The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-03

selfish Caroliuiao is that the dear old
CITY. so fragrant with the memories of
she days of yore. may grow stropge:
and her prosperity become more assured
as they roll on.
This 19,h century in which we live,
has witnessed the most remarkable
changes 10 the history Of the civilized
world, but nowhere are these changes
more wonderful than in our Own couo-
try. From an infant a century ago 1t
has in that short space of time attained
the statue Of a giant The territory
ceded by Virginia. the purchase OF
Louisiana aud Florida, the annexation
of Texas and cessiou Of California
opened up new fields Of enterprise, and
population began to pour into the vii.
deruess and have converted 1t into q
garden. while steam supplanting human
energy, has developed the whole of that
magnificent domain. and cities have
sprung into existence which are des-
tined to exercise a wonderful influence
upon our future The Old World has
emptied its millions into that vast Sec
ton ::and people Of every European
nation and tongue with diverse ideas
and habits have Aocked tbither. and
impaired to many of its cities tenden-
cy to communism and anarchy. produc-
tive of serious apprehension. Chicago,
St. Louis. Omaha. Denver aud Sao
francisco are rivalling the cities of the
Atlantic Coast and in the rapid increase
Of their population. extent OF their
trade and railroad connections are des-
tiued In the near future to control that
great Western world; the effects Of
which no political prophet can foreteli.
The cities of the North aud West, more
especially than these OF the South, be-
cause of their wealth, are the centres
where originate the great financial
schemes, syndicates and enterprises.
which have organized banks, factories,
railroads, and opened mp mines. aud
navigated oceans and rivers. This
combination Of capital presents most
serious problem, as octopus-iike. it
threatens to absorb the great factors Of
national power and individual liberty.
The startling effect Of the growth of
our cities is strikingly set forth BY Rev.
Josiah Strong in that remarkable book
of his. "Our Country" and no one can
read his chapter on this subject without
experiencing feeling of alarm for our
future.
Their growth 10 population and
wealth has been out Of proportion. to
that of country districts, aud the
tendency is to flock to them, to the
dimunition of agricultural pursuits,
With their healshful. physical aud
mental effects. Tbither congregate TOO
the foreign immigrant, with his i'll
developed ideas Of our institutions.
while political bossism finds in them its
fullest realization. and the rule Of
corrupt rings has at times run riot.
There is to be found eougested wealth
aud degraded poverty; the rich grow
ing richer aud the poor poorer. Henry
George. with power Of expression
which Ithurial-like gilds and beauties
the dryest subject, has in his Progress
and Poverty, borne testimony to the
baleful effects Of our great Northern
aud Western cities on the condition of
their people. What is to be the out
come Of increasing population and
their conges,ed condition and power Of
combined capital. is an iusoluble prob
lem. How long can popular govern
meut withstand them; for if as has been
wisely said 1.-THE fundamental idea of
popular government. is the distribution
Of power, and it has been the struggle OF
liberty for ages to wrest power from the
hsnds of Que or the few and lodge it in
the hands Of many aud the central
lieu pUHSl VI euCoC Vttt0o 10 w Hoo-'0S
where is the end to be? Their inau-
ence is we'll nigh dominant in the State
Legislation of the North and West,
aud is extending to the Halls Of
Congress. Their impress, financially
and industrially is most potent. aud the
policy Of the government has been IN
great measure in accord with their
ideas; aud the interest OF the East has
iu too many instances been developed IN
opposition to those of the South and
West. In consequence thereof there is
among the agricultural elements, nota-
bly, of these sections, an unhappy state
of unrest and dissatisfaction and for
which feeling there has been unfortu-
nately too often, good ground. The
masses Of the people are 10 state Of
ferment and it Is the sheerest folly to
pooh pooh this condition of affairs, and
attribute it to the arts of the demagogue
or political huckster alone They may