the Democratic ticket" But he re-
piled: "Men of the Belmont stripe were
very willing to have prices 90 down
g out of sight in 1860. They can stand
g any drop, however great, ard buy in
again at the lowest prices, when other
" people are ruined. | am not rich
i" enough to see a collapse of that sort,
g and make money by it; are you?" And
his neighbor sadly admitted that he was
not either.
ShreWd business men regard the stu
alton with serious doubt. Some, who
lean to the side of caution, sell securi-
lies or other property with some impa-
tience; Others, who have faith that the
general prosperity of the country will |
inally make itself felt, and who disbe-
ieve Democratic boasts, buy with some
freedom. But most men are conStrain-
ed to wait in painful uncertainty. The |
hesitation in business appears in the
,act that, for the first time this year, the
weeks exchanges between the banks
all below those of the corresponding
week last year by over 10 per cent-the
decrease last week having been 1879 per
,ent. Wheat is a little stronger, on ac-
count of the foreign demand, while cot
on continues to yield, but it is not gen.
rally supposed that prices of exporta-
lie merchandise would be materially af-
ected at present, even if securities
hould decline sharply.
Thus the whole country listens anx-
ously for news from the seat of war.
The feeling is not unlike that which was
PREVALENT when the honor and the very
existence of the Union, and all hopes of
uture prosperity, depended upon the
Ssue of great battle at the South.
Ien hope, but tremble. They pray
hat right and justice may prevail, and
et they know that the issue is doubt
ul. For the people of this country
AVE not yet shown that they fully de-
erve the great blessings which resump-
ion has given them, and it may be that
hey have yet to be taught by severe ex-
erience that liberation of dishonesty.
njuStice, and fraud will surely bring a
Y. Tribune.