The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-10
THURSDAY. JANUARY 10. 1901.
TOO GOOD TO FAIL.
We shat be sure to succeed; tho
cause Is too good a one to faiI.-Dlck-
ems.
A Campaign of Improvement.


The ''new-building campaign of tho
Y. NJ. C. A. was fairly launched yester-
day afternoon, and will be pushed with
vigor. Richmond is more prosperous
received. In the past twenty years, since
the present Y. NJ. C. A. building was
erected, her real and personal property
has doubled in value, and she should, as
a nero expression Of gratitude. respond
promptly to this appeal for $4,000 to
give the Y. NJ. C. A. a suitable home.
But apart from the sentimental ques-
tion involved. the erection OF a new
building for the Y. NJ. C. A. of this
city is a business proposition. which
thoughtful business man. The Y. NJ. G.
A. Is not under obligations to Richmond:
the obligation Is on the other side Of
the account. We are at pains from time
to time to publish to the world the as
sets of the city. We speak of our real
and personal properly valuation. We
speak OF our great manufacturing con-
Germs. of our large jobbing trade, of our
Water Works and Gas Works. and all
the valuable property which the corpo-
ration itself owns; but after all, our
greatest assets are the men of the COM
munity. and our young men are its most
valuable of all. They are our richest
assets, for at the last must the city de-
pend upon them for her growth and
progress, for her good government. for
the support of her churches. her schools
and all her institutions, and for carry
ing on all her affairs. private and public.
We cannot afford to neglect them. 1t
is good business, to say nothing of good
morals. to throw around them all posi-
BILE Influences for good, to aid them In
their physical, mental and moral develop
ment, to do whatsoever we may to keep
them out of the saloons and away from
all evil surroundings. and to that end
10 assemble them in the evening. when
they are at leisure and when temptation
is greatest. in an attractive building,
whose atmosphere is pure, and whose
means OF entertainment and instruction
IRE the best that can be devised.
It may be that the Y. NJ. c. A. is not
the best means that could be devised for
the salvation OF the young men. but 1t
is the best that has been devised. 1t Is
the only public institution which We have
for the exclusive benefit of young men
and boys, and the good work which 1t
has lone is moro than sufficient to COM
mend it to the gtod win and tender con-
s,deration of the public, and to command
public support.
So we'll has this work been done that
the institution has far outgrown the
present building, and its work Is greatly
hampered by lack OF room and equip
ment. But with a new building such as
Is contemplated, and with revenues suf-
fcient to defray its expenses, its power
for good will be enormously enhanced,
and its record is q guarantee that the
good results will be proportionately In
creased.
There are in the city of Richmond a
number of rich and well-eouipped social
ClupS, anu III -
tractiye. 1t should be our aim in erect
ing a new Y. NJ. c. A. building to make
It the most attractive of all resorts In
the city, not only that the building may
draw young men by reason of It's at
fractions, but that In itself 1t may be an
expression of the interest which the rep
resentative men Of this community feel
in the young.
The campaign Is on, and 1t must not
fail. The campaign will in itself awaken
and develop public spirit and civic right
ecusness, If only the leading men of the
city will put their righteous energy into
It. Richmond needs such a campaign,
and it should be welcomed. We need TO
arouse ourselves. We need to touch ell
bow and work heart and soul together
in q good cause. 1t is an opportunity
from God himself. and we dare not neg
lect 1t, to confer q benefit upon the young
men, but directly and specifically to pro-
mote personal godliness, which, as Mayor
Mccarthy 80 aptiy pointed out, lis profit
able unto all things, having promise OF
the life that now is. and of that which
Ia to come"
The campaign Is on, and we DARE
NOT let 1t fail.