Year: 1864

The whole host of bears. coprnrs
heads, traitors, rebels and grandpa
fnanceers are again trying hard to
make the people believe that very
soon we are all going to smash" How


such an event is to come about has


not yet been made plain, and as to


the date of said catastrophe, no Dam


iel among these financial prophets can
yet cipher out. Where is this smash


to begin and who will show us any
sign thereof, tangible to the senses?
As for ourselves, we do not look for
smashing anywhere-save and except
that which General Grant shall finally
give to the rebels. That kind of q
smash" we most devoutly pray for.


Are our merchants going to smash
No ! we say, most emphatically. So
long as they continue to do business
for cash and very short credit, as they
have done the past three years, they
are safe. The man who can, in view
OF present facts, predict an early


smash in that direction is simpleton.


But, 1T is said, goods are going to fall,


and then the smash will come in. Do


not our merchants know that, and are
they not only prepared for it, but abun-
dainty able to ride triumphantly thro'
such adverse changes? The loss of
the profits on a seasons business, or
even on that of a whole year, would


not hurt them, and much less "smash"


them. Whoever knows anything of
the prosperity they have enjoyed the
past two years, will not predict disas-
ter in that quarter. No, no, the mer-
chants are not going to smash. They
are stronger, safer, more independent
than ever Many of them, a majority
we think, could pay every dollar they
owe in thirty days, and without any
special effort either. Rest easy. there
fore, ye croakcrs, about the merchants.


Are the manufacturers going To
smash =? Well, the thought of that
provokes a smile. AS a class they
are absolutely beyond the reach of
any ordinary financial disaster. If
squall comes, they have only to trim
their sales and go to anchor. They
owe nothing, as class, and are now
selling their goods mostly for cash, as
fast as they can be delivered. A more
aristocratic, independent set of men
does not exist, here or elsewhere, than
the manufacturers. Count on one
thing as sure, that this special class
OF our fellow-citizens are not yet quite
ready to so to smash.


Are the farmers going to smash
We would like to see the man who
will ventutc that prediction. Such a
time for paying off notes, mortgages.
and old scores, among this class, nev.
er was known before As whole,
they are rich and saucy and sound
as nut. Some of them cry, it is true,
because they have not more corn to
sell at dollar and quarter per BUSH
ell, more butter at thirty cents per
pound, and more cheese at fifteen;
more hay at thirty dollars a ton more
horses and more oxen, more beef and
more pork, more wood and more-ev-
sell at unheard of prices.
Poor fellows, we pity them, but they
shall not go to smash just yet if we
can help it. IL is asserted, with some
show of evidence, that the farmers
have "settled fever for greenbacks
and five-twenties, and they are now
laying in good stock of the latter,
in order to be all ready when the
smash comes. Herein they are wise
and be it known that all who do not
thus provide themselves with these
documents for the future support of
their households, are worse than-Jeff
Davis. ...


Are our railroads, banks, insurance
and other corporations go
ing to smash? Who says SO? Show
us the man. Is it not fact that they
are doing snug, safe business Have
they not paid on their floating debts !?
Are they not earning more money than
ever before, and making larger divi-
dends p? There are certainly no.signs
Of weakness in that direction.


No, we have only to smash the re.
bellion, and all other smashes will be
indefinitely postponed. All will DO
well with us if we are wise in our war
movements. If we are afraid to hurt
the rebels in their pockets, or on the
neck if we want to save slavery
the sum of all denominations if We
want our armies ol6cered and control
led by do-nothings if we rush head
long over present duty and go now to
President-making |; ii we are more
anxious to please Government COM
tractors and curry favor with copper
heads, than to do justly and love mer-
cy /; if we want to do all these things
just at the consenting moment:
look out for smash. 1t will come in
just there.


But now we have other business.
SHOULDER ARMS ~ Y. Iadepeadeat.