Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-03
Progress or Decay.

II at the end of Theodore Roosevelt's
term as President of the United States
it should be found that our urban pop
ulation had decreased ten per cent,
and our rural population had increased
by that much or more, it would be a
surer sign of real prosperity than any
thing that has happened within the
last quarter of a century. The crowd
ing of population into great cities has
always presaged the downfall oil the
civilization under which such concen-
trations have taken place. The course
of all civilizations has been alike in
this respect. First comes the free
farmer and herdsman, with villages
and market towns scattered over the
country. Next follows the accumula-
ton of great bodies of land by a few
individuals, with the result that the
former owners are swept into the CEN
tres of population, or reduced to the
condition of peasants upon the soil that
once was theirs. The cities become
c~ongested; the free farmer becomes a
renter. Marked class distinctions
arise in society; the poorer people are
reduced to depend upon the rich for
the means of subsistence, and become
utterly abject and servile. The arti-
san classes seek to protect themselves
by means of the trade guild or union
from a similar dependence; patriotism
is extiuguished among the tillers of the
soil, who gradually abandon it for he
city. The nations where such condl-
tions prevail draw their supplies from
other nations, either by force or trade,
and become parasites. This was the
case with the Roman Empire in both
| the east aud the west when it rotted
| from the face of the earth. The Egyp-
tian Empire, the Assyrian Empire. the
early British civilization, all wen the
same route.
Signs are not wanting that modern
Europe is following the same road.
There the urban populations are IN
~creasing enormously at the expense OF
those who inhablt the country. Man
ufacturiug is ~outfooting food produc'
ton. The result must be the same as
in other cases where the same law has
operated. One of the results that al
WAYS follows this condition of affairs
is a deterioration of the individual,
and a consequent loss Of fighting ca
pacity. England, with her forty mil
lions of people is not as great a mill
tary power as she was at the begin
ming of last century.
1t is doubtful if the German army ii
as effective as it was thirty years ago
The test of actual battle may show tina
the fighting power of France with heI
stationary population is as great as /
was when Napoleon led her armies t.
victory throughout Europe. Europe
and America may never be overrun b.
men from the North or men from th'
desert-as was the Roman Empire
but before society assumes a health!
aspect the continued congestion OF pop
ulation in cities must cease.
Under existing conditions the ma
tions of Europe and the United State
are compelled to reach out for mor'
territory in order to control the trad
of countries that furnish us with raw
material, and that will consume tn
output of our mills, but the world !
smaller than it once was and all tn
new territory will be exhausted in tn
not very distant future. The trad
wars now commencing will then be
come conflicts of arms. Already Ger
many is threatening to ignore the Nor
roe doctrine and appropriate a portion
of South America, and will attempt t.
do so the moment she feels hersel
strong enough at sea-.
The REGISTER believes our presen
policy, while 1t may make a lew thou
sands of our citizens enormously ricl
for the time being, will ultimately re
suit in disaster. We will welcome tn
day when our large cities begin to gro'
smaller from natural, healthful causes
"
..For three days add nights suffere'