New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
WESTERN MEN.
A PHILOsOPHIC VIEW OF THEM
NOT DIFFERENT FROM THEIR RELATIVES IN
OTHER PARTS or THE woRLD-THE REAL
CONSERVATISM THE WEST

IRE so quick 10 cenSure Wnole populauonS IN a
lump ever consider how little change takes place
in any given race of men. Without an absolute
evolution in the blood that destroys identity it
,rsserves age after age. the temper and the
,ualitIes with which 1t first appeared in history.
The extreme illustrations Of this fact. like the
lows the Chinese, the Arabs. the Gypses
ore often thought of exceptions. But they
are simply noteworthy examples under a rule
which is universal.
The rule Is one which demands attention in the
,,,dst Of agitatons that array section against
section In the United States. 1t is easy to talk
osssimism when confronted by a fiat money
craze or when startled by violent riots almost
hr enough to be rebellions In Cincinnati or
chicago or Cleveland. II is easy 10 throw up
ones hands in amazement and to wonder what
ls 10 become of the West. 1t is easy to say
,ha, some vast change has begun in the nature
=, the Teutons and Celts in the Mississippi Val
lay 10 separate them from their relatives east
~ the AYeghanies and across the Atlantic
Ocean There is an element of humor in this
For a little observation shows that these West
ern Celts and Teutons are just chips OF the old
blocks. reproducing with almost ridiculous fdel-
NV even the foibles Of the races to which they
belong.
On the whole they doing better to-
ysther than they ever have before since
caesar had his trouble with them along
the Rhine and down the slopes OF Gaul
Take notice that these races have always
been near neighbors. II the Celt moved
Westward the Teuton was always right at his
heels The dawn of history finds them hghtng;
and its last recorded chapter shows them shak-
ing their fists at each other occasionally across
the Franco-German border or from the opposing
coasts Of the Irish Sea. Only in the American
West have they really settled down together IN
such way that IL is hard 10 tell which Is wnlch.
For these there are no fOrays over disputed
border no calling of the clans at dead OF nlsh''
no butchery of Chevy Chase no ballads OF the
Percy and the Douglass. They are friends now
&C they have never been before. and their har-
monv is hardly broken for moment even on
the lveiest s.. Patrick's Day or az the re-
mnder Of Boyne Water
Nevertheless. they bear the marks of their an
cestry both near and remote. Even in their most
characteristics ways Of defying the law they are
inst what their forbears were in similar circum
stances. II it were required to say what were
.ba Distinctive vrong-doings of the Scotch-Irish
of the Aneghanies the answer would be blood
feuds lvnchings and the Illicit making of
vhskey Well, what were the characteristic
wrong-doings Of their Scottish ancestry not so
very long ago, characteristics that were pro-
verbal? They were-the feud, handed down
from sire TO son for generations and renewed by
fre1uent murders: the tradition OF Jeudart JUS
tice. hanging a man and trying him ai'er he
was dead: and the working OF the hiddeh
whiskey stills. That Scotland no longer mas
these peculiar evils is proof not OF chahge III
The reonle but only in the conditions under
which they live. Ancient tendencies are IN aoey-
ancn Rut they are not done away with. Ihere
IS proof enough of this not only in America
but in Australia. OF the traits OF the lrish-
man the Celt par excellence. 1t is neeuless
10 say more than that they have not changed
Even those who dislike him will be the hrs' u
admit this As TO the modern German VIII
renresents only one branch Of the Teutonc race,
he is on the whole striving 10 keep hinlseH III
line with his ancestry. In Ohio. in Illinois in
Wisconsin he is doing as he has done for gen.
erations in Pennsylvania. He tries to keep his
language and his religion and his habits Of eat
ing and drinking lust as they came TO him.
Whatever else is said OF him he cannot he ac-
cused of a lack Of conservatism. 1t will always
he known where he can he found. There may
come time when Americans everywhere Will
be glad that the German farmer class in this
country Yields slowly to a new environment
more slowly even than the Allegheny noun
taineers who are still almost where their scotch
Irish ancestors were 20) years ago.
1t has never before been the lot Of single
generation, or. at most, OF two generations 10
exhaust the novelty of continent. Europe Is
not so very much larger than the United States
But II took thousands of years for the ciiviliza-
ton Of the South to penetrate and subdue It's
forests II that slow movement In the Old World
had its disadvantages the rapidty Of American
DEVELOPMENT has it's drawbacks also Nlthh
half century the Western States east OF the
Mississippi River have advanced from the era OF
log cabins and newly cleared farms TO a pract-
cal equality with the older communities east OF
tho mountains. This has not been accomplished
without an expenditure Of vitality that startles
the imagination. The young Western communi-
ties have not only borrowed capital from older
soc,etiss. they have borrowed life itself from
The future This debt will have TO be PAID back,
and there is no device known to science or politics
,ha,,cap tighten or put off the obligation. Ma
ture will say some time to the people Of the
United States: See the law written in my book
-action and reaction are equal. Your great
erandfathers went very fast you will have TO go
slow or go backward.
With tho exception of the Scotch-Irish pioneers
who formed the first line Of settlers In the west
from the heart of the Northwest Terrtosy 10
Georgia. the decisive immigration was that from
the Eastern and Middle States. This was OF Eng
lsh and therefore Teutonic stock. The pecuiiafi-
ties Of this stock both in the Old Country ana the
New. ever since the outbreak against the Stuar's'
have been inventiveness in politics. IN Social
affairs. in economies and in religion; readiness
TO support what was supposed to be REFORM anu
violence in defence OF alleged rights lheif I"o'e
ment westward across the face or the Chi'eu
States has been marked at intervals py INC Jul
crop OF the fiat-money heresy. Between .'e
French war and the Revolution wheh hu'o"'
son, afterward Colonial Governor, hao sec"'0"
the payment of large sum In silver 'hat was
due from England 10 Massachusetts BAY '"e''
u,as a nartu in the colony so anxious for an IN