The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-13
THE MOVEMENT TO THE CITY.

The Boston Evening Transcript, in
discussing the growth of cities, thus
lightly introduces the subject: In the
north the movement toward the city has
long been noted 1t has become an old
story, and is accepted as one of the gov
erning conditions of population
If 1.-The movement towards the city"
must be accepted as one of the govern
ing conditions of population" then the
existence of our civilization depends
simply upon the strength and efficiency
of our police, and it will be only ques-
ton of time when they will become pow
erless.
The rush toward the cities must be
stopped by legislation which will correct
! the cause.
In the north where this governing
condition" is recognized, they are trying
to import a class of people who can live
on next to nothing, to take up the aban-
doned farms and the very paper from
which the above is taken urges upon
some of its rich readers, to take up the
farms, as country residences, as they can
be had for the taxes.
Now, if the farms of New England can
be had for the taxes, it is certain that
they must be taxed out of all proportion
to their value or to the corresponding
value of the business enterprises Of the
cities of that region, and that is evident
lv one of the causes of the movement
towards the city.
In the city we have for our interests
the protection of organization and sys-
tented work which will often tell
surprisingly against superior numbers.
If, therefore, the numbers begin to be at
all equal the agriculturist of the coun-
try will certainly feel the effect, for al
though the argument may be brought
up that what affects the agriculturist,
indirectly affects the rest of the people,
and that in that fact there is the best
guarantee of the protection of that in
dustry, yet men are proverbially more
influenced by temporary advantages
than by distant aims, and the major part
of humanity would hesitate to forego a
direct personal advantage because they
might suffer from the indirect effects of
the custom or habit induced thereby.
In view of these conditions, that are
serious enough in themselves, the organ
izatiOn of the rural community into
society for the purpose of arresting this
tendency and restore the farm and coun-
try home to its wanted attractiveness
and make the tilling of the land a source
of profit and pleasure, could not but
meet with universal congratula- |
ton and encouragement. But when
such organization is diverted
to the contrary purpose of teaching
young men the arts of the politician and
the demagogue, which teaching tends to
divert the mind and heart of the young
into another and foreign channel and
one that will inevitably lead them away
from the paths of industrious and hon
orable lives to become in a measure a !
charge upon the community at large, !
too strong and vigorous language can |
not be used in cOndemning such mis-
taken policy and in warning all, espec- |
tally the young, against being deceived |
thereby and led away to their injury and |
the hurt of the state and nation.
Boys, young men, stay on the farm.
There is room for you in the city, to be
sure, but nine chances to one it is not
such room as you would wish to occupy
or could with credit and profit to your
self and country.