The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-01

w
above them, might possibly rank with our
negroes, in intelligence, clothing, and
lodgings; but even they live on fareinfe-
rior food to that we gave our slaves.
see then, before my eyes, this fact :
that the German system, so much vaunted
abroad, is a total failure, as to, any educa-
ton or elevation Of the bottom stratum
| of peeple@In Prussia this system has
been In universal operation ever since the
great French wars of lSl4-sixty-six
years-two generationsl Is it not time
it was beginning to bear fruit? This is
result very distasteful to your demo-
cratic philosopher: he twists and wrig-
giles, and endeavors not to admit it, But
here stands the fragrant proof, in this pit
liable, debased, hopeless, half-fed, stunted,
unprogressive populace.
Division of Lands.
| am convinced also, that the extreme
division of lands is adverse to a .proper
economy of labor. | notice that when l
come to places where the everlasting
stripes of crop give place to good blocks
of fields, whose size show that they are
tarmed by large owners. the quality of
the crops usually improves. The peas
ants are underfed, and work in david
ling way stopping about five times daily
for their wretched little frtihstticks and
miltag-stucks of brown bread and lard
One good Bush-River negro under your
venerable brother-in-law' wise and lib
eral management, was worth two or three
of them. The poor fellows are not fed
enough to work we'll Then, the most
of their industry is mere bidding, and
waste of time. The little strip of farm
is probably mile from the Dorf Two
or three men, with two COWS hitched 30
the wagon, will make whole afternoons
job of going out to cut and bring in a
turn of green clover for the stock. One
sees a dozen women march out, bare
footed, bare headed, each with the ever
lasting hamper, and spend the same time
in handwriting enough potatoes or sugar
beets, to carry home at evening ham
per of fresh weeds for the pig or goat.
They are busy all the time, and think
they are industrious. But it is mostly
mere waste of time. An intelligent Vir-
ginia planter, with, say six hundred acres
in cultivation, would have taken these
poor people, and first filling their stom-
achs well, and then giving them good
utensils, and wise organization Of effort,
would have produced four-fold results.
Government Attends to Everything.
Mr.. Gladstone, when he was a Tory,
(for you must know he is as thorough a
political turn-coat as Beast Butler, ~
wrote book, in which he taught that
his conception of civil government was, as
of TO pan IoIiteaaS The total, the all-in-
Guiding agent of man ssocial organizations.
He defined the business of government as
tie doing Of all the things, of all sorts, for
which associated action of human beings
is requisite. This ideal is nearly realized
in Germany This government makes it
its business, not only to govern at home,
and regulate and defend foreign relations
abroad, but to do everything else. To
teach everybody, from the infant school
up to the university; to build and run all
the railroads; to police town and coun-
try, even to the remotest mountain vale
ley to build and keep all the roads and
bridges; to survey every mans land for
him; to drill the whole male population
into soldiers to build nearly every thing
of any. size; to teach all the people reli-
gion; to furnish them pictures and music:
to examine all the doctors and apotheca-
ries and artizans, and see that they are
fit for their business; to make their paper.
money Gas well as the metallic-of course. }
Everywhere is the government seeing
after everything.
Office holders.e
What is the consequence? Great meth
cd, of course, and order But there is
another consequence, that nearly third
of the whole male population are office
holders, who live from the treasury. All
the post office and telegraph men are
office-hOlders; all the railroad men, from
conductors down to track bosses, brake
men, and bridge guards; land "their
name is legion; for the evident policy is
to overrun every function so as to multi
ply ofice-holders) all the teachers, from
the marin in the infant schools, up to the
great Curtius and Luthardt; all the
judges, magistrates, mayors, and police /:
all the military, of course; all the engi-
neers and architects; all the foresters and
baum gardeners; all the parsons; all the
musicianers and keepers of pictures all
the street PAYERS; all the directors of col
leges and universities; all the moderators
Of Synods; all of everything that can be
thouOhf of oil Office bo1 1o,e ,,,,,o;.t.1