Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-05-20
For the Wilmington JOnrn

MeSsrS. EditOrs:-I was forcibly struck
with remark made a few weeks since by
a gentleman whose business calls upon
him to travel extensively and almost con
tinually throughout the cities of the South,
from Baltimore to Mobile. He instituted
a comparison between Wilmington and her
sister Southern cities, drawn from his cX-
tended observations, and deduced the
conclusion that our own fiourishing little
city contained more Of the soul and mani
festations o. enterprise than any city of
the South, save, perhaps, Savannah. l
was naturally pleased thai his views 80
thoroughly conceded with and confirmed
my own precOnceiv"d opinions on the sub
| iect Other cities, it is true. cxce us in
natural advantages, in population, extent
of limits and in capital; and in the want of
this last great facility La Wilmington
met with the chief and almost on
ly obstacle in the way Of Immediate attain
ment of magnificent growth. But "where
there is will there is way, and enterprise
so significant and restless is fast twisting
and turning ana coming every imaginable
necessity into capital, that we bid fair
soon to compel its very presence, not
withstanlipg the enforced conditions of
it's absence. The way ig clear and plain as
day, if We have bot the patriotism and
true appreciation of our own necessities,
apd the measure Of benefits, immediate
and future, TO prompt our action. Let us
nurture, by the warmth Of our own breasts,
everything having tendency to benefit
Wilmington and inure to her material
prosperity, growth and Importance. Let
Us discard, now and forever, the ruinous
policy of sending our money away from
home when we can find secure and profit
able investment for it here, thereby re-
tanning not only our earnings as capital,
but the accumulated profits acCruing from
that capital judiciously invested. Let us
encourage and forward with strictly pat
riotic zeal and watchful care every Home
Institution.
One great step Forwards step ct mag
nitude and untQld importance-has been
made in our march of improvement and
home benefit and it is gratifying to be
furnished with such substantial evidences
of hope about to be realized. I allude to
the permanent establishment and successful
entrance upon active operations of the
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA LIFE IN
sURANoE CoNPANY''-an enterprise born
| OF Wilmington evidently ph1anthroplc
in its birth, and beneficial in its object.
We should be more than gratifed at such
an event !; our hearts should be made to
swell with pride at such an accomplish
ment, and the people near and far should
rally with enthusiasm and confidence to its
support. What immense advantage this
one Home Institution is destined to prove
to Wilmington and her material prosperity
and pecuniary interests Here We at last
have one OF those irst-rate opportunities
of retaining our money at home and at the
same time supplying peculiar want and
fulfilling christian duty to ourselves and
our families. The war taught us that our
dependence upon the North was more en-
forced by custom. Incidence and the alb
sence of enterprise and true patriotism,
than from real necessity. We then saw
the fallacy of our course and our eyes were
opened to the fact that the South had indeed
enriched and built up the North, and
while it had grown strong off of our fat.
we had weakened with the depletion. And
can it be that we have so soon forgotten
the salutary lesson then taught MS Shall
it be said that our labor has been bnt sor-