The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-12-05
COMMUNITY PROGRESS.

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sense, and yet II bears us all upon ita
current rs surly as the stream carries
along with II It's every particle and ey
erything that floats upon the surface,
onward Is the law of our condition,
whether active or inert, Every
community has life Of its own
distinct from the life of the indi-
viduals who compose IL, which
Improsses itself profoundly and resist
lossly upon the community, and which
in its rotroaction is potent for good or
for evil to the members Of that commu.
nifty, Routine is the inevitable tenden'
cy and ultimate of all social organiaa.
ton, Inertia distinguishes the eastern
world, Centuries have scarcely made
an impression upon the dull uniformity
of Asiatic nations. After the dreary
chaos of the dark ages Europe slowly
awakened to new life, which quick-
ened by the reformation, by the revival
of letters and of commerce, has expand
ed itG vital2ing influences until their
motion is felt by all the nations, In
the lead of this great movement, and
the front of its civilization stand the
people of the United States. Her
states are created in few years
and communities spring up almost in o
day, all, to the compactness of estabN
lshed political organizations, governed
by law and graced with the comforts OF
civilized life, but differing widely in
their advances in population, wealth
and intelligence In their community
proportions some soon reach their ultiN
mate Of growth and remain stationary,
while Others continue to advance. Why
this difference 1t will not do TO say
that it is because Of inequality in natu.
raj advantages, for many Of the nations
of the world have risen to greatness
under the most advantageous envi>
ronments. Indeed, so often has this
TRANSFERRED that it would seem as though
the niggardliness Of nature was the
best school in which to discipline the
mind and train the spirit of nations for
the achievement of grandeur and re,
nown
One of the proloundest of modern
thinkers has said that the secret of COM
munity progress is discussion" Dis
cussion imparts thought and begets
thought, and thought incites action
and interchange of thought brings about
cooperative action and arouses com>
mon interest in matters that affect the
community, An idea is the starting
point of everything done in individual
or collective life and many ideas min
Cling together, the contribution Of
many minds, glow in the spirit of tn,
community and eventuate in active
living forms. The most eminent illus
traton of this truth is the city of Ath.
ems, Her people met in tn,
Aviopagus and other prominen
places, near every day for discussion o
some kind Among Athenians Their
were few strangers to each other. The,
(the people, we mean) freely discussed
with each other any subject of interes
to themselves, and especially any sub
ject which affected the public interest
This was the peculiar and distinguish
ing institution of Athens, and this
was that made her the glory of Greece
and the admiration and instructress G
all succeeding nations, in arts, in litert
ture, in oratory, history and philosophy
While states and empires, mightier ia
than she, have since risen and hav
{ gone down to oblivion, the name {
Athens glows with luster more bri
liant now than when Pericles crowne
her with beauty and splendor, or whe
Plato taught philosophy in her acaden
ic groves. What is true of great CON
munities Is true of small. Like cause
produce like effects, and though differ
ing in degree, in kind the effects ar
the same.
If we would have our community lii
buoyant and expanding; if we would
"alive, and not dead" progressive, nc
stationary, we must provide the mean,
We mingle together in business, and i
our social gatherings, but these, thoug
useful and pleasant, do not sustai
community life" We should hav
our regular, or, at least, frequent publ
meetings, for the discussion by a
OF the affairs of the community, wher
all our people could meet, and ever
interest and every shade of opinion b
presented for consideration. We shoul
have spacious hall dedicated to pub
lie meetings, and our people shout
manifest their interest by their pre-
ence at public meetings. These ar
the means by which we may infuse int
our community life" spirit that wi
cause Dallas to grow and prosper, be
You'd the anticipation of the most en-
thusiastic believer in her future.