The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-04-17
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY MEMO.

: emphasize the old time statement that
''no man liveth TO himself.s When
the pioneer of the empire OF free-men,
first swung his axe in the virgin forest
: of the Mississippi 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 selfishly, 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 intertwin-
ings of roots, all uniting to hold back
the waters of the rains and OF the
thawing SHOWS, open fields lie, like
spendthrifts, retaining but fraction
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 wateT-courses in sum-
mer. Thoughtful men declare that
the only remedy lies in the gradual
return of decided portion 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 minor
stream has personal responsibility
upon him in relation to the welfare
and happiness of the distant valley
jewellers. The Mississippi is at this
moment laundering out lesson in
material mutual dependence, that is
proclaimed less audibly by weeds,
insect-pests and diseases.
~
May we not recall the story of
Robinson Crusoe, and from this ever
lasting boys favorite draw lesson
that is needing more and more to be
learned? Most readers will remember
that this poor castaway, with no hope
of any human eye to observe his faith
fulness, 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 his lonely isle. All the boys
and what are we men but boys grown
older?-will confess the thrill of in
terest that came when Robinson Cru
soc suddenly saw before him foot
print in the moist sand. As boys our
chief interest in that footprint was
the possible adventure that it promis-
ed to Crusoe, but, as men, moments
thought will convince US that the dis
covery of a fellow creature brought
into play for our hero an entirely new
set of responsibilities. Not only was
he compelled to understand that his
territory would now have to sustain
another, but there was the possibility
that that other would do damage to
himself in order to gain complete pos
session. His duty to his Creator was
not decreased, but duty to his fellow
was super added. In fact, Crusoe and
Friday formed "a state" in miniature
and Crusoe had to curb himself in
various ways to display kindness, good
will, tact and unselfishness. We
know how the adventure resulted.
Friday became an orderly and re-
strained neighbor because the right
sort Of example was set before him.
1t may be urged that Crusoe was good
to Friday from a selfish motive, but
selfish motive or not, the way in which
| Crusoe conducted himself towards Fri
day was the only way in which both
could live happily together. When
other people came to the island Cru
soe's responsibility was still more in
creased and his duties to his neighbors
and their duties towards him became
more complicated.
~
Now for the application. There is
no such thing as freedom to do as you
please unless you live entirely separate
from other human beings; and then
paradoxical thing happens, because
liberty Of action is enjoyed alone it be-
comes a very fat and uninteresting
possession. No civilization can hold
together unless the members Of it feel
a mutual interest and responsibility;
or, to express it still more clearly
where there is the highest degree of
social service there is the most endur-
ing and helpful form of government,
and, therefore, the highest degree Of
liberty. You can doubtless point me
to self1shly prosperous periods in the
worlds history. l, on the other hand,
can demonstrate to you that selfish
individuals are not the right material
for an enduring fabric. 1t is the fond
dream of Americans that this great
democracy is to go on growing grander
with the progress of time--we believe
that it is to demonstrate once and for
ever the possibility of a people devel-
oping in condition of peace and re-
tanning through all their material
growth the strongest kind of love for
the institutions of the country as
originally laid down by the self-forget-
ting ones who counted their lives as
naught if they could but let the
Liberty-bell ring out Freedom" over
the nation. But this dream will re-
main dream if we are content with
the kind of progress that has charac-
terized the past century, grand though
it has been. So much of territory and
of prosperity could be acquired by the
strenuous toiler that individualism
has run riot and the gaining Of wealth
been the only standard to rally to. If
we are to live as nation, seltishness
in our relations to our fellowman
must cease, or, like the selfish struggles
of the unrefecting brute, the weak
and the strong will struggle together
and destroy one another. Too many
of us feel as though we were autocratic
monarchs of our lands, our families,
Yourselves; free to do what we like
with everything we have, no matter
how much outsiders may suffer. Here
in do we err, for we are all tied up
together like sticks 10 a fagot; weak
alone, but strong when bound closerto
even weak ncighbors. l care not how
great man you may feel yourself to
be, either by your Unbalanced self
approval or by the plaudits Of your
fellows, you must realize that without
Others to sustain you and to approve
Of you there would be no greatness in
you at all. The debt is not all on one
side. Who are you then to neglect
| the ill-fayored and the unfayored? |
All, all are brethren in democracy |
like ours.
A Non Partisan Comment.
Gov. Atkinson has shown great
deal more justice and moderation
than the partiSans of his own politi- |