The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-10
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
editorial Opinions Of the Lending Journals
Upon Current TOpics-COmpiled Every
Day Tor the Evening Telegraph.
THE GREAT CITY OF THE WEST


From them " Times.
ME Western papers seem to find things
very flat at present. The removal of the capi-
@l Is discussed with great fervor and anxiety
BY some of the leading journals.
A short time ago the Cincinnati Commercial
, published a number of highly sensational ar
hcles demanding the change of the political
capital from Washington to New York 1t
gave great many first-class reasons for this
change. 1t recounted all the points in favor
Of New York. 1t dwelt on the immense size
Of this city, its splendor and wealth, its
mighty interests, its cosmopolitan spirit, its
| future grandeur and glory, and it's intellec-
tual pre-eminence as displayed in it's
great journals 1t showed what tremendous
advantages would be derived by Congress
and the departments from their location
here. They would be imbued with great
Ideas, and would carry out measures and
plans in keeping with the noble destiny of
our star-spangled country. The Commercial
grew warm, nay, it seemed to grow red hot
In advocating its scheme, and, as we read it's
articles and arguments we acquired an in
creased pride in our imperial city. We had
not been accustomed to this sort of thing
In Western papers. We had been accus-
toned to the perusal of articles in the
papers of each of the cities of the West,
lauding the particular city in which each
Particular paper was published as the
only and unequalled place for the po-
ltcal capital of the country. Philadel-
phia was once the capital, and it was easy
for the papers there to show that it ought
again to be the capital. No place could
equal Pittsburg with its foundries and its
smoke. Toledo was designated by nature as
the capital and SO were Chicago and st.
Louis, and so also were q thousand other
places scattered here and there till you got to
Centropolis in Kansas, which was located
precisely at the geographical centre of the
country, and the very name of which indi-
Gated its adaptation for the purpose of
national capital. We never before heard of
Western paper suggesting an Eastern city
4 as the political capital, and we could not but
/ admire the independence and intelligence of
4 the Commercial in pointing out New York as
4 the one fit and proper place on the continent
| for the residence of the President, the loca-
] ton of the administrative departments, and
4 the sessions of both houses of Congress.
4 The Chicago Tribune has also taken up the
subject of the removal of the national capi-
tai, but it does not agree with it's Cincinnati
contemporary that New York is the proper
place, and, strange to say, it does not advo-
cate Chicago. The choice lies between four
cities Cincinnati, Chicago, Memphis, and
st. Louis 1t is shown that Cincinnati is not
worthy of selection; Memphis is equally un-
worthy-though for different reasons; Chi
cago rests content as the commercial metro
polls of the central basin, and st. Louis must
therefore be considered as the city that ought
I to be selected. 1t is central, healthy, and
beautiful; it can furnish fine sites for public
edifices, and the President would there be
able to overlook the Mississippi, while he
meditated on the destinies Of this great coun-
try. The writer ably urges the claims of ST..
Louis, and believes that if the people of the
Mississippi Valley will unite on this point, it
can speedily be accomplished.
1t is an exciting discussion. We ourselves
do not feel like saying much about it,, and
we prefer that the Western papers should
fight out the contest themselves. After they
have settled it, we will give our opinion on
the subject. Having referred to it, however,
we cannot help recognizing the compliment
that has been paid to New York city by the
Cincinnati Commercial. 1t was justified in
n eulogizing our superiority and pointing out
our unequalled advantages as the political
capital of the Republic. We must, therefore
J say that, as we see little chance of the selec
ton of the Empire City, we feel bound to
urge the merits of the Queen City of the
f. West. 1t is a great and opulent city. 1t has
an enterprising and intelligent population,
and is blessed with exceedingly able editors
i 1t is in all respects superior to Chicago, ant
st. Louis cannot be compared with it. WhC
would mention the Chicago Tribune in the
same day as the Cincinnati Commercial, and
who would read the St. Louis Republican whel
he could find the Cincinnati Gazette? Th'
arguments of the Chicago papers against Gin
! jSinnati are fiimsy and worthless, and we hope
the Cincinnati editors will be as unwilling t.
notice them as we are If President Gran
dwelt in Cincinnati he would be filled wit
great ideas; if the Cabinet lived in Cincinnati
they would be imbued with lofty sentiments
if both houses of Congress held their session
there they would strike out policies at ono
resplendent and gigantic-quite worthy of
republic SO fortunate as to possess such a ca
pital. Until further advised, therefore, W
4 must 90 for Cincinnati, which, in addition I
its other advantages has, or used to have,
"a far more extensive business in pork-packir
i than Chicago.