The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-14

race. just laws, giving equal and exact justice
and protection to every citizen, faithful ana
impartial administration of government, sne
cast and color of our social life, all relate BACK
to and are affected by tine character Of the indi,
vidual citizen The brilliancy of the diamond
is dependent upon the purity of each atom CON-
posing il. 1t is TO be regretted that so large
number of men do not seem TO realize the Dig
nifty and responsibility of their citizenship
They seem to be unconscious that they are III
vested with sovereign power. The government
to them is a myth-something apart aud sepa-
rate from and beyond their control As con,
sequence the idlers and vicious classes have had
undue weight and power in the politics OF the
country have heard men say, often with an
air of self-coDscous virtue aud apparently with
the belief that they were procaiminR their
own superiority-that they would have nothing
TO do with the dirty pool of politics. They
thought they were publishing their own political
eanctfcation, when in fact, they were proclaim
ing their utter unfrness to be American citi-
zens. If the political pool is filthy land l am
willing to concsde that it might be ceener). then
it is the manifest duty of every good citizen TO
60 in and clean it out. When a political
primary convention is held every patriotic mem
Der of that party ought to be present to select
best qualification for the position. Virtue must
be as aggressive for the right as vice is for the
wrong, we talk about civil-service
reform. but If we really wan. TO have it
build up sure and strong. The people-ths very
source and fountain Of power, must be SO re-
formed that they will lay aside their personal
interests and be ready at all proper times to look
after the public welfare. They should
be as jealous Of the reputation of the
state as they Of their own homes.
Is i, not true Of al of that we sometimes
vote for men that We would not care 10 associ-
ate with, and even put in places of trust and re-
sponsibility officers to whom we would not in
trust our own private interestsl In the book CT
Mahomet the Koran. may be found this sound
political maxim: "a ruler who appoints any
man to an Office when there Is IN his dominion
another man better qualified for it. sins against
God and man." In the early history Of the
State the pioneer graphing with difficulties on
every hand, long distance from his neigh
Dor, with railroads or telegraph communities
ton, AID expensive aud uncertain mails, not
much could be expected OF him. But there is
no excuse for us. II we do not have the most
perfect or human governments and the highest
type of civilization 10 is our own fault. We can
have it IL we viii be more social and les5 selfish,
IL We will be more patriotic and less partisan,
IL We will make more effort be Christians
and less TO be sectariaus, and love and worship
God more and have less alteration OF mammon.
w. hear much in these latter days OF science
and scientists-wise men who claim 10 be adj
vanced thinkers. men who claim TO have gone
far beyond in their Investigations. all who have
gone before them. l do not know or care
whether their claim Is well founded or not. To
sciences is that of knowing how TO live.
III the advanced thoughts OF these scientists
throw no light on the path OF human life, TO
guide man upward TO q higher and nober man.
hood, toen all this scientific chatter is but the
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal Man must
be the focal point for all this modern light, or it
is no better than darkness. We have given too
much attention and worship TO the Individual
genius, and not enough TO the ordinary man.
The true test that this age is one of progress
a Of xords nj in or
the rapid accumulation Of luxury and wealth,
or the beautiful cities with their gorgeous
palaces but rather that we have higher type OF
man. This agricultural society will
IN q few years send forth from your
farms more premium stock-s higher and better
quality OF animals will 60 to the market from
Owen county. There is no room for doubt that
the yearly social contact OF the people Of this
county-the greatly increased interest in your
farmers institutes and in the whole subject Of
agriculture, and above all your increased in
terest 10 each other will also bring with IL
trusr and better friendship aud that the homes
OK this county will send forth sons aud daugh-
ters better equipped for the duties Of life than
the present generation. With most farmers the
stumps have disappeared from the fields and the
mortgages have been lifted from tho farm, the
new house and barn have been erected, and now
in every such home there should be found the
daily newspaper, the best monthly magazine,
good musical instruments and a well selected
library. Every provident and intelligent
farmer can afford TO make home
attractive and he ought TO do IT,
Il will pay him better to expend his surplus in
this way than to purchase the adjoining farm,
and thus rob his home of tho charms IL ought TO
possess. We send our children TO the sehcel.
the college, and the university. But after all
the practical education that, more than anything
else, determines their success in life and forms
the character they receive at home.
1t is a matter OF serious concern to every
patriot and philanthropist that our cities are
al I'M inf 4hA hn ia nf thA Nvfr ar1 fhn
dissolute. In most OF them they are now the
governing class. Law is defed in open day. and
our municipal governments are essentially
wicked and corrupt In addition TO that, our
attracting daily to our country hundreds,
who come bringing with them COM
munisrn. nihilism, anarchy, and bitter hatred TO
eli law and order The expressions they have
suffered from monarchy cause them to
erument While many Of them accep.
our civilization and become Americans,
and are good. lawsbiding citizens, a large num-
Der re-enforce the lawless element, and greatly
increase the difficulties OF enforcing and pre-
| serving order. II our free institutions are to
stand, then the conserving forces must come
from the farm. Chiefly from this source Of vir-
tue and intelligence must come the needed
power to hold in check these evils that threaten
the permanence OF our beloved form Of govern
menE Assuming the correctness Of this posi-
ton, the farm, then, is not only the source OF
supply to feed the world, but the farm house is
the strong fortress against the dangers that are
menace to the safety Of the Common wealth.
His castle in the midst of his fields surrounded
BY his forests. he is free from the contracting
effect Of narrow streets aud alleys, and the i'm
pure atmosphere of the garbage and filth OF the
suburbs The farmer, therefore, should be
broad in his comprehension, like unto
the wide fields he cultivates-as pure
az the air that sweeps over his
| golden harvests, and as sweet in his heart
as the wild flowers of the valley. This may be
thought to be rather a rosy view of the farm
er's life yet his propirous surroundings tend at
least TO produce that result. 1t is true that he
has sometimes to contend with drought,o or food,
| and sometimes q countless variety Of insects at
| tack his crops. Any of these opposing forces
may shadow the brightness of his hope. Yet II
he be skilled in his profession, and have the es-
| sential grit, and perseverance, he may to some
extent conquer them all, and have fair success.
and be happy. When his barns filled with
| plenty, and his graparies OVERLOOKING with
his abundant harvest, then the great temptation
| comes TO him as it does to all successful men
in the various vocations OF lfe strives to become
| rich. If he yield to the temptation. then the
| mercenary spirit enters, and drives out al in
| terest in the public welfare. banishes charity.
| silences conscience, and the man and
| his family are dragged down to the
| low level of living only for pslf
| The charm OF home is gone, and the mental and
| spiritual needs of the household are sacrificed,
and that home, instead of being helper, il a
| hindrance in the work of eievating the human
race. This county fnir is to promote the public
welfare, and not to serve personal greed or gain.