Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-10-07


utility of assemblage5 like the one
lately convened in Baltimore, by as
suming that the programme of wort
to be accomplished is too extensive
to admit of any great degree Of con
sequent benefit.
The utterapces of papers Of con
fessedly great editorial abilities, sucl
as the Tribune, ought not, probably
to be specifically questioned. II
humbly occurs to us, however, that
the shirt of the intimation referred
to is improper.
The greatest visible merit in con.
ventions of this kind is that they are
not political; and, for this reason, are
better calculated for the adoption
and recommendation of wise, eqnable
and economic measures, than purely
partisan bodies can possibly be-
They are composed mainly, on the
one hand, Of the capitalists of the
North, and the representatives OF
Southern enterprise on the other-the
very men who are solilIy interested
in the promotion of all that tends to
the commercial and financial benefit
of the country at large. Holding
these interests as paramount to mere
ly political considerations, they have
the general welfare truly at heart
and unconsciously, perhaps, exhibit
themselves as the best exemplars of
disintcrested patriotism. They rec
ognize the truth of the great English
idea that, at last, the safety and per
retuity of nation reposes in its own
internal development and husbandry
of capital. and that, apart from ex
traneous considerations Of sectional
ism, their highest duty is to unite in
common effort directed to the mu-
tual enrichment of all sections
Without the province of appropria
ting public money, they arc secure
against bribery, and avowedly I'M |
partisan, they should be unassai!able
by profers of political advancement,
and, coming fresh from the fields of
capital and labor, with a full knowl- !
edge Of the wants of both, they are
pre-eminently prepared to consider
and adjust antagonisms. The differ
cnces, in some instances, are, untor
tunately, great a superadded diver /
sity multiplies and complexities the !
chances against reconciliation.
To attain harmony, then, is a 81
gantic ohject-onc that could scarce
ly be reached by any other medium
than through National Conventions. /
1t is not proposed to effect this in a
day, Tor in q year. Many annual .
sessions will, doubtless, rccur before
public sentiment is educated to the
adoption of plans, better. because
maturcd, which have for their end
the development Of hidden resources
ard the thorough Interchange OF trade
and traffic throughout the country
and tic world. Meanwhile. new
questions will arise, demanding IN
biased attention and, as time pro-
crosses, the necessity for their indcf-
mite continuance will, probably, III,
crease until the Legislative bodies of
the country, passing upon the wis
dom of their conclusions, shall make
their liberal measures part of the
national code.
But, viewed from a moral stand
point, these assembagcs cannot be
otherwise than nationally beneficial.
The interchange of liberal views, the
formation commercial ties and the
interinking of new friendships. that
will incidentally mark each recurring
session, will, not only more intimate
ly cement together the East and the
West, but will gradually lessen the
width of that gulf which yawns be
tween the North and South.
A report comes from Vienna that
the Emperor Francis Joseph is