Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-11
Helping Ourselves.


One Of the great, if not tie greatest, secrets
of success in life, is selfreliance. Commu-
mites, as individuals, may occasionally be
favored by an over-ruling combination of cir
cumstances that carry them on to the height
Of prosperity without effort on their part.
But these are exceptions. The rule Is, that
those who depend upon others, and neglect
individual exertion, never thrive. True
greatness and substantial prosperity have
never been achieved either by States or men.
but through the wise and diligent employ
ment of inherent powers and resources: and
we learn from all experience, that weakness
and decay are the ultimate fate of those who
derive whatever of happiness or strength
they may possess, from external sources. 1t
is we'll for the weakness of humanity, which
needs all the incentives and spurs to eScr-
ton, that it is SO. The obligation of labor
upon mankind was imposed by wise and
good Providence, and is enforced i'll every
case by law of compulsion which none can
violate with impunity. The natural neces-
sity for personal industry, and the effort re-
sulting from it, has compelled the exercise OF
from Eden, and the law of labor then pro-
nounced has produced the wonderful evil
cation to which We have advanced. hat
ever has been accomplished in the vast pro-
grcss the world has made from the rude ~
norance of primitive ages, to the refinement,
power, and intelligence of the present time,
is attributable to the inevitable need We are
under to toll for every addition we make to
the comforts, elesances, or practical benefits
of life. The law of labor is thus necessarily
the law of progress, and every fresh acquls-
ton made by mind and skill, but opens the
way to. and calls into being, the capacity 70
attain new and grander triumphs.
4 practical result of the worlds progress,
has been to economic the operations OF hu.
man labor, u facilitate the intercourse OF
commerce. and to draw closer. by almost an
Initiating time and space, the social and
business relations with distant communities.
BY this growing intimacy. trade, with all its
dependent industrial interests, is continually
stimulated, while the great centres are ell
larsng their capacity to receive the increas-
ing tides of afluencc pouring into them
through the thousand channels of traffic.
In the effort for ascendency. advantages OF
position are measured, local feeling Is APP
pcaled to, and the energies of their respec-
tive populations are taxed to reach the high
est possible pitch of relative prosperity
| These efforts for commercial supremacy, upon
the part Of ncighboring communities, are
natural results that could not be avoided if
it were desirable. They have their salutary
uses, and they establish principle which Is
| ever rewarding the energetic, and teaching
the sluggard in the race that success Is not
| for him.
Mere advantages of position, or the par
TALLY of surrounding circumstances, are
not alone to decide this matter. They are
nothing without the energy to press them
into efficient service. If tending only to ex-
cite expectations, whilst they palsy the &c
tive effort which is necessary to make them
| the efficient co-workers i'll general system
of advancement, they become, instead ot
great benefits positive evils. There must
be unity of purpose, combination OF ener-
", and 4 prOyOcaton 10 enterprise exhibit
ed, or the little comparatively active effort
that has been made to extend the CONNER
cial prosperity OF Baltimore will be etfectu-
ally dispirited and destroyed. The com
plant is not that we do not advance NJ all.
but that our progress is 80 slow that others
are rapidly gaining upon us, and We are in
danger of losing the disposition to contend
for success, by failing to pursue steadfaslly
and determinedly the path that leads to it.
The day is past if it ever existed. when trade
was brought TO any city by merely making
ready and waiting for it, We must seek and
contend for thrust meet our competitors
NJ the points from which the produce takes
its departure for the scaboard, and by max
ing Baltimore it's destination. secure not only
the disposal of it, but also the exchange of
commodities with which it is in part paid for.
The trade is the thing needed. Secure that
and the facilities for its disposal, whether
they be increased capital, new warehouses.
or added lines of ocean and rail communica-
ton, will be forthcoming with readiness
that will leave no necessity unsatiSfed.-
Baltimore -tmericdn.