, 1866-02-27
Sum
To the Editor Of the St. CrOix Avis !
SIR /!

1t is a very old saying that "a common ca
lamity becets unity" This saying | thought
applicable to this community after having sui
fered so much by the late confagration. But
in this I have been mistaken. 1t appears to
me that, not only are principles Of political econ
omy inverted and ignored among Us, but even
those good cid adages, based on common sense
and experience, have as little ~resJlng-place IN
the minds of men in this community as Noah's
dove, before the Subsiding OF the waters, had on
earth.
A writer in the last number Of your paper,
who claims to be interested in the establishment
of a fire brigade, ventures on some remarks
which [ must declare to be illjudged. LIS
assertion. that what he calls "an attempt to
form q volunteer fire brigade has not succeeded
because mt started by men Of more 5nB@e@cc
in the community is both premature and IN
delicate. Il us0 the sOftest terms to character
ize his conduct In the face Of facts, L think
a greater satire on what are called 'men OF IN
anencen could never have been written by any
enemy of such men than their ill-adVlaed friend.
But to enter a little into details, l must beg
your patience while | attempt to take a view
of the actual position Of parties IN tins at
tempt"
About two years ago, the Government, III
view of the necessity of a fire company, order
gu d uTdlUO u mon w VA IL puC :" ON'
ted persons to volunteer their services. A
corps was formed which subsequent events,
however. proved to be Intellectual. But why
was this so Has zone interested IN the mat
ter, given it o thought There were men OF
standing in this community men either own
ing property or interested in its protection
who were drafted. What was their conduct T!
Did they show their Influence" by setting a
good example in adopting means to protect
property and manfully learning the duties
which properly belonged to their station No!
They could not stoOp to the duties which their
position demanded of them. They hired men
to perform those duties. And whom did they
hire Men who having nothing to lose had ND
interest in protecting the property OF those
who have. This then was tier influence"
AGAIN: A dreadful fire occurs and mercilessly
proves it's power over the means at hand to
suppress it. A few individuals, under the I'M
preston that q common calamity beSetS unity,
convene a meeting to adopt means for the bet
ter protection of property against fire. The
meeting is attended by but a half dozen per
sons more than the cOnvenerS. They never
theless appoint a committee to draw up rules
for the establishment of a volunteer fire brl-
gade; but, before the expiration of a week, a
man awakes on" fine morning, feels himself IN
terested in the matter, characterlzes the meet
ing as "an attempt" and declares IL d failure
because not started by men Of more influence
in the community Shades Of departed spi-
rits who look with pity on the conceit of poor
mortals, shed, oh shed q tear on this new ex-
ample of the ommOn failing
Mr.. Editor, I always thought that where
reason had spread its light on the minds of men
that there principles but not men influenced.
In my opinion, no matter by whom the meet
ing was convened, so long as its object was a
good one, there should be found all who had its
object at heart-such conduct, and such only
could prove them "men Of influence" As it
now stands, supposing WI have men of influence
among us, how has that influence worked, bene-
6cially or otherwise 2 Because some man who
thinks he has influence did not convene the
meeting other men, who also think themselves
men of Influence, do not attend it and another
man discovers that men of influence did not
influence each other to influence some others to
do something which neither one attempted to
do himself. This is precisely the case. But
what is the results The men of no great IN
huence are still going to do something. What
are the men of 'more influence going to do
Before | close, Mr.. Editor, | must confess
gross ignorance of the names Of men OF infu-