The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-02
MIMI oF rrrr rrARf

some reflections on the prospects and possibilities ahead of us may not be altogether out of place. Unfortunately the year does not open with such flat tering finaEcial conditions as all could wish. Whatever may have been the primary cause of the monetary trou- bles. or whether the panic was or was not avoidable. the grim fact remains that it came. and that it's effects were serious in almost every section of our country. Business was disturbed, con- |fidence unsettled. industries ianguished and thousands of industrious hard working people have been thrown out of employment at the worst time for them and those dependent on them. The trouble was unfortunate from every point of view.
 That some of these evil conseqtences yet remain is unfortunately too true. Confidence is slowly returning and business prospects are amproving but this cannot entirely wipe out the harm that has been done. opportuni- ties have been lost which can never be regained. Industries have been shut down or materially curtailed which must require time to again be- come normal. People have lost posi- tions which they could i'll afford to lose, and days. weeks or months must elapse before they are again earning Q living for themselves and those de- pendent on them. Evil may come quickly but it's effects depart slowly. Looking at the matter calmly and dispassionately 1t seems impossible that the unsatisfactory conditions of the past few weeks should continue very long. Already there are signs of recovery, of readjustment and of re- mobilization of business and industrial affairs. There can be no good reason that we can see why the trouble and disturbance of business should not cease. and why a restoration of con- fdence should be long delayed. There seems no reason for \ continuance of hard times. In practically all sections of the country the crops were good the past season. Food for man and beast abounds and the monetary crops are large and find ready sale. There is plenty of money in the country for all purposes. and when confidence is restored this money will be put out and business must prosper. Really We can see no reason for pessimism.
 when we turn from the business and industrial world and take note of the political situation and prospects we have no cause to apprehend stagna- tion or anything approaching it. The great battle for political supremacy which disturbs this country from cen Ire to circumference each four years is about to begin. The battle of the giants is near at hand and its tremors are already felt. The two great par ties are preparing for the conflict and the probabilities are that few con- tests have been hotter. for much de- pends on the result. both to those who are in and to those who are out. Per chance much good or harm may result to the entire country from the issue of the battle.
 We Americans are a strenuous race. We go into politics as we go into battle with grim, deadly determination to win. There will be those to tell us that the ultimate fate of this nation de- pends on the result of this years cleo tIons. Whether they be Democrats or Republicans they will firmly insist that our government can no longer exist unless their party is successful at the polls. Perhaps it is just as well to be earnest, zealous and deter mined in our political beliefs and con- victions When the battle is over and the result known we will all settle down to other matters for another four years.
 Meanwhile it is to be hoped that neither business depression nor po- litical difference will serve to hinder the progress of our own good city. We set out but recently to work for one hundred thousand pop uIation fin 1s1o and we have but two
 years in which to accomplish that desirable object. Politics may rage but we can still build houses. Finan- ciaI depression may exist for time but 1t cannot long stand against the efforts of a determined people. We can continue to improve. to enlarge and to grow in population. Those who determine to succeed and who set out to accomplish a good object are not given to failure. If we all work to- gether we can conquer business de- pression, survive political defeats and make of Montgomery the best city in Alabama. Shall we not do 1t?