The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-08
Country Against Town Civilization.

Every State, which has risen since the
beginning of time, has been marked by
one of two civilizations, or q combination
of them, which in broad and general
classification, may be set down as coun-
try and city civilization. The civiliza-
tion which has the greatest tendency to
develop and strengthen the virtues essen
tial to the life and health of State, is
the one to be preferred one to be
fostered; and say here to-day that this
is country civilization. And, although
it ought not of course to be preferred and
fostered to the exclusion of the other
the bene6cent work of which, as an aux
iliary, is by no means small-yet, it
should, in all cases of combination, be
made vastly and heavily to preponderate.
But why do / say that country civiliza-
tion is best adapted to the termination
and growth of these essential virtues !?
Because, while in city civilization, the
mind, through the grinding influences of
trade and the polishing influences of cul-
tivated society, is made sharp and keen
and bright, frequently at the expense Of
its more solid and robust parts, and still
more frequently at the expense of physi-
cal and moral soundness and complete
ness; in q country civilization, there are
no influences, which must, of necessity,
be followed by such, or similar, disastrous
results, In other words, while in a city
civilization only part, in acountry civ
ilization, the whole, of the man can as a
general thing be developed. Agriculture
furnishes, to those engaged in it, the
most abundant facilities for the thorough
exercise of every physical, mental and
moral qualification; in the ever-moving
and ever-varying labors of the field; in
the multifarious, and, at times, intricate
and refined improvements essential to
legitimate and successful farming; in the
application of science to the art of hus-
bandry; in opportunities for close and
systematic study, and for the acquisition
of popular and general information; and
in interposing no bar, by its other labors,
to all necessary self-communings; and to
daily communings with God, through
the medium of the Bible, amid the quiet
comforts of home out of reach OF most
of the snares and temptations OF the
world; and to almost constant commun-
ings with Him through that of nature;
and, if properly improved. the results are,
men full of physical, mental and moral
soundness and vitality. Yes, the breath
ing of country air, the exercise Of coun-
try labors, the inspiration of country
scenery are, I had almost said, essential
to the make up of the stalwart nobility of
mankind-the champions of freedom;
the supporters of society; the saviours of
States.
Not only does history teach by exam
pies, which are indisputable, that ma
ton, founded exclusively upon a city
civilization is sure to fall; but it teaches
that a nation founded upon country
civilization is generally sure to prosper.
Take up the history of Rome! The
world has never seen nobler, truer,
braver. freer people, than were the men
of that State, in the earlier days of the
Republic; and, during that period, they
were emphatically an agricultural people.
The leading and best citizens did not
live in the city, but in the country; and
senators, consuls and dictators worked as
ordinary laborers in the fields. One of
the most distinguished of Roman authors,
in alluding to this fact, with a burst OF
enthusiasm, exclaims: "that the earth,
glorious in seeing herself cultivated by
the hands of triumphant victors, seemed
to make new efforts, and to produce fruits
in greater abundance" which, by the
way. was but an elegant and poetic
method of saying that the cultivation was
intelligent and Thorough. The love cf
ancient Roman leaders for country lits,
country labors and country simplicity, is
finely illustrated in the rebuke admins
tered by an old senator to Appius Cladius.
"Here," said he, comparing the farm,
where they chanced to be, with the mag
nifcent country houses of the other,
"Here we see neither painting, statutes,
carving nor mosaic work, but to make us
amends, we have all that is necessary to
the cultivation of land, the dressing Of
vines and the feeding of cattle. In your
house everything shines with gold, silver
and marble, but there is no sign of arabic
lands or vineyards. We find neither OK,
nor COW, nor sheep. There is neither
hay in cocks, vintage in cellars, nor har,
vest in barn. Can that be called farm ?
In aphat does it resemble that Of your grand
father and great grandfather" Manius
GURUS, who repeatedly triumphed over
the Sabines and Samnites, and finally
drove the great king of Epirus, with his
eighty thousand veterans, from Italy,
wSrked and Jared as did the slaves
upon his little farm. Cato, the