HARD TIMES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 6 April 1871, Page 6

HARD TIMES.

Upon this subject-, we find the following very sensible remarks ixi the "Examiner" (Californian paper.)

Hard times, or a decline from the prosperity of the flush times of the earlier years (for the present times are comparatively rather than absolutely " hard "), is a common tonic of discussion nowadays, and various a'ld contradictory are the theories offer"d in explanation thereof. Last night we heard a gentleman from "over the river" (across the bay) dis -ourst'ig upon the decadence of the tim<\s, who expiessed himself thnslv: " Gen hie men," said he, ''the difficulty is in our situation. It's the hardest tiling in the world to commence at the terminus and civilize backwards over -i broid expanse of desert cmintrv to thrsource of civilizition. Un r lor ordinary cirenmst-ances the thini can't be don' 1 at all ; but in this State, becatis" of the dis-overy of gold, we sup'tos"d that we could reverse tbfi general rule. And what has been the consequ-noe? Nothing remains stationary in America — we must go forward or fill bvk. We commenced here, every fellow, with his pocket full of gold. Consequently we sim-ted on the nppev in<=t";id of the lower round of the laldev of fortune. We commenced at the extreme of extravagance, dissipation, folly and fashion. Our beginning was the climax of old communities, and or.lv I'ttiined in them after centuries of civilisation. It was all right as lon^r as gold was plenty ; but «old failed us. We were compelled to move in some, direction, and as we started at the .summit we could go no higher, and of course went lower, and we will continue to go down until we have reiclied a healthy equilibrium — the universal laws of nature can't be changed." So spoke our disconrsive friend, ami there is a great deal of gooJ sens 3in his philosophy.