Omaha daily bee., 1874-09-24
Everything in General and Moth
ing in Particular.
Correspondents Of the BEEF
FREMONT, Sept. %.

Correspondents OF the BEE.)
FREMONT, Sept. %.
EDITOR BEE:
For some years past I have been
travelling In the States west OF the
lakes, and if acceptable will &C.
casionally report to you what / see
and hear in the highways and by
ways of the north west. For two
years past have been constantly in
Nebraska and feel a citizens interest
in the questions of local interest.
During the past two weeks I have
been in Douglas, Washington,
Dodge, Burt and Cunning counties,
Where I find the farmers rejoicing
in the possession of about half a
crop of corn, three-fourths of a crop
of small grain, and last but not
least, 1 find fine herds Of stock
where four years ago a single cow
was a rare sight. There is some
grumbling but general thankful
nessf for blessings secured, particu-
larly in sections through which the
refugees from the grasshopper region
have passed, comparison with these
having furnished a healthy antidote
for grumbling. Improvements in
the railroad villages are particularly
noticeable. Your readers are
probably familiar with the topo-
graphy of the country, and the
minutia of Blair, Fremont, West
Point and other towns of five years
growth, concerning them 1 will
only add that all towns are like
babies to q di~sinterested party
much alike. These towns are no
exceptions, and their improvement
truly surprising to any one not
familiar with the precocious ways
of western infants. Bell Greek is
very proud of its advantages, but
its citizens think that some CORE
spondents have lately overdone it,
and knowing that "hattery is the
food of FOOLS" they ask for more
discrimination in future %correspon-
dents.
Two miles from Fontenelle is the
station of Nickerson, where there Is
a fine freight house, grain elevator,
store, p%ostofhce, etc.. rather too far
for convenience, but near enough to
Fontenelle, perhaps, to. infuse some
new life into that relict of a town.
At Hooper there r several fine
stores, two elevators, two saloons
and a fine freight-house, In which
the people were holding q Sunday
school festival as I passed.
At Scribner they have the stir
and life incident to a new town.
West Point and Tekama I will
reserve for a future letter. The peo-
pie are pleased to have the products
for which their section Is noted, fa-
vorably noticed but after all they
are more eeplyinterested In schools,
finance, railroads, politics and reli-
gion.
In Washington county there is
general satisfaction at the nOmina-
ton of Mr.. Crounse. They will
vote for him almost unanimously,
and will elect the Republican ticket
generally. One hears, however, a
great deal which shows how zeal
Ously public men are watched. You
would infer from the conversation
of some that the average congress
man spends all his time In WASH
ington in riding in sixteen hundred
dollar carriages, or at champagne
suppers-all at the government ex-
pense.
1 mention this that our Represen-
tatives may renew their apprecia-
ton of Burns lines,
"'wad som power the giftie gle us,
To see our sci as others see US" etc.
I have heard some severe criti-
cisms from religious people on the
Omaha press generally-the charge
being that the press is given to slur-
ring religious matters. What par
ticular sect, of the many, each
claiming to be right, has been most
offended, I did not learn; but this I
believe, religious people do not seem
to realize that honest skepticism is
the best of teachers Of religious
truth. That they q give tone to
the press If they will; that If they
don't, it shows their weakness, and
that true religion is the same wheth-
er exemplifed under the Christian
injunction, "Fear God and have
mercy" or the Jewish command,
"Do right and fear no man."
{ During my stay here in Fremont,
I have met a number of "Wheel-
horse" Democrats-they r geper-
ally gentlemen, are usually suave
and polite, and I think their pres
ence here to-day, will account for q
part of the inspiration which will
tomorrow emanate from the Sena-
torial Independent convention. In
hunting for q non de plume, I find
General" Colonel" "Captain,"
and other distinguished titles, all
appropriated, and as the oorrespon-
dence of some papers is like some
books, tlies from end to end" ]
have concluded toappear In my true
rank, that of a private.
Yours, &C.,
PRIVATE SMITH.