The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-06
THATPRosPERITy is HERE.

Such concerns as n. G.. Dun 4 Co,
Bradstreet. ana others who make 81 their
business TO keep abreast of the state of
trade have testified. at the end Of 1897,
that general conditions in the United
States have undergone a most marked
change for the better. The failures for
the year were smaller in total liabilities
than in any other year since 1892, and
fewer in number than in any recent year
and in average liabilities smaller than
in any year during the past twenty-three
years except four.
All the agencies report that the year
1898 opens with conditions radically
changed from what they have been for
several years Since the panic set in in
the spring OF 1898 its cause.-the apprehen-
sion that obligations would be paid in de-
preciated silver dollars-has Kept men
with capital from allowing 1t 10 pass
away from their own control and this
has arrested business and produced stag
nation with the consequent loss of en-
ployment for thousands of workingmen.
But the people of the country al large are
beginning 10 believe that free silver Will
soon be a retired issue. and the general
distrust that has paralyzed everything
since the fear OF free silver took posses
sion of the country. is gradually yielding
to confidence Capital is again beginning
TO seek investment. that Is starting
business is now commencing all over the
country where stagnation and dry rot
were the conditions. while It seemed to
be possible that the country might adopt
free silver.
A few of the more important figures
connected with the matter will be inter-
esting at this point. In New York city,
the bank clearngs IN five days Of the last
week of 1897 reached the enormous figures
Of s739. S5T ,261 as against $3.50 SIS. IA for the
same five days of the week before.
Christmas week. one day being a holiday,
the clearings dropped materially from the
figures Of previous weeks but Cor the en-
tire country they were one-fOurth larger
than they were in the corresponding week
OF 1896. For the week ending December
IS. 1897. the last full week, the clearings
for New York alone were very near the
highest point ever reached. being $685.
2i5sl7. and for the sntire country the
clearings footed up to 81 ,iOS, 92l56l. This
amount has rarely been exceeded. These
clearlngs at the banks represent the BUSH
ness that tho country is doing and It Is
obvious therefore. that the country has
now got up almost 10 the best position i'm
active business that IL has ever had.
Consequently. when the free silver advo-
Gates ask as they have been tauntingly
doing ever since the election in 1896,
where is the prosperity YOU promised
u.s." All We have TO do Is 10 point to
these figures and say there 1t is" and,
II YOU will only cease your Efforts to in
terfere with the soundness Of the coun-
try's money you will see this prosperity
In every neighborhood after a short while.
Mr.. S. Il. Hyde president OF that great
institution. the Equitable Life Insurance
Company OF New York. one of the vast
est business concerns in the world, said
10 reporter in Washington city last
Monday:
'''The United States Is once more enter
ing on an era of great prosperity, so far
as am aide 90 judge. The outlook is
.auspicious from every point of view and
the condition of tho country Is to-day bet
ter by far than at any time since 1898. |
believe that this improvement has como
to stay and that 1885 will be year Of
tremendous business activity and proiita-
HE 10 all who will work. Hard work,
after all. Is the keynote OF human
achievement. and II doesn't matter how
rood the times may be. If man doesn,
toll unremttlngly prosperity will not
come his way"
There II but ore thing nov that can
arrest our onward march 10 a glorious
condition OF prosperity and that is foreign
combinations 20 involve US In war II
such a calamity as that should befall us
the innationists and cheap money men
might get such hold upon affairs as TO
eadanger the gold standard again and
that would. OF course, arrest our new de-
vslorsnent as free silver cut II shor, when
A. had grown 10 proportions that made Il
,eox dangerous. AL good citizens should