The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-20
rnE UBIQUITOUS onsEcron.

II 10, OF course, true that what Is gen
orally known as the "mossback" Is foun,
IN all communities, but we should prob
ably, without an intimation to the con
trary, look for him last In Washington
| City, city where the general government
Is In control OF municipal Affairs and con.
tributes to the municipaE expenditures.
And yet, according to the Washington pDst
the mossback is there
In discussing the American "obtettor''
| as he In found IN the pathway OF progres IS
In legislation, In the expansion OF trade.
In politics, In society, and. above all, In
building up cities. tho Washington paper
presents picture that, with slight re-
touching will be easily recognized every
where. The Post snys:
We have had the objector with us ever since
Boss" Shepherd began. II quarter OF a CEN
fury ago the work OF TRANSFORMING Washing
ton from dirty, dnlempt. struggling village
Into beautiful aud gracious Capital. There
may have been those. during that PERIOD who
objected to the dirt. the ugliness, the incon.
venicnce, and who hailed with delight tho
prospect of Improvement but they did not
count. of course. The DIRECTORS who made
themselves heard. who filed tho air with la
mentation and the newspapers with complaint
protested against progress, against ctyiiiza-
ton, against betternent. II they Ind had
their way We should have had but two paved
streets In Washington. street would have
remained quugmirc, and the youth of the
community would still be ginning for klldocn
along Connecticut avenue and shooting field
larkR IN Dupont Circle. Tho old canal would
sti drag It's nanscons length whore the
Pennaylyania depot now stands, and drays
would bog In front of the pension office.
These are the men who oppose rapid transit
for tens OF thousands of their fellow titigons
because they dislike the sound Of tho gong,
and would abolish parltings and the extension
OF streets anu avenues because they do not
see In such things an immediate pecuniary
benefit 10 themselves. They have alwnys
been with us. They pastured their cows In
Judiciary square forty years ago. and they
would IKE to herd sheep ih the White Lot
now. They win always be with us more.
over. and the Same wail OF dstfosa that went
up when Massachusetts avenue was redeemed
TO civilization. Will be nplftad against every
other scheme of beautiicntion and utility
thnt may he proposed within tho next two
hundred years.
How much Inconvenience. suffering and
loss in our modern communities have been
occasioncd by this narrow and selfish char
actor, 80 happily portrayed in The forego-
Ing excerpt. II will. OF course. never be
possible accurately TO determine Hut that
trade has gone from cities In which the
has successfully opposed the ere
alton OF trade facilities; that disease has
ravaged communities In which the objecior
has prevented thorough sanitation; that
crme has flourishod where tho mcaslnck
has limited lights and police protection
and that thousands have been deprived nf
local transportation convenieuccs because
tho mo'sback with IA buggy has obiectod 10
street ear extensions. no Intelligent OBJ
server can deny.
There are always enterprising, liberal
minded and open handed men found in any
or our American population conters, but
their best efforts are always met ny this
typical collector" and progress is only
pushed over his noisy protest. Fortunately
the public are learning that noise does not
constitute Strength and officials nre daily
becoming less subject to n stampede from
the criticism or opposition OF this ante
diluvlan element
Men who have great interests at stake
and citizens who depend upon the pros
perIty and growth OF the city. are becoming
tired OF seeing themselves disappointed m
their projects and expectations bySchronic
reactlonarics and selfish directors. and
as consequence. towns worth developing
are annually forging ahead In spite Of the
obstacles placed In their path.