Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-14

tion. Not until railroad company shall arbitrarily refuse to adjust a discrimi- mating or unjust rate shall favor war upon it. That's our last resort. and when we have to declare war we should realize that we are entering upon an unequal contest, for the railroads are in close touch with one another; they are few and can and will organize, and quickly and can sustain united front, whereas the community are many, organization will be difficult and sustained unity al most impossible. But uneven though the contest be, if this club be right and de- termined in the end we can and shall win. It is very important that the club shall this year appoint strong transportation committee, composed of able, discreet and firm men, to whom this question of equitable freight rates should be con fided, with full power to act without hav- ing to report back to the club.
 The Credit of Birmingham.
 That which the Commercial club of Birmingham should do. however. before it does anything else, is to make solemn declaration that so-far as it can in- fluence, so far as it's members can con trol, the credit of the city of Birmingham shall at all hazards be maintained. De- fault in our p1ighted public faith would prove a most whitening blight to all in- terests, material. moral and social.
 No greater blunder-with good inten- tions I concede--was ever committed than Mayor VanHoose's city bond fund.- ing scheme. The cry, Birmingham is trying to repudiate her honest debts" is ringing through the land with damning reverberations, silencing the voices of our friends and cheering on to calumny our enemies. The press-north, west and south-are denouncing us We must put a stop to this hue and cry, else our fair name, the most precious jewel of our soul. will be besmirched beyond our own recognition, and all property values last ingly damaged. Private credit cannot long survive the death of public credit,
 Happily Birmingham as yet has made no default, except by intimatlon. Tn terest coupons to date have been prompt ly paid More than $30.000 in cash are in the city treasury. and other mon eys are in sight, with which Birmlng- ham can certainly meet her interest charges for some time to come.
 Recall the Letter.
 3 The thing for this club. for the pusl- aness and professional men and property gowners of this city, to do instanter is to sinsst that the city administration ana .the commission appointed to tund the Ecity's bonds if possible, recall the sul- fcidal circular letter which was sent out sto the holders of bonds, and 10 announce sboldly and sincerely that the city of Birmingham will pay her honest depts sas long as she possibly can; that she will be -honest--if she cannot pay now, she will promise to pay, and she Will keep on trying to pay until constitutional amendment can be secured or some -other means devised whereby she can raise funds, when Birmingham will most gladly pay every cent she owes.
 5. The paramount necessity of the hour in Birmingham is to preserve and guard our public honor as we would our pri- vate honor. A city may be ill-lighted, have a single policeman. miserable streets and no schools even, and still be a place an honest man or woman or child could take pride in calling .home;" but a city with repudiation stamped upon her brow can stir no thrill of devotion in a patriotic heart, for that city is dishonered and dispised of all men, and it's very hopes are dead. city, though poor and in distress, but struggling to meet it's honest obligations, commands the sympathy and support of civilized men everywhere. It can look grim disaster and sore self-denial calmly in the face and not finch, and like 'the diamond in the dark retain some quench- less gleams of celestial light"
 Of the great honor you have done me in making me president of this club I trust am duly sensitive A fear that I may at times be unequal to the tasks in- volved tempers my qualification Earn estly I beg the patient indulgence and cordial cooperation of not only you, members of the Commercial club, but through you and your influence, of every citizen of this great city. have loved Birmingham most fondly, tis the dearest spot in all the world to me, and tonight I humbly reconsecrate myself to her advancement and her glory.