The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
THE LACK OF STATE PRIDE.

Indiana Is great State-great in ex-
tent and resources. in the diversity of its
industries, IN its agricultural manu-
featuring, mining and commercial inter-
ests, and greatest of all in the intelli-
gence. energy. enterprise and high moral
character of its people. Only one thing
is lacking, namely, proper degree or
State pride among the people. There Is
no lack of sectional or of county and
municipal pride. The people Of different
portions OF the State and OF different
cities and towns are proud enough of
their respective localities. but there is
lack of State pride, deficiency of the
spirit which makes people talk as one
man for their State and stand together,
work together and pull together for
everything pertaining TO it's credit, honor
and interests.
The meanest form which this spirit
takes is jealousy Of Indianapolis. Real
ly, this is an exceptionally fine city. 1t
is not only the largest strictly inland
city in the country, with unsurpassed
railroad connections and business raciIi-
ties and first-class educational and social
attractions, but it is fast becoming one
of the most attractive and beautiful
cities in the country. Strangers and
visitors from other States recognize this
fact and are invariably charmed with
the city's wide and clean streets. its
good hotels, good pavements. handsome
buildings, fine residences, beautiful
homes and general air Of culture and
progress. These things are talked about
all over the country, and ought to be
source of pride to every citizen of the
State. In large sense the city belongs
to the State. Every taxpayer in Indiana
has an individual and vested interest In
the Statehouse, in each Of the State
buildings located here and in the SOL
diers' monument, which excites the ad-
miration of cultured visitors from all
parts of the United States and from
foreign countries. These fine buildings
and the noble monument had TO be To-
Gated somewhere, and what better place
than the State capital, where they reflect
credit and honor on the entire State?
True, the capital iself might have been
located somewhere else. 1t might have
been left at Corydon, or located in an
extreme corner. or on one of the boun-
dairy edges of the State, but inasmuch as
the general government donated four
sections of land for a capital, with all
the unsold lands in the State to choose
from. it seemed we'll enough to locate
the capital pretty near the center of the
State, and so it was done The COM
ought not to be blamed, especially as
they are dead and it is too late to change
the location. AS the present residents OF
Indianapolis had no part in its location
and were not even consulted in the mat
ter, they ought not TO be held response
bic. and as the State could not erect
capitol and benevolent institutions and
soldiers monuments in every county
town. perhaps it was just we'll to con-
fine it's expenditures to the capital and
contribute a little towards building up
a city of which all Indianians might be
proud All that the State has done
towards making the beautiful city of to-
day is not a drop in the bucket, not
grain of sand in a mountain compared
and the jealous. carping, captious spirit
cultivated in some localities and by some
papers towards the city is very small
and contemplate.
This petty spirit and lack Of State
pride has found considerable expression
of late in opposition to the proposed cele-
bration of Indianas centennial. Taking
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held it will be in this city, the fomenters
Of this unworthy sentiment have begun
the stereotyped talk about Indianapolis
wanting to hog everything" levy
tribute on the whole State" etc. Moth
ing has been decided yet as to the char
acter or place Of the celebration, or
whether one will be held at all, but in
thus assuming that it will be held at In
dianapolis the promoters Of jealousy
tacitly admit that it would be the only
suitable place. 1t would be a fine ad-
vertisement for the State If the commits
sion appointed to investigate the subject
should report to the next Legislature
that in view of the lack of State pride
and the opposition which the centennial
movement lldQ eAClteu III SOiLc qdai eCiS
on account OF jealousy of the capital it
was not deemed advisable to attempt
any celebration and the matter had bet
ter be dropped. OF course, the commits
sion will not do this, because it is COM
posed of public-spirited men who would
much rather conceal than expose the ex-
istence Of such a sentiment, but the
fomenters of local jealousy are doing
what they can to bring about such re-
suit.
There should be an end of such little
ness. Indianians. from the lake to the
river, from Union City to Terre Haute,
from Steuben to Posey county. should
get together on a common platform of
State pride and let the whole world know
that they are proud of the State and
every part of 1t. including its capital
THE WOMAN WITH AN ACCOUNT.
The woman who makes a purchase and
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