The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-24
THE MEN OF THE PLOW.
THE HOPE OF THE REPUBLIC

DR.: Hawthorne Ircachcs to the Ma
Country is the Fountain SOURCE OF
National Prosperity.
DR.. j. B. Hawthorne preached to tho
Farmers National Congress during its
recent session in Atlanta, The dis
course was pitched on high ground,
and he declared that all national pros
perlty rested upon the shoulders OF the
farmer, and that love and selfsacrifice
should be tho dominating principle of
his life.
The following is the sermon based
on the fourth and fifth verses of tho
second chapter of PHILIPPIANS
"TeXt, Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on tho
things of others. Let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus
Tho First Baptist Church of At
lanta welcomes to her temple of wor-
ship the Farmers National Congress.
We extend to these leaders in the most
important industry of tho world our
heartfelt sympathy and invoke upon
thcm the guidance Of infinite wisdom
In all their legitimate undertakings.
Beneath this roof we would have them
feel that they are in the house of their
friends and as much at home as If they
wore in their own distant sanctuaries.
Agriculture Is, and ever will be.
| the basis of all other material interests.
10 foster this industry is to befriend
every othor industry and to cripple it
Is to impair every activity which con
tributes to- the welfare of the people.
The race could possibly live without
manufacturers, or merchants. or dent
| lists, physicians. or lawyers, or even
without politicians, but without the
farmer it would soon become extinct
The absolutely essential thing for
very human being is bread. and the
production OF that is the vocation of
the farmer. 10 legiSlate against him
ls to weaken the very foundation of
every lawful and useful industry.
- Nine-tonthS of the men who have
risen to enviable distinction were born
and reared outside of the Cities The
majority of them were born in farm
houses and had some actual experience
in cultivating the soil. Look into the
catalogues of our American colleges
and you will find that ninc-tenths of
the medalists and first honor gradu-
atcs were from the country and coun-
try villages. Without the new blood
country in less than fifty years the
cities would be intellectually impover-
lshed. Without Il constant infusion
or men and women from country
churches religion in the cities would
degenerate into the deadest Journalism.
Let agriculture flourish, country
school houses multiply and country
churches continue to be true to the
faith and worship of our country faith
ers and mothers and our nation will be
safe, prosperous and happy.
" In selecting subject for this oc-
caslon l could think of none that would
be more helpful to us than the one
presented in the text An unseltish
ana self-denying concern for the well
fare Of our FELLOW man, the only SOL
vent Of our social problems.'
"Socicty will never get rid of its
discord and strifcs and enter upon a
career OF abiding peace and prosperity
until it Is permeated by the spirit and
controlled hy the principle expressed
in this passage. AS communities and
nations drift away from the great law
Of benevOlcnce which Christ taught
and which was illustrated in all He
said and did and suffered, their de-
pravity increases and their social con-
ilicts and calumitics multiply. Any
legislation that cOntravcnes the law OF
Christ contained in His great Sermon
ing but social evil
~ We speak the words Of truth and
sobcrness when we say that the power
which propels the wheels of our pres
cnt civilization is not love, hut greed
| In politics and commerce there is Il
premium on shrcwdncss and dcception
Unswerving honesty and true Chris
tian generosity are snecred at as vir-
tues TOO sublimatcd and ETHEREAL to be
practlced by creatures who wear earth
about them, and who have to graphic
with such prosaic questions az What
| shall eat, what shall | drink, and
where withul shall be clothed o
a civilization that is based solely
upon sclf-ntcrest, and that mapnifics
and rewards mon who succeed by their
superior cunning, has no power within
itself to secure Justice. There is moth
ing that needs saving so much as a
civilization that is guided by no great
ethical principle, and that marches on
without any regard for God and His
ri::htcorsncss. The country that
boasts OF such q civilization is on the
nigh road to anarchy, nihilism and bar.
burism.
Civilization is not q cause, but an
effect 1t Is tho product Of human
character. 1t expresses the good and
cFtl III Inc ncarGS OF The people who
support it. Any government is just
what tho people make it. If a state or
municipal government legalizes or
toleratcs such an iuiquty as a bull
fight. or gambling house, or barroom,
I'm indecent theatrical exhibition, it is
because the people are depravcd
enough to desire it, II Arkansas is
the only State in the union that will
| allow two such rullians as Corbett and
FiiZsmmons to invade it and engage
in prize fight, it is because the Gov
ornor and his subordinatcs believe that
the people of their State are more de-
graded than the people of any other
section OF our country.
The fountain OF any civilization is
in the character Of the people. II the
civilization Is corrupt, it is because
corruption regns in tho hearts of the
people. This being true civilization
can bo clcansed only by cleansing tho
people.
:" AS long as the people have but lit
tie moral sensibiity and feeble ap.
probation of tho distinctions which
God makes between right and wrong,