New-York tribune., 1880-10-11
RrSINESS MN ANXLOUS.

On Saturday afternoon, a dray stopped
before the Office of prominent banking house
III this city. A well-llnown, energetic. and
entorprising man, worth several millions, en-
tered the banking house and called for his
gold. lie had sold on Friday $3.50, 600 and on
Saturday $4,000 worth of Government
bonds, and caused the bags of T32j,OO0 III
solid gold to be loaded on his dray and carted
off to place unknown. He was unwilling to
leave the money in any bank, for he feared
that some extraordinary financial or other DIS
turbance resulting from a Democratic victory
might make it embarrassing to draw out the
gold after an alarm had commelced, and so
deprive him of immediate Use OF the money
when wanted Few, indeed, will consider
that the action of this man WAS wise, but he
calculates that the coin will not eat or drink
ANYTHING. nor cost much TO guard safely for
few weeks, while the possession o. 1t under his
own hand may be worth great deal, in certain
cont ngeacics winch Democratic politicians now
think probable. There is no danger that other
men VII follow this extraordinary example.
But the statement Of the fact in this txtr'mc
case. serves to illustrate the growing disposition
of men who have property to get 1t oul OF the
wav Of risks which are ordinarily taken with
out hesitation. No man can tell, they say,
how far commercial and financial alarm may
go. if 6 neral Hancock and the Democratic
party should succeed, while, if the shuggle
should be close and doubtful, the revolutionary
temper Of the Democrats might lead 70 s. flous
disturbance in some localities.
The markets tell the same story. Nobody is
eager to by or to rake any new risks. The
most complete and remarkable sta-natlon was
seen Yesterday in the loan, bond and stock
markets, not because belief IN Dcmoclatic
success prevailed, tut because lew felt sure
enough of results to undertake new ami large
ventures of any kind. Feeling was growing
intense among business men. On the floor of
the Stock Exchange, il was said, political cx-
element was greater than ii had been since
1860 Not a few active Democrats were
appealing to their assoc ates to vote for Car
field in orier to prevent disturbance Of the gen
eral prosperity. IN energetic broker, while
arguing i'll this way. was told by au associate:
surely there can be 10 cause for apprehension
swhcn men like Mr.. Belmont are supporting
"tbe Democratic ticket" Bat he replied:
:" Men of the Belmont stripe were very willing
"to have prices go down out OF sight in 1850.
"Thcy can stand any drop, however great, and
"reoplc are ruined. am noi rich enough to
"eee a collapse Of that sort and make money
"by it; are you ?" And his Deighbor sadly
admitted that he was not either.
Shrewd business men regard the situation
with serious doubt. Some who lean to the
side of caution, sell securities OT other property
with some impatience; others who have faith
that the general prosperity of the country viii
finally make itself felt, and who disbclieye
Democratic boasts, buy with some freedom.
But most men are constrained to wait in painful
uncertainty. The hesitation IN business ap-
pears in the fac that, for the first time this
year. the weeks exchanges betveeL the banks
tail below those of thd corresponding week last
year by over 10 per cent-the decrease last
week having been 1879 per cent. Wheat is a
little stronger, on account OF the foreign de-
mand. wi lie cotton continues to yield, but it is
not generally supposed that prices Of export
able merchandise would he materially affected
NJ present, even if securities should decline
sharply.
Thus the whole country listens anXously 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 UnioP, and
all hopes OF future prosperity, uepehued upon
the issue Of a great battle at the South. Men
hope, but tIembe. They pray that right and
justice may prevail, and yet they know that
the issue is doubtful. For the people of this
country have not yet shown that they fully de-
serve the great blessings which resumption
has given them, and it may be that they have
yet to be taught by severe experience that toll
Grafton Of dishonesty, injustice, and fraud will
surely bring punishment.