The Globe-republican., 1903-09-24
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER "a, 1908.

Grover CIeyeland's recent talk IN the
Saturday Evening Post, says; "Mr.
Cleveland holds that in times gone by
our raral districts were the homes Of
"stumy, independent, intelligent Amerf-
cans, not by any means unfriendly 10
city ways and occupations, but still In.
sistent upon the values Of their own
mode VI lfe." Now he finds that farm
srs are not the good citizens of earlier
years. "They have lost largely in their
saving, distinctive characteristics. They
have become in a sense infected, and
certainly weakened, In their natural
strength and fiber, by the touch Of con-
stantly extending city boundaries. Then
they were stubborn 10 holding to their
ideas Of right, well informed on public
questions, ready to resent all patronizing
efforts of unsolicited leadership, not
ashamed of labor and frugality, and
proudly content with their otand oppor-
tunities," and SOW according to Mr..
Cleveland, they are the opposite Of this.
But ale the farmers of the present in
any sense decadent? On The contrary.
isn't 1t a fact that the progress of en-.
lightenment and the development of char.
acter has been more pronounced in the
rural districts than anywhere else? Isn't
ii a fact that wherever we turn In the
professions or the industries we find sue.
cess most often coupled with the blood
which comes from the farm. Can 1t be
possible that the great men Of this coun.
try who came not only from farm an
cestry, but from the farm itself, are the
products of Il decadent occupation and a
degenerate people? An emphatic mop
Is the only answer to all these questions.
At the beginning of things in the
United States the simple farmer was not
even allowed to vote, More than half
the states Of the Union made "freehold-
ing" necessary to the right Of the ballot.
This means that more than half the
states established landed aTistocracy,
which was wholly distinguished from the
business of farming. Under this system
the owner of a PLANTATION might vote, but
his sturdy sons, unless plantation
owners in their own right, could not
have the ballot. There was certainly
nothing in the early organization Of our
government which dignitied the pursuit
of agriculture. On the contrary, those !
who actually farmed-always excepting {
the landed aristocrats who lived on the
labor Of others--were regarded as of the
lower order. Mr.. Cleveland speaks of
the "Fathers, as believing in the slowly !
and simple life, " whereas, in fact, they '
were arisIocrats in every fiber of their
being. Has Mr.. Cleveland ever read the
debates in the constitutional convention?
Has he noted how often such men rs
Gouverneur Morris, Madison, King, Mer-
Ger, Sherman and franklin talked about
''thc common people" as an element to
be feared and restricted in a democratic /,
government? Well the farmer who own. =
ed less than given amount Of land was a
regarded as the commoncst of common n
people. !,
The truth Is that modern machinery,
easier communication, higher education, Il
have brought the American farmer up to Il
A place where bis political Influence and 2
are better and stronger than
they ever were before. More than ever
before he Is of a class which can be called :
The bone and sinew Of the oouatry.
More than ever before he is possessed Of
The courage and intelligence which are
necessary in combating the corruption in
politics found In the centers Of popula.
ion. And If Mr.. Cleveland Is bent on
the popnllst idea that every
hing in America Is going to the devil,
le must 60 elsewhere than In the rural
districts for evidence Of his proposition.