The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-10
Gpeniita State Journal.
A WORD TO BUSINESS MEN.

In this country little else than vigorous
exertion and vim is necessary to make a
city. The peddler sells his bad wares
where the legitimate merchant fails to in
troduce his good ones.
We have attempted in previous articles
to show that the merchants of Richmond
were Of that class whose position is recog-
nized and whose merits are bruited abroad,
as are those of their compeers by the
writers Of the Old World: they are the
legitimate descendants Of the merchants of
Chaucer's day Junior rivals class them
with cold fogy ydom," which classification
means, If we understand modern vulgar
isms, that they are scrupulously honest
and free from all suspicion of artifce.--
This is an imputation they can well sup
port. 1t is not, however, in another sense,
one which is absolutely creditable to them.
In so much as it means that they do not
take the legitimate advantage of trade,
| whether through their incompetency or
Incidence, the epthet may convey
stigma.
We do not pretend to assert that Rich
mond merchants are, or should be, classed
as the best and most reliable in the coun-
try, we only mean that under all circum-
stances they are straightforward and
reliable. That these qualifications are
honorable and credtabe is true; but that
they are sufficient for the exigencies of to-
day is doubtful. Years ago, the reputation
of our city as market alone was sufficient
to insure an abundance of trade. The
restless vitality of cities around her, diff
ferently populated, has changed this state
ofaffairs; and she does wrong in relying on
her reputation alone for her commercial
position. Certain means which are en-
ployed elsewhere, and which are legti-
mately employed, should be used here.
Richmond has attained a position; it de-
wolves upon her people now to maintain
that position The time has passed when,
with tossed oars, she can wait for her rivals
in the regatta of commerce. She must not
re.enact the fable of the Hare and Tortoise.
If she would win the race she must en-
ploy her energies.
The mercantile agents of other cities in
the South are omnipresent. Those of
Richmond are as rare as the former are
obtrusive.
Richmond wishes to trade with the
South, and the South wishes to trade with
Richmond but other places come between
with their specious agents, and divert our
legitimate trade into a foreign channel.
Their agents offer inducements which are
true, but which are not different from
those offered here If Richmond had
similar agents meeting those from abroad,
there is no question but that the prefer
ence of the South would result iu favor of
our beautiful city.
Travel where you will, throughout the
South and West, you find representatives
of various cities The Richmond mer-
chant. who would naturally be preferable,
is alone unrepresented, or only partially
put forward. Do our merchants expect
that, in defiance of all modern rules of
trade, they will gain by apathy what 9TH
ers accomplish by industry? If they do,
the worst Interpretation of "old-fogyism"
is not misapplied to them.
There are few merchants in this city to
whose honor, credit, and profit 1t is due to
say that they have taken advantage of the
means employed elsewhere to gain friends;
and, as might have been expected, they
have been universally successful. 1t is
only necessary to make known those advan-
tages which we really possess, in order to
enable us to embrace all that trade which |
naturally stretches its suppliant arms to-
ward us. 1t is only necessary to exert the
same general and personal energy which
has been exhibited elsewhere, in order to |
secure to Richmond that position to which
nature and circumstances has entitled her.
To assert position is partially to have
gained it; to prove that position is GER
tainly to have acquired it. To do neither
is to retrograde, and to retrograde is in the
future to lose what has been attained in the
past. Let each individual ask himself
which alternative of this dilemma he will
take and let each merchants answer be
recorded in deeds, not in promises in ac-
tions, not in words. Let rs labor as a
unit to promote, not personal, but general
and we shall soon accomplish
for this city the highest position 10 which
her best of friends claim title.
A GREAT REvIvAL-We learn that a
very extraordinary and gracious revival is
or ha Hinb-G MafhnJ;at |