The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-11-26
For the Palladium

1
wish the public to understand tina.
you are safely anchored and riding
in untroubled waters, by the head
ing of the article .No Abatement
No Exemption" when in my oI'in
ion, you are only asleep--or just
emerging from a Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep-for 10 , these many years
past. Would it not be best that
You examine the cable with which
you ere made fast, before making
your announcement TO this genera-
ton. NO Abasem ent--No Exemp-
ton" The energy and enterprise
Of this age. has found line thas
will stand a heavier sea than has
ever been brought to bear on your
old discarded cable of Old Fogy-
ism. The fact is, that you have so
long chung to the shores Of ancient
days, that you are very reluctant
TO open your eyes to the long
strides made by the present neces
stiles in matters Of public enter
prise, while, in your Imagination,
you are safely riding at anchor,
you family endorse the object of
my resolution, "The manufactur-
ing establishments of our city, are
the great source as well as the evil
dence of our substantial prosper.
ity."-(See Palladium, Nov. IL,
yet fear it's "leaving an irritation
that would not soon be allayed."
Our city has suffered many years
under that irritation, for the want
| Of some solve directly applied.
Now, as the private salve' plan
has failed to accomplish the desir-
| ed results, would it be public ca
lamity, for the city to apply salue
that has healing qualities, or that
will partially relieve the effects of
the burnings. No one sympa-
:hises with the unfortunate citizens
more than /. Yet what can / do,
privately? I may extend my sym
pathy, but will worded sympathy,
without an accompanying earnest,
rebuild the factories, and thereby
retain for the benefit of the city
the population of the employees,
or prevent our manufactors from
accepting offers from other cities
of more public spirit and enterprise
than we have exhibited. With our
present sympathetic feelings, we
imagine In ourself that we would
assist, If only able to do so. Yet
when we do become able, We also
become selfish, and when brought
10 the stake Of self-sacrifice, we,
like ruany others, would prefer to
employ our time cutting cupons !;
rather than to be tormented with
the public welfare of the city. a
little Of the public salUe may avert
farther depletion Of our mechan-
les aud laboring men, as we'll as
energetic manufacturers, that has
been going on for the past few
years. 1t is pretty generally
known that had the city stepped
up to the dispensary, and applied
salve Of II 900 dollars, we could
have been receiving the benefits of
population of about 100 mechan-
les and laboring men in the Ma
chine Shops of the Chicago and
Great Eastern Railway, whose
wage s of nearly 5000 dollars per
month was distributed among our
citizens. All Of which was lost by
waiting for private energy, for
which o plaster Of 100000 could |
not relieve the 'irritation' it occa-
stoned, as was afterwards offered. |
Where was your private liberality? |
Where were the private salve' ad
herents Enjoying the r. v. W. !
sleep! Other cities of less preten-
tons than Richmond, for manufac-
turing enterprise, are making pub
lie donations, and by so doing, are
receiving public benefit.
AS the private enterprise plan
has failed. and other cities are out
stripping US in matters of this
kind. the friends of public i'm
provemeut, in trying to persuade
the public of Richmond to take
hold of it, are met by q strong cur
rent of Old Fogyism, which, if per-
sisted in. will eventually bury our
energy and enterprise beyond tine
reach OF public salve, and in the
same grave Of our Machine Shops
and other lost manufactures, COM
pelIing our mechanics to seek EN-
ployment where their services are
required, in towns that have cut
loose from ideas Of economy and
prosperity. as handed to us by our
pilgrim for.fathers. A private
citizen may be unfortunate enough