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

One laudsble purpose is to drive out the scrub
stock from our feds and put In their place the
pure blooded animals, whose size and symmetry
challenge our wonder and admiration. An
other Is TO exhibit the best products of the
farm and thus stimulate the procurement
of the best seeds and the best fruits.
The latest invention in labor-savine machinery
is placed under the notice, and within his reach,
to give man the chance to tighten the burdens
of his life, and to save him from the wear and
toll of SO much manual labor. To awaken the
desire of mankind TO procure the best or every
thing for their comfort and profit; to cultivate
the arts and stimulate the handiwork of those
who make the beauty aud comfort of our homes
the principal study of their lives these are
few OF the ostensible objects Of county fair.
They are enough, in themselves, to repay, an
hundred fold, all the time and money spent to
promote the growth and permanency of such
organization When it 10 conducted, not only
in accordance with the laws of the State. but
also IN accord with the highest aud best con-
ceptions of morality and justice. then it may
force in every sense CO Of the '' word.
It may be sometimes that they have been
misapprehended and msmsnaesd as to be
schools OF vice and wickedness. but these are
the rare exceptions.
Let Us 90 back now three-quarters OF a CEN
tury. We can better appreciate our present
privileges and opportunities by brief review
OF the difficulties our fathers had to overcome to
attain them. This rich county Of Owen was
then an unknown forest Ii wore out one gen.
sIstion TO cut down the trees. burn the logs,
and grub the underground, and fence In the
cleared patches. The rext generation pulled
cot the stumps and took down the old cabins,
erected better houses and barns, opened the
roads and built school-houses and churches.
The present generation have given rs the turn
pike. the railroad and general improvement or
the farms, having the use OF machinery and Ia
bor-ssving implements that the first two genera
t.11 49, Ia lnIr - Nav have
also given Us the daily newspaper, the public
library, institutes for teachers Institutes for
farmers, county fairs, colleges, universities aud
many other educational and eleyat-
ing forces for the betterment of
the condition Of the generation to come
after Us. In the early times there was but little
time. or opportunity, FOR any organized effort
for mental or moral Improvement. Alone in his
cabin, distant from any neighbor. the hardy
pioneer and his family lived. He had no higher
ambition than to protect. and provide for the
comfort OF those he loved. He had TO contend
with :he wild beasts of the forests, the reptiles
OF the swamp, and the savage Indian. who dis
puted his title 70 his homs and his right to live
In the forest. He had the courage and the grit
TO face aud conquer them all. The only enemy
that unnerved him. and made him tremble. and
robbed him OF hope, and filled him with inde-
scribable despair, was the Indiana ague. that
shook him ND worse than earthquake But
the second generation had better compre-
hension OF the situation. and more ability to ap-
ply the remedy and legislation was had to drain
the ponds and malaria producing swamps Of the
State, and the farmer supplemented the good
work by putting in the under-drain,
and the stsenant water and the ague-
the one producing the other-took to the under
ground ditch, and babe farewell to the
Eoosier pioneer Then health and hope came to
the brave men, and roses and rnd diness to the
pale and faded faces of the women of Indiana,
and our State came to the front, and has been
there ever since one Of the very best places
In the world for health, happiness and prosperi-
ty. When the time shall come TO crown him
who has been the greatest benefactor TO our
State-ths poets who have written themselves
down as equal to the best 10 the world or song,
the great orators who have been second 10 mono
the world has ever heard, the statesmen, who. by
their wisdom and far-seeine comprehension Of
the duties and scope OF good government and
who have tskon their sure Place in history and
added SO much lustre to the fair fame of Indi-
anA-these will all be passed by, and the modest
man in his shirt sleeves, with the drain tile In
his hand that he himself invented, will be called
to tae front, and on his modest brow will DO
placed the jeweled crown. All hail the tile ditch
and the genius who conceived 1.-THE one
As the benefactor, the other ss the
bensdiction TO our glorious Commonwealth.
We, of to-day, are reaplng the rich aud abun-
dsut haryests that have come TO rs from the
thrift and energy of those who have gone be-
fore as
But with all these blessings has come curse.
The rapid appreciation OF the value of our
lands, making men rich almost before they were
aware Of il. has begotten a monsy-gett:ns spirit
that Is q reproaeh TO our religion, and blot on
our civilization. Like the children OF Israel,
Aarou's golden calf has more attraction for rs
than Moses with the Commandments OF the
Lord. This mercenary spirit Ia deadening our
moral sensibilities Frustrating our self-respect,
and Is the most formidable obstacle TO the for
ward march of human progress 1t IS corrupt
ing our politics. and boodlezing our legislation.
q - haiti sh,r, md oh h1 U for ha
real and substantial IL is besmearnR trade
and traffic with the slime Of falsehood and dis
honesty. 1t IS bringing man, with
his great mental and spiritual epdowmerts,
what Is right, aud just, and the contemplation
OF what is duty, TO the lower calculations OF
what will pay. 1t effaces the divine image from
his soul, extinguishes conscience, expels love
and sympathy from his heart, and then sends
him forth q selfish demon to prey on his fellow
men, 1t dethrones God and deifes mammon. 1t
Is arraying labor against capital and capital
against labor. They stand facing each other
with grim antagonism each seeking TO get gain
by the destruction Of the other. when, in fact,
one il powerless without the help of the other.
The great English poet, Robert Pollock, thus
describes the thirst for gold:
fold many hunted sweat and bled for gold;
Walked all the night, and labored all the day.
And what was this allurement, dost thou asd
A dust dug from the bowels Of the earth,
Which beng cast into the FIRE. came out
A shining thing that fools admired, and called
god; and in devout aud humble plight
Before it kneeed, the greater TO the less;
And on its altar sacrificed ease, peace,
Truth. faith, integrity. good conscience. friends
Love. charity, benevolence and all
The sweet and tender sensibties Of life;
And to complete the Horrid. murderous rite.
And signalize their folly offered up
Their souls and eternity of bliss
To gain them WHAT An hour of dreaming Joy;
feverish hour, that hasted to be done,
And ended III the bitterness of woe.
While industry cannot be too strongly COM
mended or laZiDess too vigorously condemned,
and while IL is virtue to be provident aud
economical yet 10 live merely for the accumula-
ton Of wealth IS misconceptop of the value
and dignity of human existence. Wealth % a
means in reaching higher aims in life is good
As an end for which life is given IL 10 nothing
yes worse than nothing Because if its aceumu-
lation il the sole propulsive force of mans life
he exists on the lowest possible plane He may
have hac all that wealth could purchase for him;
he may have had what the world accredits a
great success ne may have had all the flattery
that comes from such "a success from those on
the same low plane with himself but his soul at
last will be as barren a desert il he has never
wiped q tear from the face of the weeping or
planted a new JOY in she heart of the Responding.
he has really known nothing Of the exquisite
venee of an enemy l would crave above all
things 10 be able to invoke power that might
fan into perpetual fame this mercenary spirit
until it had consumed, as it always does, all the
tender eympathies, and scared over and deadened
all monitions of conscience, and in the end of
life left him without friends. without hope,
without God. alone with his riches-a poor M a "a