Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-02
UndevelOped People.
BY THOMAS CALLAHAN.

"HeH the lnutnean "A neeTS, thirty :
eight centuries ago, discussed with each
other the problems of the providence
of God and political economy, the
questions arose: "Can the earth be
made to bring forth in one day; or,
can a people be born at once?" and
they were used as an interrogative
mode of stating an impossibility. And
to this day that impossibility has con-
tinued.
In the discussion of the best mode Of
developing any people, great variety
of considerations must come into notice,
as it is impossible to develop any two
nations or communities in precisely
the same way, or by the use of precise
ly the same means. For the sake Of
brevity, conciseness, and clearness, we
shall select as an example the work of
developing the people of Southeast
Missouri. And now our first duty is,
to take an account of stock, remember
ing that if people is ever properly
brought out the work must commence
among, and be carried on by, those
who are already on the soil.
"Heredity bondsmen! know We not,
That those who would be free
Themselves must strike the blow?"
And they must not only strike the
blow, but the work, and the work
must be for the people, and not the
people for the work. And here we
have a mixed multitude, representing
not less than ten nations. agreeing on
ly in two things-they are American
citizens, and need improvement. Any
effective plan of Improvement must
grasp the salient points of these differ
ent nationalitins, consolidate them on
the central ida of manhood, and so
lift evenly on all.
The structure of country has very
important influence on the formation
of the character, especially of those
who are born on the soil. A man born
among high, rough hills, and accus-
toned from childhood to the labor of
climbing them, is necessarily man of
bolder ideas and stronger purpose than
one born on i'roai I, smooth prairie,
and other things being equal, he will
have a better mind. 1t will follow
from this that if we take two commune
ties, the physical geography Of whose
districts is iitferent. the same mo.e of
will not work equally
we'll in both. We will notice this mat
ter again.
The ecclesiastical, and consequently
moral, condition of people must en-
ter largely into the question of develop
ment. And here we tread on delicate
ground. If we hint that the church
and religion II ed reconstruction, we
come face to face with the power that
Aristdes, poisoned Socrates,
murdered Phocion, and crucified the
Mighty God. Bui the facts must be
stated, and the proofs that they are
facts furnished as we go along. And
here, although we are on the upgrade,
yet we are not yet very far above bed
rock, and the upward movement does
not receive its impetus from the eccles-
iastical connexions of the parties con-
cerned i'm it. AS it is u fact that there
is at all times the same amount of mer-
curry in barometer, aud that the mer-
curry only changes its place, rising
i'm the tube as it sinks in the cup,
and rising in the cup as it sinks in the
tube, and as it is true that there is at
all times the same amount of light in
the world, AMI yet continually chang
ing its place on the earlh's surface, so
a fair examination of facts will show
that there has been at all times the
same amount Of religion In the world.
And as it is true that, owing to the
power of the atmosphere,
there is at all times a belt one hundred
and eighty miles wide running all
round the world, a majority on the
side of light; 50 God has always had
the maj rity in the world. And as the
in the barometer and the light
Of the sun on the earth are continually
thOil piaCC, 81 IhC iChSioA VA
God has not continued long in one
stay. AS it has sunk in the Church, it
has arisen in the State; as it sinks in
one country, it arises in another; as it
sinks in that which is called theology,
it rises in the natural sciences; as it |
goes down in associations, it rises in in
aud Uice verso all the way
through.
Accepting the fact that the true
basis of sound development of a people
s in the proper recognition of the true
relations of a man to his Maker it will
'ollow that the avenues leading to de-
Velopment have been equally open to
man at all times, the only difficulty
being to determine what one to pur-
'ue.
The political partisan affinities of a
people Bob Ingersoll to the contrary
have but very little l.