Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-09-05
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1857.
For the Journal.

EOr the journal.
Mr.. EDITOR: The spirit of the article sign.
ed Sd. o." in your paper of yesterday occa.
SONS me no surprise. Sometimes we do moi
like to admit truths which we cannot dis
guise' He knows very we'll that no man
ought to deny the evidence of his own ewes.
that he cannot evade the intelligent results
of his own observations. | can entertain
but little respect for the correctness of his
judgment, however honest he may be in the
| expression OF his opinions. scarcely be-
lieve that Second street will ever be grown
up with weeds, even if the city follows out
that system of policy that inclines 81. C.''
to discourage manufacturing enterprises,
that other cities believe to be necessary for
themselves. should feel inclined to ques-
tion the good judgment, as well as the pub
lie spirit OF any business man, who would
designate proposition to build manufac-
tory for one OF the most important articles
that is consumed in every family, are of
those "bubble speculations" that one pro-
posed by Customary and intriguing menu
before he takes the trouble of Investigating
it.
No part of my design in my first article
was to croak of impending ruin, or to in
dulge a spirit of idle fault finding. -
No one will more reioicingly acknowledge
that he is in error if 81. o.; can show that
| am blind to the true condition of things.
| most respectfully ask him to show his facts
aud figures, that | may be enlightened. will
ask HIM also why there are now so many
stores to rent, when there We're none two
years ago, if his statement be true that the
number of merchants and business men have
doubled in that time? Who believes besides
81. CO. that more than twice the amount of
goods is sold now that there was two years
ago; or that the quantity of produce brought
to this market has greatly increased in that
time? We respectfully ask him to exhibit
his figures. Can he prove that the ssdisad-
vantages of railroad communications have
been rather an advantage than otherwise
Will he be pleased to state what is the pres
ent ratio of our incre Sc in population, or
how many dwellings have been put up in
Muscatine within the year ending the first Of
August, 1857, compared with the previous
year? also, what is our rate of increase COM
pared with some other river towns whose
natural situation for trade is no better than
our own?
am very glad that s'J. CO. has conf
dence to believe that Divine Providence will
take care of Muscatine. There can be no
doubt respecting SO plain a proposition.-
But some wiser man than 81. C.'' appears
to be, has said that "Providence will help
those who help themselves" This rather
conveys the idea that no. quite so much can
be expected for those who do not. have
pretty good authority for saying, also, that
s'faith without works is dead.'' am afraid
that thaOlopian wi hova to ;pv,nt , mad;
ator for the criminal stupidity of city,
Concerning Gods over-ruling presence,
would have 50. c." to know that do not
speak tri1ingly of a Beng au"usr. have
now devoted sufficient attention to 81 C.'s''
article, and close by saying that | have no
intention of leaving town. CITIZEN.