The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1868-02-06
.sG;.izaa,' 10 "Eiren,an.''

I
ed the .jieys Indignation of two valants, who
rush irantically TO the slaughter of your cor
respondent, The head and front Of whose of
tending is that he made few inquiries rela
tive TO the efficiency OF The Plymouth fire
department, and stated his reasons for ma
king the inquiry Your statement that the
w articles signed Fireman were written by
entirely different persons, will not be dispu-
ted NJ reader of the two articles would sup
pose fo- moment, that "one head could
contain II all"
The studied attempt Of both your Fireman
correspondents, to place The writer hereof in
a position Of antagonism to the fire depart
ment, viii, he thinks. prove futile, as he does
not intend 10 be 50 placed. He merely called
attention, IN friendly way, 20 some promi-
nent fai'ires ofthe Ere department; and ask
ed for Information relative to the cause of
those failures,--beiieying that if the cause
were Known, tie proper remedy would be
applied, and the department rendered more
efficient. BUTT appears in the estimation OF
Fireman, that this course is reprehens.ble,
ard calculated 10 discourage the fremen TO
such degree that they viii give up the
ghost, and be frenen no longer. WEI Fire
man undertake the defense of any organiza
iion, whose acts will not bear investigation {:
Instead of furnishing the Information
! called for, Fireman INDUCES IN person
aiiiies not unfriendly, however, concerning
Citizen, for the purpose Of drawing the at
tention Of the reader from the facts which
Citizen refers to, to Citizen, personally.
This is an old dodge, which debaters gener-
ally a l0pt when they are unable to sustain,
BY fair argument, the positions they assume.
~ statement WAS substantially 10 the effect
that there had been two very important fail
ures of tie Plymouth FIRE department 20 per
form what was expected of them have ei-
thor Of your Fireman correspondents denied
these failures, or made an explanation of
them which conyinces The public that they
were beyond ihe power Of the firemen to
prevent? ii they have, l failed to notice II.
True, &C Fireman finds fault with Citizen
for supDosiag, as he alleges that the fire en-
'inc could be kept from freezing after the
OF zero; thereby giving the read
ers 10 understand that ii was net expected By
Fireman that the engine should be kept from
freezing during cold weather From this
the reader would naturally conclude that the
ire engines 1T Warsaw, South Bend, LaPerte.
ana the neighboring towns, 20 into winter
quarters, AMI freeze up, oil the slightest init
nation from zero that SUCH proceeding is in
order, and thus remain in torpid state I'M
ii the weather moGcrates. Fires are not ex-
pectcd to "broa, oGt' during cold weather,
a ihe engines, being ffozen Up by reason Of
the appearance Of zero, are not in a condi-
ton 10 extineui,h thcm
Fireman prop - to enlighten Citizen, and
70 say that The fire companies Of
/ 'ynouth ale composed Of the able-bodicd
citizens Of the place" and advises Citizen to
apply for membership. IF Fireman's inior-
nation IS correct, ard Citizen is an ahle-bod-
led man he IS already member; AMI # he
Is not an able bodied man, Tie rul cs Of the
companies would probably prevent him from
becoming z member. So. IL fircrAan's il
formation is worth very mach, his advice is
worth very little
Fireman doubtless speaks from lis own
personal experience, when nc says it IS cas-
ia stand back and find fault, than it is to take
hold aud make ones SELF efficient. Citizen
takes held and saves What property lie can,
while Fireman Is waiting for lis engine to
tiGw out, OF fog a llgeto get into working
humor
Fireman complains that the business A.,n
AMI men OF means, refuse 10 JON The fire de-
partmont, and lie therefore dubs them "aris-
'ocFa;ic grumblers." I shall not undertake
defence of Ibis class Of grumbcrs, not being
one of them, (or any other kind, hope, J. bat
Fireman ought 20 know, IL he does not, that
= he men of means are generally found doing
that which they conceive TO lie to their in
torcst 70 90, mot Interfering with the public
good.l while men OF smaller means 90 the
same tiinr, although their course OF action is
entirely different. Il would be just as fair, on
general principles, for those who do not be-
'ong TO the fire department TO find fault with
those who do, as for those who 90 belong to
itih'. .s.HiS y All iIDSc MO 60 not. 4 nave
never yet heard Business man complain. Of
ANYBODY for joining the fire department.
The difficulty Of inducing ell men to think
alike, is enc whic,, has never yet been en-
tifely overcome. Fireman can doubtless oh
viate this difficulty by compelling the bust
ness men TO join the fire department, whether
they think 1t is their duty to DO so or not.
Until Fireman adopts this plan, he will prob
ahly always have cause Of complaint.
There is one hallucaatior under which
Fireman seems 20 be laboring, which would
III the gentlest manner, dispel. 1t is, that
none but firemen exert themselves 10 save
property In danger Of destruction b, fire.
Even il citizens are devoid of every emo
bling principle Of humanity, as Fireman
seems TO think they are, the officers of the
fire department have the power to compel
thcn to labor, under their direction, the
same as if they were fremen. A small
amount Of fremen's Indignation, might, with
proprieiy, be expended upon the officers who
fail to do their duty in this regard
/ supposed that the firemen would court an