Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-08-08
The Duty of the Hour.

the lloSt important measure ever sub
mitted to the people of Thurston county
for their suifrases. 4 few votes will
sway the result, but it will be of lasting
Importance which way the tide of pop
ular sentiment may finally turn. The
question submitted, simplifed and
stripped of all minor considerations. is.
Shall we make an effort by the judicious
use Of means ut our command to revive
business, develop enterprise, and renew
the activity which once prevailed, OF by
our own deliberate choice give an accel-
Grated impetus to the whole county in
its downward progress to inevitable
ruin. That this will be the result, I'M
less the present measure, or some other
enterprise of equal magnitude is not at
once inauguratcd, is apparent to every
body who has witnessed just such emer-
gencies as that now forced upon our
people. Prudence would appear to in
dictate that the first step towards the
attainment of our object would be to
afford at least equal facilities for COM
munication with other points, with the
ready means of ingress and egress, en-
joyed by communities possessing many
advantages equal to our own. Industry,
capital and spirit of enterprise may
do much, even under unfavorable con-
ditions, but the course of systematic
use of these means is as clearly defined
as the results which flow from cause to
effect. We may build manufactures,
but where is the capitalist who will set
the wheel in motion, after our present
project, with the work that has already
been done, is abandoned Where is
the mechanic or laborer who will care
to remain in community which has
afforded such meagre support from
which to exc out subsistence as ours
during the past twelvemonths? Where
is the encouragement to advance our
interests of business, or to extend the
once growing trade with the consumers
of the interior settlements, when so much
capital has already been sacrificed by
blind faith in our own unaided ability
to weather the storm. Merchants have
failed, stores are closed, dwellings, are
vacant, trade is depressed, products are
in excess of the demand, land is drug
in tho market, improved farms cannot
find purchaser, money is boarded, and
why? Because we did not begin years
ago just where we have begun now;
because we have become provincial in
our ideas, and fear to assume any risk
in an enterprise which promises
legitimate profit as an investment, in
the next five years, and, what is of far
more importance, to develop other en-
terprises, to stimulate business, and set
us again forward in the line of pro-
gress.
Life is short, and it is our duty to
make the best use of the talents which
Providence has entrusted to our keep
ing. Can we do this by remaining in
voluntary exile from all the blessings
and advantages enjoyed by those whose
ideas have kept step with the gigantic
strides made in civilization during the
past decade? Have we utterly failed
to catch the inspiration of the age in
which we live? Do we wish for our
children to grow up with the limited
view of the busy world afforded by
prospect from our pine-clad hills =? Are
we-and some of us who have waited
so long and patiently for " the good
time coming"-never to possess real
ization of our cherished hopes? With
the railroad will come capital and en-
terprise. 1t will level the hills, build
up cities, found institutions of learning,
open up thoroughfares, enrich the pro.
ducer and consumer, and bring all the
blessings which prosperity and thrift
everywhere bestow.
Fellow-citizens, ponder the situation.
Reflect upon the consequences, not
alone to yourself, but to the community
its possible effect upon our children and
their children's children. Then vote as
vour cOnscience NAV diract
DRowNED.-On Tuesday last, boat
containing Mr.. Herod Wells, his wife
and three children, with Miss Smith,
was upset in Seattle Bay, and Mrs.
Wells and the youngest child drowned.
The ifeless body of the latter has been
recovered but that of Mrs. Wells has
not been found. She was sister of