Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-10-27
"CaD Any Coed Thing Come Out ef Naxs.
PetA .s,--Ho 3. -r- l...-r

, PetN Two. j.
III. Continued J What causes have cor. pired
TO place and keep Washington in . condition Of
nQn.development7 ' -t .tt~
o. A fourth cause Of Aon- ad van cement 10 to
be found In the absence of self reliance or rath-
er in the feeling OF absolute dependence eugeu.
dered by the mixed jurisdiction in charge OF To-
cal affairs and BY Office seeking
Itis unfortunately fact that three -fourths
of the population depend upon Federal ONCE
and Federal patronage for support. They
Know nothing, care for nolhing, beyond the
narrow limit of Congressional appropriations
The failure Of a Den cieney bill paralyzes exer-
ton, ruins trade ana tightens the money mar
ket The question rs not show can attract the
neighboring country TO my store, factory or
Workshop but quereious complaint arises
al can't pay my obligation because Mr.. A, in
the circunlocution flee, cannot draw his
salary" (The uictim OF the Aforesaid Mr. A
being innocently ig norant Of the fact that some
"curb stone broker'' has long si nee discount
ed" AS order ON the disbursing clerk at the rery
reasonable rate OF ten per cent. per month";
Call meeting for any object of purely loca,
importance. it will probably be presided over
by an s'office-holder'' and engineered by an
"ofhce-seeker," who must necessarily present
a string OF resolutions endorsing or denoun cing
some other office holder or seeker, who can
help or injure his pRvate interests. The prI.
mary interest of the meeting is forgotten or
choked OF and the affair degenerates into a
mutual Admiration Club"
Attempt united effort to accomplish some
thing Of practical Interchangeable al proposition
by Washington common law receives the
assent of one -third-the dissent of another
third, and is killed by the indifference OF the
balance. One party objects because his par
rs Of nd xu,ll bab
another says he holds his residence elsewhere.
(altnough he may have drawn his pay and
eaten his bread here for ten years past)-a third
"don't know any thing about the matter'-and
SO IL goes. Every enterprise inaugurated-
every scheme proposed-every petition SUBJ
mitted-eyery action OF brain or hand-faIIs
stillborn, because residents of the city OF Wash
ington cannot rely upon emselves-because
thirty thousand people, having the stature and
appearance OF men. are really children of ten
der years not active enough TO stray from the
laps OF their mammas. and only strong enough
to draw nourishment from the maternal bosom
go A NTH and last reason which will be here
assigned for The shortcomings of the city of
Washington is non identity of interest and
want Of pride in home enterprises on the part
OF merchants and business men. =.
In other cities of the Union, howsoeyer
much individual ideas and opinions NAV diff
fer, the moment an attempt 70 divert general
interests to other localities, is discoyered-to the
real or supposed detriment of "hsme'-a solid
front is presented; meetings are held; ACTs fol-
low and take the place Of words: the whole
community is aroused, and the energy and
capital OF the people are freely expended TO
preserve the prestige and further the security
OF sour own city, as against outside competi-
tion. Take. as an example,, Baltimore, distant
but an hours ride. There every man, we may
4, say, every woman and child, is continually on
the alert TO protect and increase the bu siness
prosperity OF the city. Her mighty railroad
and steamboat lines. bringing the East the
South, and the West within her embrace,-are
carefully guarded against successful rivalry
municipalities, States, Congresses, labor in vain
TO restrict her enterprise or TO distribute her
resources. Grumbled at, cursed, legislated at,
she moves onward, disarming opposition by
golden harvest TO which her efforts so Justly
entitle her.
Note now the contrast. Washington, geo.
graphically located TO control the traffic of the
lower counties of Maryland and OF a very
large portion OF Virginia, possessing as a basis
of wealth the Federal disbursements not to be
found elsewhere, tamely folds her hands and
allows all this 10 pass-not by but through her
Eesought by farmers and mer chants and arti-
zans of neighboring cites. towns and villages
TO receive their produce and supply their
wants, Washington momentarIly kindles with
enthusiasm talks of the brilliant prospects IN
in the future; threatens Baltimore, Philadel-
pbia and New YORK with commercial anuihi-
lation; resolves ION paper) 10 build railroads
and steam boat lines, arr lines-all Of them; but
alas the IRE gees OUT the kindling material is
rated 10 burn, the gas and smoke, remaining AZ
tokens of failure, serve only to deaden the fac
ultIes and blind the eyes against any future
exertion to start the furnace To use the Ian
guage of Artemus Ward, washington is not a
success" .. RYINAP