The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-18

nc uul1 VI tho uoui III washington ioE
Washington men to stand together for Wash
Ington interests; and this regardless Of old
affiliations and by.gone modes Of thought.
1t is not the part of wise men to DO forever
travelling In the same old ruts, or to continue
to resist influences which are Inevitable.
We should remember that our American So
ciety, from the nature and spirit Of our In
situations, cannot be pressed down to any |
arbitrary or fixed condition Of things which |
either ignores innovation or change. Hence
the philosophy Of adaptation, of a little
nexibllity in the regulation Of our social re-
latlons, and the adjustment of social opin-
ions on all matters that are not Of material
consequence. Indeed, matters OF mere SON.
timent and theoretical speculation, about
which men differ, and oftentimes excite Bit
ter antagonisms and prejudiccs, should not
be magnlncd to this extent. "self-wil" Is
well enough In It's place; but 1t should not
smother the better impulses Of our nature,
or predominant In the wider realm of our
social relations. We should take note that
human nature In the same conditions Is
essentially one and, therefore, that all the
ability, virtue, honor, culture and refine
ment Is not bound up in our set, circle or
community.
These remarks arc not designed for any
one class of our community, but are intended
to reach all who Involuntary run into ex-
elusive habits of thought or association, with
respect to people who happen to have been
born in some other part of Gods heritage, or
who do not in all respects think In Just the
same groove as we do or arrive at the same
conclusions on certain controverted topics Of
opinion. In our opinion this Is not wise or
sensible. 1t contracts our vision and deadens
our scnslbllities. It limits the range of ideas
and stultifes tho active energies of our na.
lures. We gain nothing by It, but In fact
lose much that would add to our material
interests and enlarge the area OF enterprise
and liberal thought.
Let these reflections be brought down to
the practical developments Of every day life,
and enter into the "warp and woof' Of our
dealings commercially, politically and So
clally-with our fellow-citizens, from what
ever part Of the country they may come, II
they but manifest the average Of character,
honor and intelligence which is requisite to
N'tllllsllu lCHlGNt anu uOll ito own III GULL
mon with the surrounding mass, and we
will find that decided gain has been accom-
plished in the aggregate result to the COM
mon veal. This done, and a new era opens
before us, promising results favorable to the
maintenance of public order, the protection
of all substantial interests, and the elcva-
tlon Of the honor and credit OF the city.
We ask all hlgh-mlnded men to consider
these views In the spirit of fairness and
magnanlmlty, rise to the practical necessl-
ties fthc occasion, and join hands with oil
who are willing to unite in any scheme or
measure which promises to advance the true
interests of the city.
Improvement of the River Channel
We publish elsewhere certain suggestions
Of Rear Admiral Dahlgren in relation to
the Improvement of the river channel. These
suggestions, coming from an officer Of such
great practical experience, will, we hope and
believe, be acted upon by the Secretary Of
the Navy, and we have no doubt that, II a
slight exertion is made, Congress will make
the appropriation readily. The work is truly
one of national Importance. At the Wash
ington nayy-yard the facilities for building
and fitting out ships of war are equal to
any and superior to many Of the yards IN
the country, the only drawback being the
one mentioned by Admiral Dahlgren. The
improvement completed as suggested, ant
the busy hum of machinery would again be
heard In the yard as In years gone by. More
work would be provided for the mechanics,
who now are at their wits end to provide