The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-04-16
EVANSVILLE. IND.
The Need of Large Cities.

tlvIty anu 10 lOrm NiSofSuS auu PoW-
erful public sentiment. Men must be
brought into contact and collision with
one another in large masses to bring out
living and ruling thoughts. Opinions
will be modified and take their prevail
ing hues from the peculiar local cir
cumstance Of every community-its pur-
suits, and education. The public senti-
ment Of large city impresses itself upon
the province or State. for which it is the
emporium of trade, and fashion, or centre
of political and social influence. Rural
districts follow the opinions of the cap
ital, with which they hold intercourse.
Some tincture OF sectional or State sem
timent and feeling must exist to. pro-
duce a healthy State pride. That SEN
timent must have its origin in some
large town, that quickens and shapes the
opinions Of the rural districts, tributary
to it. Richmond in early days gave
laws Of opinion and taste to Virginia,
and she has never wholly lost her sway,
even in her decadence. Charleston i'm
parted her characteristics. to society IN
the Carolinas. Boston gives tone to
New England society, and shapes its
opinions, and creates the traits OF the
Yankee. But one part OF New Jersey
is dependency Of New York-the other
half belongs to Philadelphia, and it has
no State pride, no distinct public opinion,
and is governed by railroad company.
North Carolina is the Rip Van Wrinkle
State, for lack of capital to give her an
impulse. Mississippi and Arkansas are
tagging behind the times, for the want
: of leading capital town. Memphis
and Nashville, since they have grown
into importance, have infused new life
of activity into the mind Of Tennessee
What would Missouri be in the esteem
of the world, without st. Louis, which
imparts its vigor Of thought not only tC
its own State, but is truly the capital o
the greater part of Illinois to whom SHIT
gives the law of her own ideas. TIL,
community Of st. Louis, and st. Louis
papers, give the tone of thought and feel
ing to middle and Southern Illinois, an(
in great degree to Iowa, and the coun
try above it.
From what focus Of intelligence anC
fashion, does Indiana derive her prevail
ing ideas?- A part of her territory il
tributary to Cincinnati, part to Louis
vile; but the greater portion of her PEG
pie feel no metropolitan influences. He
numerous small cities exert no powe
over the popular impulses Of the State
and the dead calm that pervades tn
popular mind-the lack of an activ,
public spirit-the absence of a high tone,
state pride-the rule of the demagogue
in her borders are all proofs of the nee,
;-,---.,sses-v uHa up one, an
where shall it be? She has no lax
shore on which to plant large CONNER
cial city in the North. On the Ohio
every town above US is overshaddowe,
by Cincinnati and Louisville, whose pres
ent power renders competition unavail
ing with them. Commerce will not g
inland to build cities. But the grea
cities, in the future, are not to be create
and sustained by commerce, but by tn
productive energies Of skill, labor an
capital in manufactures and the creativ
arts. The central portions of our Stat
where its capital should be located. tina
its influence should be powerful AM
general, are without the chief elements
mechanical industry and prosperity
There is no spot which combines tn
advantages both for commerce and man
ufactures, so completely as Evansville
She has all the resources ola great city
but she is placed, unfortunately for
capital, in remote corner Of the Stat
down in the pocket; and, howeve
large and wealthy she may become, sh
cannot extend her influence, her sent
ments, Customs and fashions into tn
Eastern and Northern portions of tn
State, with whose inhabitants she ca
have little commercial and social int,
course, and little sympathy.
As, however, she has the fairest desti
ny, and will become the largest town i
the State, she is likely to be the Quee
City, at least, of Southern Indiana. A
this portion Of the State, by the rapi
development of its mechanical and man
ufacturing resources, is to outstrip i
population and wealth the agriculture
sections, and finally to control and gov
ern them, the metropolis of the Soutl
will have a controlling influence in shap
ing the laws, and opinions of the State
The people of this region of the State
should therefore, feel an interest in build
ing up an Influential metropolis tina