Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-11-15

Vol. III.-N0. 80.

repeats ITSELF and if anything is taught by close
perusal of its pages, it is that the agricultural
classes have always been thessafest anchorage for
pure government always acting as a stay or check
upon the more excitable and more easily led deni-
zens Of the cities. Those who think
"Wil watch the wheels of nations May plan,
And know the future by the past of man."
The death blow to all former republics has been
dealt by the great Cities and indications point to
the same danger as menacing the future of our
own country. Mankind when gathered together
in large masses are less given to cool and mature
deliberaton and the exercise of judgment, conse-
quently more liable to blind following of leaders
who can, and frequently do, lead them astray
Their idle hours, owing to the numerous oppor-
tunties for amusement, are more rarely occupied
in reading or reasoning for their improvement.
If such is not true, the general drift of their
thought is in the direction of personal advancement
and the acquisition of individual wealth. or the
effort to equal or excel those whom they see in the
enjoyment of unnatural gains. 1t is otherwise
with the agriculturst; his opportunities for enjoy
ment il his idle moments are few, and he is there
fore more likely. to employ them in the only man
ner accessible, eYiael in study or in reasoning out
in his own mind such problems as have been prom
nently brought to his notice. moreover, he is less
frequently brought in contact and under the in
huence of leaders who might betray his confidence,
and their hold upon him is in consequence less
pronounced. That some cause has operated in
the last ten years to induce the sons Of farmers to
forsake their homes and rush to the centers Of
population is very evident, and that that cause is
detrimental to the interests of republican govern
ment is equally sure. In the effort to analyze
that cause no doubt individuals would widely differ
but any discussion of the subject cannot but tend
to discover and explain the causes and point to
the remedy. We believe the trouble to be owing
to the drift of legislation towards creating oppor-
tunties for the investment of wealth, instead of
fostering its creation. The first tends towards
the accumulation Of speculative wealth in the
hands Of the few, the other to the dissemination
among the many. No doubt it will be claimed by
many that the creation of this speculative wealth
has tended to greater increase than could have
been effected by legitimate means, but that would
be counterbalanced by the fact chat it has drfted
into few hands, which has tended, by the crea-
ton of inordinately large fortunes, to demon
alize the youth in their efforts to emulate such
dazzling examples, and has led to the dangerous
rush to the great cities. That some thoughtful
agrculturists have awakened to the danger and
have the courage of their convictions, has been
proved by their late independent action in the
Northwest, and we are proud that in this new move
in the interest of agriculture many noble women
have been taking an active part, some of them
having gone through the whole campaign doing
excellent work thereby converting to their cause