The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-07
Public Spirit Wanted.

Public Spirit Wanted.
This city has suffered for the want OF
wsll-directed public spirit. Each citize'
+. acting for himself and by himself has dis
played an amount Of industry and enter
prise in enlarging his own business and ad
vancing his own prosperity that was won
dsrful. The aggregation of this indivld"a
exertion was large; but owing to the wan
of o proper public spirit the citizen !, 10 .a.
been deprived in great degree OF az 100
exterior aids which that sp'ri.' {
through a combination Of the ina n..u.
sn,re, b,a;n other cities made 50 einoien. ;,
Thsresors the gains of trade in Richmond
hare been the result OF the aa.a a;.o s.srs
and in defiance of the serious aisa s..
brought upon the city BY mls'hieV0uS :. s. ave
ILL., ,bich often owed its success to the
49, ant of any step on the part Of the
RICHMOND public TO defeat it.
The absence Of a proper exhibition OF
tb;a combined mode of protecting the lnte-
rests of the city is not due to the poverty OF
tho neople in the sentiments which super
induce it. They are generous they are
ardently devoted to the fair locality where
they reside and to the State Of Virginia.
Moreover, they are highly endowed with
practical sense as to what ought to be done.
If any man will take the trouble to consult
any number of the more intelligent citizens
Of Richmond, he will be struck with the
remarkable concurrence Of opinion as to
what ought to be done to promote the gene
raj prosperity; and learning this, he will
be amazed to look around him and see that
80 little is done.
In days past Richmond was charged, by
all the little towns and every legislator VINO
found it convenient to get money out OF the
treasury by combining in war upon her,
with exerting powerful influence uponthe
Legislature with fine suppers and good wine
and brandy; whereas either Staunton or
Lexington were far more powerful in engi-
neering an appropriation. The hospltabie
citizens of Richmond gave liberal enter
tainments, and they were enjoyed by sale
gators very heartily but there was no
motive in the giving of them beyond the
courtesies and civilities of refined hospi-
tally. Whatever Richmond might have
needed, the citizen himself had no axe to
grind, and paid little attention to the pub
lie wants. Not so with many communities
that were in the habit of impugning the
motives of Richmond in showing these at
tentions to strangers within their city gates.
They sent their committees as lobby mem
bers, with o liberal commissariat to back
their warmly-pressed applications. Argu-
ment and good cheer were employed with
all possible art and profusion. Thus they
worked upon the combined plan with eff
cient means to accomplish an object. In
this way Richmond never attempted to
achieve anything.
All familiar with the legislative history
of years past will bear witness of the truth
of what we here state. The causes Of the
want of united action among our people
were apparent; but the main one no longer
exists, and it is time We had begun to strike
out q new mode of bringing the united in
telligence and enterprise of the city to bear
upon the projects which are so important to
its growth.
If we look at other cities we find that
they have been prompt to perceive what they
wanted, and they proceeded to obtain it.
They secured the means and the men, and
did not higgle at compensation for the men.
The adequate salary will command the re-
quisite talent. What is salary compared
with the great interests of city of many
thous ands of people? Capacity and expe-
rience equal to great undertakings r1ay
save people many times more than the
sum paid for it, while in trusting to inca
pacity and inexperience there is nothing
but waste and misfortune.
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