Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-22
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CHAHRER OF
COMMERCE..

! S1NbE VI
COMMERCE.
The business men of Memphis need
cooperation and ~homegenity in senti-
ment and action. They lave it in their
power, by a ju5ioious combination Of LIZ
ent, enterprise and capital, to make
Memphis thu metropolis Of this great
Valley. While we commend a close at
%tention TO ones private business, as be-
ing the surest and speediest road to for
tune and responsibility, yet It is evident
that a catholic regard for the common
interest, and an enlightened attention to
the general welfare, is u of the chief
characteristics Of a great aud successful
merchant. Out of such material I" mer-
chant princes" are made, and cities are
stimulated TO progress and successful RI
valry with their competitors. 1t has oc.
CURED to our minds that the merchants
Of our city, though they have aChambsr
of Commerce, are not sufficiently organ
lied, and do not, consequently, nov
forward in that solid and imposing array
Of strength which justly belongs to them
as an influential class in the community.
What proportion Of the community
wields as much active capital, or sustsins
as intimate relations and Intercourse with
the entire people, as merchants? What
class has as high an interest In the well
fare and prosperity Of the city, it's gov
| ernment, its streets and street improve
ments, its public buildings, its lines of
packets, its railroad connections, its char
tiles and eleemosynary institutions and
those of q religious and educational
character? All Of these, with the Agri-
cultural Society, are vital to mercantile
prosperity and success. And if the mer-
chants OF the city would only act to-
gsther, and WELD their consolidated
strength 10 advance the general interest;
il they would intelligently take counsel
together, in all matters that refer 10 any
Of the great interests Of the city, they
could not only absolutely control, but
modify and regulate them in any direc-
ton, expedient or useful.
If the Chamber of Commerce were
regularly attended by the leading mer-
chants Y there they would discuss and
deliberate upon the various projects for
improvement which naturally thrust
themselves upon their attention, and
would seek information through com-
mittess, correspondence and reports, in
this way learning how merchants in
other cities, both on this and The Euro
Dean continent, dispose Of questions of
moment to their interests, it would then,
indeed, be what it should, and be fer
more prolific Of usefulness and practical
advantage than it has proven since the
a It would, in this way, prove to be
3 useful and important auxiliary Of the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and
would exert a powerful influence on the
destiny OF our city. or course, politics $
should bo carefully excluded, as so far it {
has been; and selhshness or prejudice I
should be scrupulously fr0wned down. /
The indulgence in any of these would !
destroy the efficiency of any commercial !
body. i
The merchants have it in their pswer c
to combine, as an Influential and con- !
.servstiVe body to check RIGHTEOUSNESS in t
public expenditure, direct Alright the
current OF progress and consolidate the /
diversified and scattered interests VI y
city in n homogeneous whole. They Z
have the intelligence, they have the ca c.
they have the influence, if o
and iudiciously exsrted; they .
certainly have a stalks in the welfare and n
Of the city Of Memphis equal, if .
not superior, 10 any other body Of cili- G
sens, They should not seek to ru,s, but n
Influence, by intelligent and legiti- n
mate means. They should not eBdeaYor lC
10 enhance a self-ssserting Importance,
the interests Of every citizen, as the
interest Of all, no matter how poor OF .,
how rich, center in the Chamber of =
There should not be among 9
hem any exclusive cliques. They should T,
and fairly devote the energies of !,
he Chember in q liberal, CATHOLIC and 4
enlightened direction, sitting the various n
questions Of city Improvement, and all a
yreat questions Of public utility with ia
heir relations Of progress aud advance ss
nent, in a spirit Of practical enterprise Al
md inquiry. A,
Such investigations and discussions y,
would be prOmotive of individual as well .,
S public enterprise, would stimulate in u
Iuiry into the affairs OF the city, would 90
ncoursge a generous rivalry 10 business, .,
nd would repress every tendency to mo- A
iopOly and corruption IN public improve h,
1ents. All the questions we have al r
lded to are collateral TO the commercial n,
interests Of the city, and may ~legitimateJy a,
xcite the inquiry and challenge the at az
sntion Of every intelligent and far-see- n
lg merchant. be
We can imagine that some merchants nj
ill naturally oppose every movement n
Z this character, because they ars too ~
% narrow Ia their views to desire any 81
cooperation with their confreres. But n,
lch men are merely barnaoles on the q,
zip Of progress. They cling to the keel, ~
nd are carried along by it without con- -
in the slightest degree, to the !,
momentum Of the vessel by which they =
ne transported. They have neither in Pe
1eDoe or weight to advance or retard, az
nd their opinions should not, and will MI
OF, we hope, be permitted 10 stand In be
he way OF men who would discharge ale
duty TO society and their fellow thl
ZEN, and who are DESTROYS OF contribute be
g their share toward the splendid des- ces
ly that awaits us, tin