Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-05-10
The Why and the Wherefore.

The Why and the Wherefore.
At the meeting, held last week
for obtaining subscriptions to the hotel
fund, there seemed to be but little en-
thusiasm outside OF its original pro-
jectors. There appears to be n deeply
grounded fear, among those OF smaller
means, that there is some scheme
whereby the smallfry stockholders
will be swallowed up by some financial
whale, who will come along just at the
suspicious moment, as the one did
which swallowed Jonah. They do not
carry out the smile, however, and re-
feet that had not the cd patriarch
met with this providential means Of
rescue he would have been inconti-
nently and permanently consigned to
Dayy Jones locker. They do not
seem to realize the fact that the large
subscriptions of our own citizens will
act as a bar against any plan which
might place the property at the mercy
of some strolling money-ahark. Those
who have placed their thousands in
the enterprise will not run the risk
of loosing them, when by doubling or
trebliDg their subscriptions, they will
save the whole amount, and it is not for
moment to be assumed that they will
act the octopus and throw their ten
tacles around the lit4iea fish which
have confidingly swan to their rescue.
1t may be true, as claimed by some,
that those of our citizens who hold
the money-bage, are well able to COM
plete the building, without appeals to
the general public. It may be just as
true, that it would prove a paying
investment from its completion. But
the fact stares us in tlAs face that they
are unwilling to put up the whole
amount, or indeed, to increase their
subscriptions, until others put their
shoulders 70 the wheel and aid in
lifting it from the rut. It may be
that the grumbling, fault-fnding cap.
tious spirit Of many who never aid
such enterprises, has much TO do with
this Disposition. Intact, we faro quite
sure Cat the persistent croaking oil
these who predict disaster to every
enterprise, has created q feeling Of
resentment On the part Of our pro.
gressive citizens, who very naturally
feel annoyedat the kicking of those
who arc litera lily hanging on to their
eoat-tails.
Il has been cbserved that cities often
possees marked individuality. Each
differs from al others in some salient
feature. Prevailing sentiments of q
community give expression TO pc.
culiafities, just o. tho inclination Of
the individual fixes his habits and III
timately develops into permanent traits
Of character. This has been true of
Olympia. She was made the capital.
This led 70 the annual disbursement
Al considerable sums Of money here,
much q which fell into the hands Of
her citizens. They had an easy life,
and without effort were able for many
years to kssp abreast Of the moderate
progress made by the country. They
are nov in easy circumstances; not
wealthy, but BY no means poor. They
have never had 70 grapple with the
stsrn realities Of life, ike other commu-
mites which have bcen brought up on
the bott3e from sheer inability to hire
wet nurse. The public Offices have,
from the beginning. supplied the
means for eking out . livelihood with
ont getting down 10 hard work. This
has Developed . lAsy, sluggisb, sleepy
sort Of feeling, which it is hard 70
shake of. It has become a distin-
guishing Trait Of character, by which
We arc in : great measure controlled
ct hou,s:anil absolutely judged abroad.
This = the causs Of our present
trouble, and until our people make up
their minds to trust each other, to
confde in each other and aid each
Other, and occasionally make some sac
ri6ce for The public good. they might
- wen content themselves With the
prospect Of becoming . mere bob at
Tie extreme end Of che kites tail when
il begins 10 scar aloft.