The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-04-04
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Written for the Democratic Advocate,
BY MEMO

Rome was saved by the cackling of geese, who thus
awakened the drowsy sentinels in time to repulse
the stealthy approaches of the enemy.
All history of the past carries lesson to the pres
ent What then have we here?
In Washington's time the population of this coun-
try with the exception Of three per cent, was rural
The subduing OF luxuriant nature. the clearing OF
tangled forests the raising OF crops the hunting of
wild beasts and lighting for liberty absorbed the
energies of a nation of farmers From his day
until the present there has been steady proper
tional increase in urban populations The fact That
one-third of all vast populations now gathered
within town or city limits will show how marked
this transition has been.
A crowded population complicates government
tremendously. Vast aggregations of human beings
bring about new crimes, new needs new strainings.
Ideduce then a negation from the stories of Samson
and of Rome We have no authority 10 expect
power from either asses or geese for grapping win
The problems of increasing completely in our repub
lie
write unto you young men because you are
strong Think Il moment on what confronts this
nation Every thirty years of our national exist
enee has witnessed a doubling of our population
In all likelihood the CO. of 1890 will be grown
to 10000, 900 in 1920. Upon the shoulders of you
young men the government will then be resting
and dominion will be under your feet. The pro-
tectors of Rome and the weapon of Samson will
help you but little.
You will have 10 think clearly and prepare wisely
for these burdens Of government that are as surely
coming upon you as old age. You win be called upon
to be doors of deeds and not mere dreamers ofthem
mans ability to paddle the air with his jawbone
will t him for filling pneumatic tires but will unfit
him for The problems of the future.
A nation of farmers knows no hunger; nation
OF city workers is never far removed from starva-
ton The farmer laughs the blizzard to scorn, and
holds the cold In derision: for hath he not barrels
below stairs wen filled and fragrant? The artisan
knows no peace when his livelihood is withdrawn.
week sees his margin. of savings diminished
second week and his credit is questioned, a third
week and he begins to pawn, fourth week and he
Is an object of charity. The increasing crowds of
competitors will increase his problems; the increas
ing mouths on decreasing wages will make him
almost ravenIng wolf You government bearers
Of the future meet him not with the trumpeting Of
goose, or tho wagging OF jaw. If he ask bread
will you tender him a stone?
When few small men can control the necessi-
ties of nation, and at turn of the hand or the
nod of a head fitch extra millions from the pockets
InOse VINO lIlt lOSs
to buy in small quantities at exOrbtant rates you
controllers of the future must match brains against
brains, lofty purpose against gnoble and selfish.
Don Quixote charging wildly windmills. the
children crusaders moved down by the Saracens
the old woman sweeping back the waves with
broom, were none of them more pitiable in their
nefciency than you rulers of the future will appear
if you undertake behalfQf the many battle with
the organized and entrenched few, panoplied your
self only with the strut of gander and the awbone
Of Baalam's Saviour
We burn in our stoves the solidified sunshine of
ages ago. we sustain our physical burdens as men
upon the excess energy stored away through our
childhood's gambols and nourishing food; we enjoy
robust minds from having subjected them to train
ing in youth. As well expect coal without sun
shine, strength without food mental power with
out study, as to expect without preparation, seri-
and long, ability for governing peoples and di-
rectilg the destinies of nations. Do we hatch
turtle dove from the egg of q crocodile? Is the
mother ofa lion a eve? Truly not Neither do we
dare to predict great and capable statesman after
a youth and manhood of pOt-house swilling and
eorner-grocery loafng and story swapping. Men
do not gather the fruits of honorable from
the brambles Of dishonorable excess.
Recognize the truth, young men. that trimming
position. People do not now spring fullarmored
out of the head of Jove. In the first place. and sec
pnd and third love Is out Of date. What we gain
We have 10 gain bya painful and slow but enduring
process ofaccretion.
Municipalities, with their teeming millions
towns with problems Of their own also cry aloud
for trained and capable and noble men to guide
their affairs The coming thirty years must wit
ness an immense improvement in the management
Of municipalities or America win fall hopelessly
behind the continent Of Europe. Where the cities
abroad have trained experts we have worthless
political hsngers-on and bummers. These Augean
stables must be cleaned and by you young men be-
cause You are strong
What are the responsibilities you face? To main
tain liberty gained by blood and stress and self
denial; to perpetuate and strengthen republic
built on the grandest principles of human aspira-
tons, but having no selfperpetuative power, save
as honorable and noble men S1stain it; to be some
body. Avaunt all geese and asses We will not
have such to save the republic. We are not yet re-
duced to the straits OF the Romans and the Hebrews
Make room for mem
There IS grandeur; there is awesome infu-
enee in great mountain standing up alone defiant
of storm and unchanged by sunshine. II is assert
iveness solidifed; up beyond the timber.line it
pushes its way, then even the liehens are left be-
hind and at last its over-towerng height is formed
only of cold, unyielding rock and the everlasting
SHOWS. Is there comfort and courage in gazing at
III Only when we are in certain. moods of doubt
as TO the endurance of the almighty in whose hands
it has been but dust More frequently this vast
inert, immovable mass depresses one. 1t is too
strong. too lasting, too independent TO comfort
little pygmies upon whose numberless generations
1t has frowned down indiferently. Before we
came it cared not. After we are gone it will care
not Itsheart is stone. Hearts Of flesh yearn for
hearts of flesh
ever and forever the Skies whether they be pam
oplied by the day shrouded by the night, Before
man was 1t is There Is no comfort in 1t. 1t is in
liquid picture the ceaseless stream of humanity,
forced relentlessly on to the final plunge from
which none return ever. We gaze at its glorious
fall and are nothing to it. Whether we linger or
depart 1t carries on its one insensate duty of obedi
ence to gravitation There is feeling of kinship
to thing so vastly enduring, and vastly iidifer
ent Its heart is cold. Hearts filed with warm
blood yearn for their kind.
The great inanimate things of nature can stand
alone. But we cannot, perhaps because we are not
great. and certainly because we are animate with
hearts that CULVER with pain. or bleed with sorow
or rejoice in hope or yearn for fellowship. The
man who stands aloof from us all. Indifferent
mountain and relentless as Niagara, is a monster
and no man.
Next summer gaze out upon wheat-feld and
read its lesson. gentle wind viii break a stalk
that stands alone. Look on the whole nodd
ing expanse. The summer zephyrs stir 1t only into
rich golden nndulations and none are laid low. A
rude wind arises and the stalks toss wildly in the
air like pillows in mid Atlantic. but when 1t has
passed they again stand gently moving in the sum
mer sun, making glad the heart of the farmer and
promising power to hungry humanity.
How slow Of heart we sometimes are. We relapse
TO the savagery OF the stoueage when the enemy of
every man was the very next man he happened to
meet We think it noble to be independent OF
everyone else and we set our mouths as firm as
Caesars We delnde ourselves; in our complex
civilization tand who would thrust us backward