The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-10-07
Our Minor Cities.

The New York Evening Post, says-Yir-
ginia AID half of the States in the Union
combined show no more cities OF over ZO,OOu
inhabitants than are to be found IN Massa-
cbusetts. This fact is not readily apparent
from the census bulletins thus far issued, as
in none of them are cities having a less popu-
lation than rs, 900 ranged according to their
unconditional rauk The fact is also so sur
prising that few persons will believe it without
proof But there is no place at all with so
MANY inhabitants rs 10000 in nine States,
viz, Vermont. Florida, Mississippi, Nevada,
Montana. Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota
and South Dakota. Nine States again have
each no more than one town numbering over
10000 people. Those States are New lamp
shire. Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana,
Arkansas and Oregon. Four other States
viz, Maine, Nebraska, Colorado and Wash
ington count each only two cities that have
passed the e, 900 limit. These three classes
Of States amount TO twenty-five, that Is, 10
half the whole number of the United States,
and seventeen is the total of their cities with
each a census upwards of 10000. Twenty
such cities. however, are in the roll OF Massa-
chuseits. These are Boston, Worcester,
Lowell, Fall River, Cambridge, Lynn, Law
renee, Springfield, New Bedford, Somervile,
Holyoke, Salem, Chelsea, Haverbill; Brock
ton, Taunton. Gloucester, Newton, Maiden,
Fitchburg. Three cities of this size, and no
more, appear in the census of Virginia, VIZ,
Richmond, Norfolk and Petersburg.
WE'LL what significance does the Post
attach to this array of facts and figures
from the census bulletins? Docs the Post
deduce from these statistics any superiority
in Massachusetts over the other States OF
the Union? Is the existence Of any mum
Der of cities within the boundaries OF any
State an evidence of its superiority over
the other States of the Union? 1t would
be erroneous TO accept such conclusion
It is the written opinion of many statesmen
and philosophers that rural population is
preferable To an urban-ihat every virtue
that ennobles citizenship predominates in
the country over the city. w: need not
90 to Greece and Rome, and to the teach
ings of their sages, for the expression OF
an opinion that history itself afiirnns, but
We find its expression among the writings
of the statesmen and philosophers of our
own country and times. A concensus Of
opinion will be found on this subject among
the most eminent American us well as
English authors. That eminent statesman
and profound political philosopher, Thomas
Jefferson, said that "a great city is great
sore upon the body polite" In cities
have been Matched the eonspiracies and
revolutions that have barrassed aud deci-
mated mankind There have been general
ed the enormous corruptions and moral
pollutions so rank that they have "smelt
to heaven" and called down upon them a
righteous retribution We need not refer
alone to the "cities Of the planes, but to
other cities whose corruptions have obi
terated them from the face of the earth
and left naught but their names as a mem
orial that they ever had existence. Where
is Nineveh, where Palmyra, Baalbec and
Babylon, and others Of more modern origin,
which might be cited in proof Of this posi-
ton? Gone TO pay the penalty OF the
moral tnrpitude which ultimately worked
out their ruin. ''An honest yeomanry is
their country's PRIDE and it may be added
the safeguard Of its liberties, its life, its
wellbeing. That Massachusetts, has "A
number of cities of 10000 population and
over, is not surprising, when the causes
that have led to this result are taken into
the account. If any State in the Union
ought to have pro$pered and increased IN
wealth and population, that State is Aassa-
chusetts. She is the heart and centre OF
New England, and the beneficiary of that
poliey. which almost from the inception
of the Union, has tended to foster and
develope that part of our common coun-
try. That policy comprises our tariffs,
navigation laws, our fishing bcunties, all
Of which Massachusetts has had the adj
dress to apply to her own benefit. Hence
she could do no less than prosper. We
give her citizens credit for that Yankee
tact and shrewdncss which always looks
out for ''number one, but beyond that,
we know not that they are entitled to any
commendation above the people of Other
parts Of the Union. Let the Ne'e Yorb
Eveaing Post try again.