The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-15
COMMERCIAL Conventions.

We have gwen up much OF our
space to the unusually complete pro-
ceedipgs of the Commercial Conyen-
ton now in session TAT Louisville.
The telegraph company has been
very faithful in the transmission Of
the lengthy report and the Associated
Press reporters seem determined that
not an item connected with the Con-
vention snail be lost.
The irst fact that stands out prom
inently, in looking over the proceed
ings, is that but few of the so-called
great men of the nation are to be
found among the names Of the dele
gates. The Convention seems to be
mainly composed of men who have
not heretofore figured very promi-
nently in the country as politicians,
statesmen. fnanciers or unusually sue
cessful business men. But few of the
millionaires of the countryside men
who have been most successful in &C
cumulating wealth-giYe the Conven-
ton the benefit of their shrewdness
and experience. Nor do we notice a
great many Of the most noted railroad
men taking any active part in the pro
ceedings. 1t is not improbable, how
ever, that the latter are represented by
agents in whom they have confidence,
aud who are fully competent to carry
out the wishes of their principals.
A second fact not easily overlooked,
is, that like its predecessor at Mem
phis, much of the time Of the Con-
vention is occupied by men more in
terested in parading their own ability
as speakers than in perfeeting any
thing tangible in the way of improve
ment in the commercial condition of
the country. We observe that several
gentlemen who were always on the
floor of the Memphis Convention are
equally conspicuous at Louisville and
apparently with just as little profit to
the Convention.
The appointment Of the committees
on Wednesday indicates that about the
same ground will be ploughed over
that was broken up at the Convention
at Memphis. This, no doubt, is all
right, and about all that could be
done. Conventions of this character
are only suggestive, and going over
/. the work laid out at Memphis may
have the effect to impress its import
ance more fully upon the minds Of the
people and Congress-whioh, after all,
seems to be the objective point of all
the resolutions and speeches.
There is growing feeling on the
part of the people that these mass
conventions are a waste of time and
money; that no practical good ever
results from them. We think this
feeling is not warranted. 1t is true
no immediate benefit is realized that
can be traced directly to the convon-
tions, but that good results by
bringing together men from all parts
of the country. 10 make the personal
acquaintance of each other and talk
over the wants and expectations of
their respective neighborhoods, no
one who takes more than a superficial
view of things will deny. It may
be that a great many buncumb
speeches are made and much
foolishness developed, but, attending
all these conventions, are a largenum-
Der of quiet, thoughtful men, who arc
prepared to explain to each other the
peculiar feelings. expectations, and |
desires Of their respective portions of |
the country, as we'll as the resources
of, and improvements in, the same. |
Our observation has satisfied us that
it is to the quiet intercourse of these
men-Who would not be thrown to-
gether save by some such instrumcn
tally as the Convention-that we are
to look to for practical results.
Not only does this comparison of
views and social intercourse result in
great good by familiarizing every
locality wit the improvements made
by each, but local prejudice, which |
has heretofore been the bane Of |
our Government, is wonderfully |
Modified, if not actually re-
moved, by the social intercourse
necessarily connected with the hold
ing of large mass conventions. The
greater the crowd attending them,
and the more unwieldy and apparently
unsatisfactory their deliberations, the
greater the number of new friend
ships formed, and old animosities
No one can tell how much
the three or four Conventions already
held have contributed towards pulling
up the roots of bitterness left by the
and prevented their spring
ing up and producing another crop of
lesolation and death.
For these, and other reasons that
night be given, we heartily approve
f the series Of conventions which
ave been held, and are gratifed
hat our city has been represented. =
We hope our people will always be t