Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-17

Practical craftsmanship. What was
craftsmanship a decade ago may be
The grossest of folly to-day. What is
craftsmanship to-day may be regarded
in the same light a generation hence
But that is not our lookout. The pres
ent, with its advantages and dnties, is
the sole question with which we have
10 deal.
These reflections apply with double
force to West Virginia, and the conil-
lion OF affairs applying to this State
To-day finds West Virginia, as has been
the cases in all the ages past, with a
vast treasure buried within her borders.
To-day, mike any period OF the past,
finds the State in condition to develop
this vast wealth, or at least to have 1t
deyclopcd for ner. The one great ques-
ton Tor West Yirginians 10 decide Is
whether we shall wisely embrace the
opportunity presented and make that
ore AZ future for ourselves about which
we boast 50 much, or whether by
pursuing a dog n-the-manger policy let
them pass by. This point was torcib!y
presented to our State Legislature last
winter by Mr.. MoFFETr in his speech on
the Wilson railroad bill, when he said:
This is critical period in the history oil
IVES. Yirginia's development. The
Eopr has arrived when we are to declCe
whether we will remand the State back
20 Il condition OF retrocressiOn and the
extinction of industrial lie, or whether
We will advance in the spirit OF progress
and !iberality to the high destiny which
awaits us if wisdom should control our
counsels.'
While all classes OF our people feel
and readily acknowledge the truthful
ness OF our condition, as here
presented, il is remarkable how
many obstacles are presented by our
own pao2ie to the accomplishment OF
their desires. In some instances these
obstacles are presented in the shape OF
An INCIDENT passjveness on the part OF
the people who are to be principally
benefited. In other instances they are
presented, in the absence OF better
raryn We say il, in the spirit ot pure
casssaasss. For Illustration, in one
EQUITY oi tic state through which an
important lire OF railway WAS projscted,
because It's construction was thought to
be- absolutely certain, = ring OF land
holders was formed, snd the
damages Cor right OF way
fixed at such excessive, exOrbitant and
outrageous sums rs To defeat the enter
prise. Again, there is intersperssd
throughout the State party of pOlitica!
franks who seeing some rewOts danger
in Tie ilr away future 10 some unknown
seueratiou to succeed us in the uncer-
tain shadows OF the time that is TO he,
from tho possible power that corpora
tons may exert, cry oat stop, let US
die in our poverty and rags, rather tt an
create danger TO threaten some poster
itv that may never exist" Passing
from these impraCticable directors, W.T.
run up against another class, less sim
cere bat really weightier clogs to the
| wheels OF progress than the former.
This - class OF partizdn henchm@n,
followers OF some ambitious political
leader, who rather than see an enterprise
looking to the development OF our State
resources succeed under the managing
! auspices oil some rival political leader,
would 70 to work and tear down every
thing useful and good, and even sink
| the Dast destinies OF the State.
| When such difficulties meet Us uPGH
our own threshold some wonder may be
expressed that Ne are making any prog
ress in the work Of developing onr re
sources. But We are making progress.
| TIE doors are being opened. Capital is
| flowing in. Railroads arc being cor
structed. Our coal and iron mines a;e
being opened. Our forests are being
feled and shipped to market. Our grazing
lands cleared off and stocked with pure
bloods aud general activity and renew
al of life and enterprise among the peo'
pie. Why is it so in the lace OF these
difficulties? The answer is plain. They
that are FOR us are more than they that
ere against us. The mass of the people
are awake to the importance ant e1ig.
encies of the times. The mass Of the
people are liberal and progressive. They
are pushing things The indolsnt and
passive, the Shylccks, the political
cranks and the political bummers must
stand aside or they will get crushed be-
meath the onward movement. It is ir-
resiStibe; the impulse has been given,
the speed accelerated and no human
power can turn back the spirit which is
upon Ms.
This is practical age, snd our West
Virginia people are imbuod with its
spirit. Intact the time is at hand when
those who are ambitious " political
honors at the hands Of the people must
first demonstrate their powers to return
something useful and practical before
meeting with popular favor. Ability to
repair our waste places and tounfold the
natural wealth concealed within our
borders is to be heRceforth the first and
highest qualification OF our local states
men. let the ambitious make a note
here and govern themselves accordingly.
1t is with pleasure We note the lsuds-
bic spirit which has overshadowed our
people. We appeal to the selfish, the
cranks and all others who stand in the
way OF our progress to fall into line and
aid in the y)od work and IL not 10 Law