St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-16
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY "NEMo."
(Copyrighted.)

Copyrighted
AT n moment when thousands of acres
are under water and stock and lives in
great danger along the Mississippi val
ley, it is most opportune to emphasize
the old-time statement that mo man
liveth to himself" When the pioneer of
the empire of free-men first swung his
axe in the virgin forests of the Missis-
sppi basin by his strength and by fire,
he swept away the obstacles to planting
until the land lay bare under the sky.
His need and his right none will dispute.
But where one led, thousands followed,
each working his will independently and
se6sbly, as though there were no
natural laws to be considered. The
result we see. Where millions of acres
were once covered by spongy flooring
of leaves and the interwinings of roots,
all uniting to hold back the waters of
the rains and of the thawing SHOWS,
open fields lie, like spendthrifts, retaining
but traction Of the blessing showered
upon them and promptly needing more.
The steadily flowing streams of the past
become now furious torrents in the
spring and dry water courses in summer.
Thoughtful men declare that the only
remedy lies in the gradual return OF
decided proportion of the cleared land to
a wooded condition, or, in other words,
they preach the truth that the dweller
on some remote farm, along the banks of
even a minor stream has personal
responsibility upon him in relation to
the welfare and happiness of the distant
valley-dweller. The Mississippi is at this
moment laundering out lesson in
material mutual dependence, that is pro-
claimed less audibly by weeds, insect
pests and diseases.
Nav we not recall the story of Robin
son Crusoe, and from this everlasting
bows favorite draw a lesson that is need
ing more and more to be learned Most
readers will remember that this poor
castaway, with no hope of any human
eve to observe his faithfulness, never
failed to carry out his conscientious
duties towards his Maker, and it is safe
to assume that he would have continued
to do so even if no other human being
had ever set foot on this lonely isle All
the boys-and what are we men but
bows grown older will confess the
thrill of interest that came when Robin
son Crusoe suddenly saw before him a
footprint in the moist sand. AS boys
our chief interest in that footprint was
the possible adventure that it promised
to Crusoe, but, as men, moments
thought will convince us that the dis
covery of fellow creature brought into
play for our hero an entirely new set o
responsibilities. Not only was he com
PEELED to understand that his territor,
would now have to sustain another, bu
there was the possibility that that othe
would do damage to himself in order t.
: gain complete possession. His duty t.
his Creator was not decreased. but dut
to his fellow was super-added. In fact
. Crusoe and Friday formed "a state" il
miniature, and Crusoe had to curb him
self in various ways to display kindess
good will, tact and unselfshness. "
! know how the adventure resulted. FIR
= dav became an orderly and restralne
neighbor because the right sort c
example was set before him. 1t may b
= urged that Crusoe was good to Frida
from selfish motive, but selfish motiv
or not, the way in which Crusoe cor
Quoted himself towards Friday was tn
8 only way in which both could liv
d happily together. When other peopl
came to the island, Crusoe's respons
t bility was still more increased and hi
= duties to his neighbors and their dutit
d towards him became more complicated
g Now for the application. There is II
a such thing as freedom to do as 20
!. please unless you live entirely separat
: from other human beings; and then
: paradoxical thing happens, becau:
u liberty of action is enjoyed alone
becomes a very fiat and uninterestin
possession. No civilization can hol
: together unless the members of it feel
# mutual interest and responsibility o
i to express it still more clearly-whe
a there is the highest degree of social Sc
4. vice there is the most enduring and mo-
y helpful form of government, and, ther
: fore, the highest degree of liberty. Ye
: can doubtless point me to sel6shly pro
= porous periods in the worlds history.
a on the other hand, can demonstrate
/ you that selfish individuals are not Il
y right materiafor an enduring fabric. 1t
J. the fond dream OF Americans that tn
IS great democracy is to go on growit
- grander with the progress OF time. We
A. lieve that it is to demonstrate once and fc
= ever the possibility of people develo
RS ing in condition OF peace and retanil
~ through all their material growth t