Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-01
UNITY OF EFFnRT

There Is At present very active prepara-
ton being made in this city for social
event of peculiar character 1t Is in
tended to testify to appreciation on the
part of the people of this city of acts OF
beneyoience and broad public spirit by
one Of The people. No instance IS recalled
in which such general and undiscrimina-
tive union Of effort of all the people for Il
common purpose has been made The
lesson of all this hearty work and cheerful
labor is illustrative of the text of many a
chapter by social philosophers on the ac-
tive duties one owes to the town in which
he lives Such duty should be pleasurable
in il results, for duty-doing, when COM
hined with the pleasure of doing, is a
blessing to the public-spirited laborer. No
community is rightly balanced in which
the people do not realize that they owe a
duty to organized society above and be
yond that which the law enioins. The re-
lnarkable unanimity Of our citizens in
preparing for the floral festival end testi-
monial is thoroughly unselfsh. Nogros>er
calumny could blackcn pure cause than
10 attribute to any Of the scores of societies
and citizen organizations, and the thou
sands Of individuals making sacrifices for
and contributions to the coming festival,
selfish motives A. actuating them. 1t is
being demonstrated, indeed, that there Is
broader and deeper public spirit in this
community than most people have given it
credit Tor. 1t proves how powerful an in
huence for good town or city may exer-
else when lis people unite for a common
purpose The very few who have held
back, and sought their own ease and pleas
ure in preference to heartily uniting with
the people, are useful as examples of the
classes who never make sacrifices for the
public good and by contrast with these
the public spirit Of the masses OF the peo-
pie Is made the more prominent. What
may not Il people accomplish when united
in effort? II, in sanitary matters, in gen
eral public improvements in business en-
enlargement, in methods Of identifying
the city and rendering It attractive and
desirable Is place of residence, there
wss one-half the enthusiasm and unset
fshness shown that is manifest in the
matter Of the floral festival, there would
be brought about such reforms and i'm
provements in the general economy of the
place a. would astonish all other commu-
mites. The effort to take care of ones
own j, right effort, but organic unity of
effort in the matter Of town improvement
is what makes the harmonious and health
ful whole 1t should just as deeply interest
q b that the street upon which c" lives
IS kept cleanly and made attractive as that
his own premises shall be kept in order
Ii is not the absolute moral right OF any
man to offend the sense of order and clean
lines of whole people by the untidiness
of his immediate surroundings, however
much the law may tolerate him in his lack
of public spirit. There are streets in this
city-fortunately few-that are kept in a
disgraceful condition, because of the pig
gishness Of few people; lots and premises
that are standing oAensc even to the
ewes familiar with them, and public
nuisancos which no one seeks to abate.
That the people tolerate these things tes-
ti6es to their respect for the forms Of law
and their Discrimination to engage in the
general crusade necessary TO bring about
radical reforms. Narrow and absurd views
Of public economy and progression are not