The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-29

Tn. lily Government
There Is another thing / want TO say a
word about 10 the property holders and
business men Of RichTsond. ard II IS some
thing that IS apparent to every man who
thinks al all on this subject: and that is.
Won are taking too little interest in the
municipal government or your city
do not mean to be understood as chare-
Ing that our city government Is either
corrupt or incompetent. On the con-
.rary. I think, considering how little
interest our mercpnts ana property
holders generally take in It, II is one OF
the purest and best city governments
Of which I have any knowledge but
think IL susceptible Of great improve
ment and I think the time has come
when these improvements can and should
be made / think some improvements
would be made 10y putting the street,
water and gas departments IN the hands
Of separate commissions, and that the
charter Of our city ought TO be so amend
ell by the present General Assembly as
10 effect these changes. These changes
are not experiments with US: we have
already tried the management OF the
police and fire departments by commits
sions. and we know what changes have
been wrought for the better I'm each OF
these by this change OF government.
hope you will excuse the personal allu-
sion. but ] claim the credit for having
inaugurated the system and drawn the
first act creating the Board Of Police
Commissioners. and that creating the
Board Of Public Interests. through which
the former came into existence, and I
spent with dear old Ned Cohen, the
greater part Of the last night he spent on
this EARTH helping him to frame the act
creating the Board Of Fire Commissioners
Ned Cohen was an Illustration 81 the
splendid men or Israelitish stock who
have adorned this city by lives of devo-
ton 10 the public welfare. Go thou
and DO likewise or If You won't do any
thing yourself, In the name Of all that IS
sacred don't say or do anything which
will deter others from doing what they
are willing TO do. My friends. not only
have we a beautiful and renowned city
for our home: a city adorned with monu-
rnents which not only tell the story of the
herolsm and prowess Of our people. but
OF the struggle which that people made in
defence OF constitutional liberty and the
right. and
Eternal right, though all else fail,
Can never be made wrong"
TIN Subirst snn the Beat.
But this city is also the capital and
ion nowadays, in some quarters. to
speals with derisIon. II not with contempt,
of the old Mother Of States and states
men" and for shame be II said. that
even some Of her own children sometimes
Join I'm that kind Of talk. ! cannot begin
10 fathom the contempt that | feel, and
here try 10 express. for the man who
decries or attempts 10 deride. this splendid
and devoted old Commonwealth. In
my opinion, the nobest and the best,
aud the bravest and the purest people,
that ever walked this green earth, were
Yettfed upon the soil OF this splendid old
STATE An empire within itself. Her
mountains literally grooming with ali
kinds Of minerals TO which we have di-
rect communication by several lines. Her
ssd-cOast dotted with the most commo-
dious. and at the same time the safest
harbors In the world. Her Valley and
her Piedmont, her Southwest, her South
side. ard hey Underwater. all either waiV-
Ing with the golden harvests In summer
or in winter feeding the cattle upon a
thousand hills" or producing every lux
my that can tempt the palate OF man.
And our city is I'm the midst of all these
splendid and tempting surroundings. Yes,
my friends, we have splendid inheri-
lance. Let us not only go in and pos
sess it, but By our words and our works
show our appreciation of the great priyil-
eyes and blessings KIND froVlaence
has showered upon us.
1 suppose that an address. even or the
modest pretensions OF this one, would be
incomplete without some reference 10 our
great country i'm which we live. | must
confess, my friends. that not having had
the privilege OF attending the Worlds
Fair. and never having been 20 Chicago
at all, Of course / can't know great deal
about this great country. our good
friends, Ashton Starke and Arthur Clarke
and last. but not least. DR. Strong, can
tell you more about this great country In
five minutes than / could In the rest OF
my life and 40. after quoting few pas
sages from DR.. Strong's New Era TO
show you a little OF what he thinks about
our country, am soing so torn you over
10 Starke and Clarke for anything else
you may wish TO know on that line.
This Great southland.
Judge Christian quoted at some length
from Dr. Strong and others on the great
ness of this nation and people, and con-
tinued:
We'll. we are In the midst Of all this
greatness The products and manufac-
lures Of every section of this country can
be brought to our doors and many or
them will come this way 10 our seaports.
We can make our seaport. Newport News.
the entrepot for an immense portion ot
this great area. and this city already has
the business houses and the capital Z"
hardle the imports and exports TO and
from this extensive and Inviting held.
What. l ask Of these stirring ana saga
cous merchants OF Richmond. are you
going 70 do with this youc greatest op-
pcrtunity? Come TO this chamber and de-
termlne, and having determined 10 sue
coed YOU Will never. never fall. But the
section TO which We must look especially
for material sympathy and support Is
this southland of ours. every city, ham
let, home and acre ~ which is endeared
to us by ties which grow stronger and
stronger with each recurring year. Every
body in Richmond loves the South, and
the whole South loves Richmond. The
people of the South love TO come here as
10 their Mecca OF memories and achieve
ments and 1 would love 10 see this hall
become the general gathering place OF
every convention OF the southern people,
whether called to consider their material
development or their political or moral
welfare.
The New Chamber.
And now my friends. I have about fn-
ished what / have 10 say on this 10 me,
very interesting occasion. / was asked
by the committee Of arrangements TO
make a little speech. and ] have com
piled literally with their request In this
respect, as YOU sec. / am aware OF the
fast that have said nothing New, and
/ am also aware Of the fact that my
speech is the better on that account j
have told you but little about the or
canization and work of this chamber,
a rAg..ov,r ~ the arpa MIA