Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-06-11


in the United States.
Twenty years ago the prese, the
public, and the practical farmer were
wont to speak slightingly OF scientific
farmers" and "book farming" The
tone has changed and today it is one
OF profound respect. Indeed l often
think that the coming difficulty is
that the farmer with other people
will expect and demand too much of
science.
The statements above are intended
merely as illustrations of a marked
tendency. 1t is not confined to The
farming class. It does not pertain to
any class IN the community. 1t per-
vades all classes. 1t manifests itself
IN the Chautauqua movement, which
is certainly one Of the wonderful
things OF our time, In the university
extension movement, in the phenomen-
al circulation Of literature of high
! order, and in countless other ways.
As DR.. Harris, the United States COM
missioner of education, says, 1--WE are
coming to be a nation at school,"
The old idea OF the school is chang
ing. Once it was place to get an
education. Now it is coming to be
! regarded as the place to get the pre-
paration for the education which
comes later from reading aud from
contact with men. This other educa-
ton is becoming more and more wide
ly diffused, and the farming commun-
tiles as well as others are utilizing its
benefits. do not mean to say that
we are passing through an education
al revolution, though | am not sure
but even that statement would be u
correct one. Nor do | urge that the
change is greatly affecting every
member of the farming class or any
other class. The point is that very
large number are receiving benefits
from this forward movement, and
that the number is rapidly increasing,
80 rapidly that in many communities
it amounts to an intellectual renals-
sance; and there is hope that it will
become more and more prevalent
throughout the United States. "-EG
We are so near to the all-important
National Conventions that the country
Is IN the attitude of strained expect
ancy that the American public as
sumes every four years. There is no
more remarkable evidence of Ameri-
can buoyancY than that shown by the
rapidity with which the country finds
it's equilibrium after its periodic four
years upheaval, Foreigners wonder
that business interests can stand the
strain of continually varying legisla-
ton, That they can and do Is only
one more fact in proof of the asser-
ton that no old world presidents can
apply to the course of events in this
country. There have been few times
in our history when the possible plat
forms adopted by the two great part
les were 80 much a matter of discus
sion and surmise. The currency is
sue with its side of "free silver" seems
to be more a question Of locality than
of party. In March, Senator Morrill,
of the Finance Committee attempted
to secure consideration of the
House Bill which increased the tariff.
The vote of the Senate was 33 against
considering the bill in opposition to
% for considering it. The democratic
and populists senators voted against
consideration and were joined by re-
publican senators from the west
This showed break in the republic.
can ranks which would seem to indl-
cate that protective tariff could not
again be a part of the republican
platform. If the national campaign
of 1896 should degenerate into a
"men instead of measures" fight it
would be long step backwards from
the degree of fine intelligence that
has been showd in previous cam
paigns. That neither of the two
great parties has a well.deined ma
tional policy is painfully evident, and
the country awaits their declarations
OF party principles with intense in-