The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-03-24
ourFOrun.
THE PEOPLE ARE LEARNING,
Henry Vncent's Reflections While Resting on
the Farm.

IL
the Farm.
Editor Representative:
After the tumult and friction incident
to IL years of constant newspaper service
you will not think it strange that for one
brief season | have taken Through for
the sake OF cultivating an acquaintance
with my little family, and let the country
SAVING process go steadily forwards in
others charge. For once | have had
recess, and down here in this ancient
settlement been communing with nature
and the big-hearted husbandmen here
abouts, saving wood, shocking corn.
helping butcher haul fodder. and any
thing else | cared to turn willing hand
to. The result: good wood-pie, pen
OF fine pigs, happy house-mother. new
sweet, little feminine face, cooling in the
cradle, and the "old man carrying fifteen
pounds more flesh and muscle than for
ten years before
of concern for the old boy. occasioned by
the unpretty things that l hear have been
so generously and copiOusly put forth
from the Parkersburg CIV. Va.) Enter
prise, which | was lured into a connec-
ton with last year. and which | uncere-
moniously left before election for the one
very simple reason that | never had sold
myself and my energies to promote the
interests OF a common enemy, and was
too old to begin now. I could not stand
the presence of Mark Hanna state agent
III the Sanctum. debating the policy OF a
Popuiist campaign, putting up every cent
OF the funds, buying our leaders like cat
tie on the hoof, at whatever figure would
silence them, and in fact owning in fee
simple the party organs, and the officers
OF the committee under whose instruC-
tions | was operating. 17"hew de COOP
and hear my patriotic employers have
not yet recovered from the surprise. And
think OF it-they voted for Peter Cooper!
But they have failed to produce the evil
denCe as to where else this campaign
grease came from than as | have indi-
Gated.
Two days after quit the dispatches
contained confessed statement that the
same common fund had been injected
into the working machinery of my old
paper at Indianapolis | claim to be one
OF the original middle oi-the readers,
but when that policy appeals to the gen
erOus impulses of the financial agents of
John Sherman and his party, it prompt
ly neutralizes all my energies for its sup
port.
And since the two meetings of the re-
form press held last week, it's pretty diff
ticut for fellow like me to exactly de-
fine just where he is at
Country life and scenery afford fire.
quent opportunities for play OF the re-
Elective faculties. For instance, at this
season of the year our country roads are
as densely traversed with loaded teams OF
movers, as in Chicago on Monday each
year. Our tenant population, never so
rapidly on the increase, shifting hither
and yon, where any kind of terms can be
gained for a spot OF ground 10 work ION
shares" usually half to two-thirds. One
day this week heavily-loaded wagon,
hauled by two large. but faded horses,
went up the road. The wagon was COW
cred, through the cover stuck smoking
stovepipe. Cuddled down behind the seat
was a cheerful, yet care-wOrn wife and
four little ones Where were they going ?
God only knew But what attracted my
particular attention, was the sight OF a
little 8xI2 flag, the good old starry en-
blem, tackled up and fluttering in the
breeze. what d1d tnat nag mean 10 the
inmates of the wagon, | at once inquired
to myself, and am asking it yet? No
home. no property but what was in the
load The irony of such display, on a
wagon going west at the same time that
thousands of country saving patriots
were flying toward Washington to wit
ness inaugural ceremonies, was too much
to enjoy alone.
Another thing | noticed this week. AS
the Ohio river is falling, the manufactor-
les that have been inundated for ten days
by the flood are starting up again, and
whole columns OF such announcements
are appearing, only they are worked over
to read as happy tidings OF returning
prosperity" of hundreds of men given
employment at different points, and all
along up. and down the banks OF that
stream, works that were shut down by
the flood, starting up again because Nc
kinley has started for Washington! Why
shouldn't we all cheer up?
But enough of this. Send one-half a
dozen copies OF any back issues, there are
several good thinkers about here. who
will catch on pretty soon, and to help
them do so l am at your service. With
kind regards, yours, Henry Vincent.