The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-09

The assertion that 'the world is governed too
''mucI," will, we think, be admitted to have met
with practical refutation in that part of the
world included within our corporate limits. and
as its truth elsewhere is a mere abstraction so
far as the people of Baltimore are personally con-
cerned, we do not think it necessary TO follow the
question very far beyond our borders, at the pre-
sent moment. The laissez fare princple-the
foundation Of the ftvorite modern theories of no
ltlcal economy, morals, legislation, admiuistra-
tion and even religion, which supposes that indi-
Vdual interest Is the only safe and reliable guide
may, possibly, be true in the 'ronr run every
where. But, inasmuch as we have not vet chased
truth into the EARTH and bagged it so as to be able
to say, absolutely, what are its size, weight and
color, though generation after generation. has
been thrown out and left behind in the hunt This
principle may turn out to be a mere assumption
after all. In fact we think there is even now a
iault IN the field, and the most experienced
huntsmen begin to find that we must clark bacl1n
considerable distance, before we strike the riobt
scent Serious doubt has arisen whether all past
experience IS to 60 for nothing, and right and
wrong. to be left TO contend with each other
by the most approved methods of unlimited
competition. For this community we have
no hesitation in declaring that to set about
strengthening the arm of authority and gov
ernin9 ourselves Il great deal more and
great deal better, Is an Immediate and pressing
duty, winch can be delayed only at our imminent
peril It's truly surprising and notifying. to find
how the 'let-a!one' policy has failed here: how
fIn 1i,Io
ters OF sei-intcrest in some cases seem to influence
men, who, in others, appear to be governed bv
nothing else. Although the public relations of
every citizen are somewhat complicated. involving
attention to the affairs of the general, State and
municipal governments, in addition to others
which are partially public, such ms his connection
with associations, joint stock companies CO.
partnerships, &c, they are still not difficult TO
ne understood, and are, in fact all subject to the
same general laws. Tried even by so low, though
SO popular, test, the pecuniary one. it
would be easy TO show that a man. who IGNORES
his public duties, to attend wholly to what he
calls his private and important affairs, is of that
class OF economists which come under the head
OF 'penny-wise and pound-foolish." The great
merchant, who aims at being millionaire or
even the humble tradesman or mechanic who
limits his aspirations to a comfortable indepen
dence, recognizes the necessity of employing none
put the most efficient and capable subordinates
Idle dlssolute, disordery, insolent, drunken, tr-
buent, peculatng, thevish, clerks or Journey
men, are an abomnaton to him. The conscious
ness that such one is harbored for a moment on
his premises, so poisons his peace that he cannot
rest until the cause of the disturbance is driven
from his sight, beyond the opportunity to do him
INJURY If he would not choose such for himself
Still less would he suffer them TO be imposed on him.
and yet we see multtudes of men, with whom all
this Is absolutely true in their quasi private
affairs, by voting or retaining from voting-by
ther action or non-acton, sanctioning the appoint
ment OF men, to official positions within their
control, whom they would not trust alone in their
countng-rooms. What stampede in the stock
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad wopId no
witnessed if it were placed under control similar
to that which has charge of the city for some time
past, and which keeps it now? How 10th would
prudent citizens be to make executors of some
for whom they have not hestated to vote as JUDGES
OF the Orphans Court or Registers of Wills? Who
would think of confdng the management of a
bank, with capital of a few hundred thousands
to such men as have the administering of the entire
property of the city? Yet the city of Baltimore is
body corporate, not differing, in the point of
view III which we are discussing the subject from
a railway or n bank. The officials of the civ
correspond with the presidents, cashiers, treas
urers, clerks, tellers, porters and watchmen of
such institutions these, with the difference that
as the trust committed to them is so much
larger, the care exercised in their appoint
ment should be proportionally great. Yet
1t is the rule and not the exception to find our bus
ness men absorbed with the details of their count
lng-rooms, that they feel themselves to have given
conclusive answer to any one who NAV ask their
cooperation in something which depends upon an
united effort Of citizens, when they say that thew
are not politicians, and cannot neglect their pr-
vate business. 1t is just this that they are enreat
ed not to do. 1t is attention to their own bust
ness-their own personal private, indispensable
business-we beg them to give. If they fail
to see to it themselves all this business of theirs
which must go on somehow, and will be done by
somebody, will be attended to for them hereafter by
''Black Snakes" and Regulators, " as it has been
IN times past. We have recently passed through
scenes here which ought to render such remarks as
these unnecessary. Yet let each man ask himself
how much of the responsibility of the past rests
upon him, and what steps he has taken to prevent
a recurrence of what we have all so much reason
to dread. Something has been done and some
thing is doing, by earnest and disinterested men
who are laboring to promote the cause of reform.
But this is not enough. There are duties which
cannot be delegated, and which every man must
perform for himself, and let all ask themselves
now they are meeting these obligations The cause
OF reform, of more and better government has a
right to much greater sacrifices of time and means
than has yet demanded Let MS all see to it that
It's demands are fully met
-=---z-------u-.z~,
The election Of FERNANDO WooD in New York
bears the most conclusive testimony to the value
OF the Municipal Police system of that city. 1t
proves that not even candidate, whose success,
of all others, the present police had the most rea