Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-04
The Old and the New.

ticle bears unmistakable evidence Of having
been written from irrepressible emotion-be-
cause he couldn't help tin his own quoted
words, " from the fullness of the heart the
mouth speaketh." 1t is earnest and sharp,
and talks to the purpose and all earnest,
honest sentiments are refreshing. On that
account we are glad it was written-glad to
publish it-glad to commend it to the atten'
ton of our readers.
But we choose not to let it pass without .
counter protest. We know there is great
deal of the evil of which he speaks--a great
deal to make one in the prime or decline Of
life feel sad as he witnesses opportunities
lost or wasted, and efforts mis-directed on
every side-but is there not something hope
full, something cheering on the other side Of
the picture
There is everywhere perpetual tendency
to contrast the Old and the New. The young
are bursting with desire to do away with the
old ways, and to introduce the new and the
better the old are always signing over de-
parture from the old ways they are used to,
and lamenting with sad groans over the de-
generacy of the age. This always was-al-
ways will be, so long as human nature pro-
crosses, and has room to progress. Long
years ago, We remember hearing venerable
Old man lamenting to respected parent over
the degeneracy of the times, saying
"When l was young, it was different;
then boys and girls and young men and wo-
men could do something and were worth
something; there are no such young folks
now as there were when was young"
when | was little boy, remember
hearing my grandfather talk just SC" was the
reply.
1t was in this spirit of the grandfather our
correspondent wrote. He is sighing for the
good old aoays. At times we almost sympa-
thi.e with him-at times, when hunkerism
has tine mastery over us, we almost join him
in the doleful clamor; but when right reason
is clear again, we rise from the depression
stronger and more hopeful, and ready, as
now, to put in an earnest defence for Young
-imerica.
He says our agriculture declines-that the
Statistical Bureau at Washington says so.-
Agriculture declining? We don't know what
veneration for anything about Washington,
but there are some witnesses who don't say
so. Has our correspondent ever traveled?-
Been West? Ever seen the magic opening
of new farms in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota Ever been in
an agricultural implement warehouse of the
last two or three years, and seen the steam
plows, reapers. mowers, rakes, drills, sewers,
planters, &C.? Declining. with rapidity of
invention and perfection Of implements that
laugh even at the lazy efforts of slow old AS
tonishment to keep up long enough to make
one single exclamation of wonder? Our cor
respondent felt bad-he didn't mean what he
said
He is especially down on fancy schools, fan
cy farming, and everything fancy. Did he
read a report, in THE Tribune, OF the statis-
tics of Professor Mapes' Fancy Farm in New
Jersey A farm of hundred and twenty
one acres, fifty acres of marsh meadow, thirty
acres of plow-land, sixteen acres of wood,
and the remainder upland meadow, which
cost to work it during the year fifty eight,
three thousand dollars, the product OF which
Welded eleven thousand dollars-eight thou
SIND dollars profit. Is that evidence of de-
cline? Yet his farm is fancy one-called
in contempt by the venerable cid-iashioned
farmers of the neighborhood those who wish
the days Of Franklin back again-speeringly,
"The Fancy Farm" This is only one speci-
men among many.
He is down, also, on free schools, and
sneers with all his power at the education Of
the oay. 1t is lamentably short of what it
should be, infinitely short of what it will be,
but would he seriously like to compare it with
that OF the days of Franklin, himself espous-
ing the cause of the old? 1t is hundred
yea, thousand fold better. In that day
none but the wealthy and the high born could
WIlte even toierably, with exceptions so rare
that they were looked upon as prodigies.-
Franklin-the ideal of our correspondents
worship-excited eyerybody's wonder be-
cause he could write readable article-be-
cause he wrote MS own leading articles. He
was the only printer in America who could
He had no competition, and comparatively no
obstacle. This was the chief reason of his
wonderful success. He had none to iostle
him. How is it now? There are thousands
of FrankIins all over the land who are never
heard of because competition is so intense, so
strong and so numerous, it is utterly impOs-
sible that all can be heard. Every township
contains men who can become respectable ed
itors without any special preparation. Thom-
as Jefferson was great man. He was the
first and perhaps the only really democratic
President, in the essential meaning of the
word, our Government has ever had. But
his biographers say the reason Of his first
prominence was because he possessed the
faculty-then so rare as to give its possessor
prominence at once-of being ready writer
because he could draft preamblcs and phrase
resolutions prettily. Attend any modern
Reform Convention, and let our correspond
ent tell US whether he considers this now a
rare talent. Whether it is considered mark
of distinction. And yet, if he will but look
at the manuscript copy of the Declaration Of
Independence, he will see that the printer had
to corrert great deal of the mere literature
of JeHerson's draft. So much for fancy
schools.
He thinks the farmers are abused-tha,
they are snubbed, and not permitted to hav,
the voice they should have in the politics o
the day. Is this really meant as compli
ment? Will the sensible portion Of then