West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-07-20
PUBLIC SPIRIT PROMOTING
PUBLIC WELFARE.
Bait. Sun.

! of the unthlnklng klnu. III Is an
easy matter for those who have ney-
er attempted a great task requiring
original thought, hard work, cour-
age and self.sacrifice to criticise al
ter the event the course OF one who
has brought all these qualities to
bear in vain for the accomplishment
of some noble purpose. But it is
only that criticism which points out
better methods of procedure and is
backed by a willingness to help that
is of real value. In small and to a
less extent in large communities en-
terprising citizens arise who lead
the way in large improvements from
their private resources and encour-
age by both their example and their
utterances the undertaking of other
improvements ofgreater or less value
to the public. If they persevere in
their task they will first find their
motives and then their methods as
sailed, not by men of purer motives
or who have better methods to sug-
gest, but by the envlous and those
who never risk their regulations by
attempting to do anything them
selves. Itrequires a large heart and
philosophic mind to enable any
man to become faithful leader un-
der such discouraging circumstances
Nothing but assured success can
bring him the support of his neigh
bors, and even then he may have to
withstand carping criticism because
his public work has done for him
what it has done for others-increas
ed the value of his property andsde-
veloped his business. AS the village
grows into the town, the town, into
the city, competition, though no less
sharp, develops less of envy, and the
fact becomes more clearly recogniz-
ed that the enterprise of this or that
business man, while promoting his
own interests, also promoting the in,
terests or the community in which
he lives, and that by union of effort
the enterprising men of n town or
city may so increase its attractions
to visitors, it's comforts as a place
of residence, or SO advertise its ad-
vantages to other people, thatit will
grow at more rapid rate than be-
fore, to the advantage OF every mem
her of the community. If this fact
should he more generally recognized,
especially in the smaller towns, those
that really possess advantages of
site and connections might be devel-
oped much more rapidly than they
now are. They need the enterpris-
inc men, selfish it may be, but dis
posed to go ahead, and they need q
community that, instead of envious-
IL putting obstacles in the way of
solid enterprises, shall heartily CO
operate in all that give promise of
promoting the pnblic good.
If an excursion party visits little
town or village anxious to make itself
known and to invite capital to de-
velop its resources, it is quite usual
for two, three or dozen prominent
men to get together and arrange for
receptions at which the visitors may
be entertained and shown the al
vantages of the place. In those
towns that have learned the advan.
tages of co operation all citizens vie
with each other in promoting the
enterprise; they attend the recep-
tions, keep open house. put their We
hicles at the disposal Of the commit
tee, and in every way within their
power help to display their town at
its best. But where small envy is
allowed to influence the community,
those who have not undertaken the
work stand aloof. they refuse to at
tend the reception because this or
that man has preceded them, they
shut their houses TO the visitors,
and make no effort to entertain or
inform them. The result in the one
case is that trumpeters have been
sent out to announce the advantages
of the place in distant communities
in the other that detractors have
been sent abroad who may, for mere
want of information, libel the town
and thereby check its growth. This
is only one example of the ways in
which the public good may be adj
vanced by hearty support of useful
undertakings, even when unwisely
begun or hindered by envy and the
small spirit of obstruction. OF
course every enterprise that pur-
ports to be for the public good may
not be worthy of general support; it
may be an unwise undertaking or a
cover for some purely selfish pur-
pose. 1t may be sham, Haunted in
the faces of the people to attract at
tention to some vicious person, al
ready consumed with envy of others
and anxious for an excuse to accuse
them of the same vice. But every
citizen should feel it his duty to
consider such matters fairly. 1t is
this public spirit, this disposition
to cooperate honestly in promoting
the general welfare, that makes the
difference between community go
ing into decay and one that is bright,
.l.ao.r,,l ;,r;t;por IN rtrauUprs an1