The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-27
For the anderson lnteNigencer.
The Public Spirited and Enterprisfng Citizen

The Public Spirited anu EnterprlsAhS Ci1iZon'
MIR. EDITOR: The public spirited and en-
terprising citizen is necessarily and emphatl-
cally public benefactor, patriot and philan-
thropist, in the strictest sense of these terms
He is also practically Christian, it matters
not what may be his orthodoxy or confession
Of faith. In all the arduous and multifarious
duties pertaining to life, he acts not only so as
to enhance his own personal interests, and
thereby secure prosperity and happiness to
himself, but he labors most incessantly for the
prosperity, welfare and happiness OF Others
The very popular and prevalent vice OF an
,nordinate selfshness with which this fast,
corrupt and demoralized age is blighted and
cursed, has no abiding place within the pre-
cincts of his benevolent heart. If, however,
by chance this fell-demon to human happiness
;rtrudes himself like some unwelcome spectre
upon his thoughts desires and affections, ne at
once puts him to an ignominious flight, or
captures and brings him under subordInatlon,
bv the powerful and ever-available weapon OF
practical and universal beneyolence. He does
not oppose an enterprise of public utility be-
cause it does not promise to act as special ana
direct monopoly to enhance his own private,
pecuniary interests.
Hence, the public spirited and enterprising
citizen has clear, unperverted and telescope
yision-a powerful, comprehensive and grasp
ing intellect, and an enlightened, untrammelled
and unbiased judgment; can perceive and
comprehend things in all their relative bear
ines and multifarious parts, just as they are.
His mental optics are not hermetically sealed
by the avaricious scales, engendered by an
inordinate and heaven-denounced. selfishness,
which so impair the vision, weaken the intel
lect and pervert the judgment, that nothing
can be seen, comprehended and appreciated,
unless it holds out inducements of exclusive
rights and privileges!
The public spirited and enterprising citizen,
it will be perceived by this, does not super
ciliously assume that this mundane sphere,
with all its developed and undeveloped resour-
ces, mineral and agricultural, was created for
his special and exclusive benefit! He under
stands thoroughly, both theoretically and prac-
tically, the doctrine inculcated by the old
adage, olive and let live" His textbook on
ethics is the greatest good to the largest num-
Der. And hence, in projecting and carrying
out any work of public nature and utility,
his precepts and practice most admirably and
harmoniously agree-he practices what ne
breaches. He unreservedly says: II advocate
most heartily that course of procedure, in the
accomplishing of this enterprise, which prom
ises the greatest amount of good to the largest
number of my fellow-citizens, although in so
doing see most clearly and unequivocally,
situated as am, that will belong to the mi
nority! Yet, as it will rebound to the good OF
my country, my fellow-citizens, and mankind
in general, therefore give it my personal in
auence and pecuniary aid, and in its final con-
summation I will rejoice most heartily; for, in
state Of civilized society, mems interests are
so completely concatenated and interviewer
into one common web of mutual. benefits and
reciprocal interests, that public monopolies are
incompatible with the principles of public
utilitarian-are dangerous to the welfare and
prosperity of any people. Hence, they should
be constantly and persistently discouraged and
opposed by every lover Of his country's wei
fare and prosperity"
Hence, we learn that the public spirited and
enterprising citizen does not belong to that
class of individuals who imagine money can
do anything, and therefore are ever ready and
willing to do anything for money-whose con-
tinual and ever-increasing cryis, money, MONEY,
MONEY! He is not a covetous person, nor
an extortioner. Neither has he an envious
disposition. He does not desire his neighbor's
goods without rendering a just compensation,
nor envy his neighbor's prosperity, although
he may be accumulating wealth more rapidly
than himself Neither does he watch an op-
portunity, and hail it when it offers as God.
send, to extort from his neighbor, because he
finds him in state of helpless dependence
and wretched destitution, brought on him,
perhaps, by circumstances of the most melan-
cholly and appalling nature, and over which
he had no control.
We have of late been brought into the above
train of reflections by hearing the conversation
of persons who are ever ready to oppose most
pertinaciously any and all projects Of public
enterprise unless said projects promise them
peculiar and special privileges and interests
Some men are always certain to oppose all
railroad enterprises, unless they can secure
their location exactly where they suppose il
will be conducive to their interest in special
and direct manner. If the road or roads be
located anywhere else, though the public inter.
est thus demand, they will very emphatically
and dogmatically, if not arrogantly and in
sultingly, contend and affirm that they will
with all their power and influence, oppose theil
construction. In short, sir, unless railroads be
ao lncated az to transform all post office sites