The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-29
THE PENSACOLA SPIRIT.

Someone on commenting the spirit that was
displayed Monday when the Florida Purchase Cen
tennial Commission met in Pensacola, referred to
the Centennial spirit.
The members OF the commission, who
spent the day in the city, spoke of it as the Pen
sacola spirit These men were frank in their ad-
miration of the attitude shown here, the bond that
unite the people, their faith in their town
and section pride in the city, in it's bay
Industries. its splendid naval air station its
army garrison, its back country, the reliance
that the of this section placed in each other
the spirit of cooperation which was displayed
At this writing it is yet undecided as to what
city will be designated the site for the centen-
NAL any, but whether Pensacola wins the centen-
NAL not. something else has to pass of ire
mendous Importance. Pensacola has made pact
with herself. which she can never afford to break
In working for the centennial, Pensacola has
made declarations which she can never allow to be
questioned, she has taken a stand from which she
back down. with honor. She has made
promises of civic betterment, which she can never
waive.
Pensacola has thrown out challenge to the
future; she has acknowledged the world that she
has advantages that unequaled; that she has
possibilities unlimited that she has assets of greater
value than any other city in the state; that she
has the men here, men of culture, of brains. of
power. put these things through-if they
all work together.
Pensacola can never afford again take a
quiescent attitude; again let other cities
take the that belong to her.
The Pensacola spirit born before the Uni
ted States declared hostties against Ger
many. 1t had its birth in the year 1914, when the
sudden declaration of war threw the entire world
of balance. and in this country many financial
institutions failed weather the storm.
Pensacola met the blow with a high courage and
such splendid determination built bulwark
against disaster other cities failed rally.
Pensacola stood firm. During those dark days men
stood shoulder to shoulder, they spoke to one an
other words OF courage, they held out to one an
the helping hand untilsat last those institu-
lions replaced by others greater and stronger
and sounder In every way.
that crucible when the spirits of the
bravest faltered, there was born new Pen
sacoa: the old Pensacola, when each man thought
only of himself, worked for his interests is
dead. A new spirit born and became conse-
Grated in the world war. 1t is part of the civic
consciousness. and is making itself felt each dag
and will carry Pensacola over the top in many
another crisis.
Whatever the commission may decide, Pensa-
cola has won. The people of the state and the
country will know Pensacola the future not only
as a town fought for its rights but town that
is worth fighting for.
The who visited Pensacola Monday for
the hearings of the centennial claims men
representative of the best in the state these men
were only impressed with the spirit manifested
here astonished at the advantages that
Pensacola had to offer.
Pensacola have a great centennial celebra-
ton. whatever the decision may be-that with
out saying. this centennial will be carried on
big way because it will be the expression of a
spirit big and broad enough to forget all personal
animosities, all petty trivalities, and emerge
triumphant, a strong working force that will make
Pensacola only centennial city, but city
growing, expanding along lines that will make for
the betterment of conditions social and CONNER
ciaI and that will place emphasis coordination
and cooperation, without which no town reach
its greatest height of development