Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-02
09@

The imaginary line separating rs today
and forever from the twelve months known
- 1898 could not, unfortunately, mark any
change in business conditions. The year
just past had much to keep the memory Of
it unplea,antly fresh in mind and the lega-
cy which the new year finds on coming in
to possession Of the earth, isn't of the kind
that heirs take into chancery. But
for all that, we have many assurances
that we are entering upon year which
shall go out in better repute than the
one we have just survived. Realizing
the worst is q shd4 but sharp dis
posal of it and together with the suffering
of accommodating ourselves to it is not 20
bad Is dreading it end enduring nerve wear
ing agony which allows no relief except
stupefaction. In brief, the terrible uncer-
tainty bred from doubt of the ruling party's
abilitiesland distrust of ire judgment, are pro-
ducing a wore effect on business con j.
tons than will the blunders when they are
consumnated. Those who are out of en-
ploy night now because there are no orders
for their work and because their employers
dare not pile up stocks of goods for the fu-
tu-e and which may have to be sold below
c. st if the Wilson bill becomes law ARE in a.
b ID condition IS they can be, aside from
the matter of the r savings which they may
not yet have expended. They will be better
off wor king at reduced wages than now with
no work. When producers may know
d. init. ly what the result of Democratic de-
bauch Of the tariff will be to production,
they will proceed to start up business if
there is hope Of profit in so doing and if not
will shut down definitely and the workman
may look elseV here.
These are unpleasant considerations for
the new year, " hn, come NAV say should be
allowed to enter without first being put
through political lobby. Unfortunately this
canhot be- At the Chicag, convention, the
dominant powers of the Democratic party
d. ci led that the tariff principle then cox
istant with the most prosperous era of this
nation was unconstitutional and vicious.
This avowed p,licy of the Democratic
party and which now, as is its custom, it is
trying to pallia'e, will continue to animate
the administration and cannot be left out
in considering the prospects of the new
year.
People have had money to buy, money to
inves. in industry and yet r. G. Dun &
Co.'S Review of Trade for the past year
says:
Starting with the largest trade ever
known, mills crowded with work, and all
business stimulated by high hopes. the year
1898 has proven in sudden shrinkage #
ira e, in commercial disasters ard depres-
sion of industries. the worst for so years.
But from such condition as described
above there must cone measure of recov-
cry in this year which is yet new to us.
We have faith to believe there will. We
have faith to believe that the pernicious
tariff measure now before Congress will be
stripped of some of its many bad features
by the determined opposition of Republi
cans assisted by those of the Democrats
who hear the admonis' ing protest of their
and fear it.
Foolish, il sane as is the reckless deter
mination of the administration 10 encourage
aud protract hard times for the sake of ad
van ing their hobbies. however incongru-
ously, we nevertheless believe that this
year will go out under Much better auspices
than did 1898.