The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-02-14
The End Of Public Spirit.

st. Louis on last Monday evening
by an Official OF the city, strong
emphasis was laid ON the fact that
In many communities there Is an
almost absolute lack of civic pride
or public spirit. The speaker re-
fcrrcd to this lacking qualification
on the part Of the citizens as an
evidence OF individual short-sight-
cdncss, advancing the point and
sustaining II by wcll-bascd argu-
mcnt that the man who will not
assist in advancing the interest of
the community where he lives IL
simply putting a stumbling block
In the way of his own progress.
lie also made caustic reference
to the habit acquired by some
people of bclittling their own town
or city, calling them "knockcrs"
and showing by forciblc illustrate
ions that their best success is In
knocking themselves.
II IN unfortunately true that In all
communities the knockers" may
be found. They profess to see
nothing that is good In their inn
mediate surroundings or associa-
tions and they are constantly maxi
Ing unfavorable comparisons with
other places where they formerly
lived. They would confer benefit
on their ncighbors by returning
whence they came.
Unfortunately, however. they
cling as closely to their present
abiding place ns they adhere to
their ill-regulatcd opinions and
they cannot be made to move.
Unfortunately, too, they manage
to exercise some little influence ON
their ncighbors, who may come In
time to believe that what the
knockers say has some element of
truth.
Practically speaking, these people
who are not possessed of n proper
civic pride or public spirit are to
be included In the list of knockers.
They are even more. because they
practice what the others preach.
They will not aid the community
because they cannot realize that In
so doing they will also aid them
selves. When 1t II suggested that
new capital be brought to the town
they enter forciblc objection on
the ground that the improvements
will increase their own taxes.
They protest against the making
Of new roads or new streets, de-
clare the old ones are good enough
cnd the new ones cost money.
They will not spend dollar on
any public enterprise and they
would very much prefer MOTTO pay
any taxes. They are non-progrcs-
sive back-numbcrs, and IL IL un.
fortunately true that they are TO be
found In nearly all communities,
no one section OF tho country being
especially disfavorcd by their
presence.
Given n town where the citizens
are possessed of n public spirit
and the merchants have most
reasonable opportunity for making
A success OF their business, but
where the opposite conditions pre-
vail, where civic pride gives way
10 ''knocking," the merchants have
a most reasonable chance of maxi
ing failure. It Is, therefore, to
their own advantage to create pu-
bile spirit where it does not exist.
They are generally the leaders
In the community, men of affairs
who pay a good portion, II not the
bulk of taxes, and who have n
right to undertake the advances
ment of that community's interests
There are some places where the
practically control the
municipal government; such
place almost always go ahead.
There are others where the mer-
chants are too much occupied with
heir business to pay any attention
TO public affairs; such places may
not go backward, but they are
constantly manliesting a tendency
In that direction.
The merchants in these places
should awaken to a realizing sense
Of their own position and endeav-
or by arousing public spirit to en-
arge their own pOssibilities.-l