The National tribune., 1903-02-12


peace army. 1t gathers the news; flashes
it across the continents and under oceans;
crystallizes it in the daily papers. For
years it has been the pride of this Re
public that so complete is our postal sys-
tenn every citizen of our larger commune
ties has been able each morning at break
fast to read what happened the day be-
fore throughout the civilized world. 1t
was the idea of the fathers of this sys-
tenn that it will give similar advantage
to the farmer and his family in all our
cultivated regions.
Because the postal business pays larger
revenues in great centers of population
and business than in other places is not
sufficient reason why the Government
should make radical change in the plan
on which that Department has always
been conducted. That plan is to require
the residents of thickly-settied sections to
contribute in excess of the cost of their
service for the relief of the inhabitants
of localities where the postal business is
carried on at a loss. The expediency of
that system has been abundantly demon
strated, since only in this way can the
sparsely inhabited regions, on which city
prosperity depends, be properly developed.
DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.
Enforced isolation, or anything ap-
PiotehibS IT. 10 to-udS "
NAL men and women. 1t is as natural to
desire to know what the world is doing
as it is to breathe. Information, notwith-
standing all the sarcasms that have been
uttered and printed concerning curiosity
has become a necessity to the modern
American. We are enlightened instead
of benighted, and the more enlightenment
there is the more demand there will be for
that knowledge of current human affairs
vtrhia oh
dense populations of the cities owe much
to the farmer. The task of feeding the
world is more than commercial. 1t is a
most honorable occupation to wreste with
the soil for the Sustenance of q great Ma
ton. 1t is an intelligent policy to do
all that is possible to make the agricul-
turist contented with his lot, to alleviate
his loneliness, and to keep him educated
as to the trend of events.
Under the inspiration of rural delivery
our average farmer has thrown off the
lethargy of isolation and taken on the
spirit of progress and improvement. He
receives daily reports from the markets
and knows when and where to send his
produce for sale; he introduces new meth
DDS in his work, which reduce labor and
expense; he diversifes his crops according
to the demands of the market. and he
takes lively interest in the public ques-
~ Wy 80 ~ III sHoIt, an up
to-date American citizen, broadening and
expanding IN productive power and intel
iectuai torce, and 1t is but just to say
thaL the system OF bringing to him his
mah daily mas been great step in the
accomplishment OF this wonderful change.
IT HAS COME TO STAY.
The farmers were at first inclined n
look at rural mail delivery as short-lived.
The receptaces which they prepared
were, IN many instances, OF the crudest
material mat could be found about the
Iarhls. tomato cans, stove pipes turned
on ehd, cigar boxes and TIN pals all
served Tor mail boxes, and one farmer in
washington County, Pa, constructed one
Dy making over an old hobby horse and
mounting 1t upon stake at his gate.
This delivery has bridged many incon-
venlences. 1t has cut down time; it has,
in measure, reduced space; and, above
all, 1t has placed the rural dweller in
closer touch, hence on more sympathetic
relations, to the outside world. And it is
yet in its infancy; what may it not ac-
complish in years to come?
~; 1on ,s sW Wliilahls, OF Mississippi,
1 1W;i,.o ,ass inaeI, III sPeech: men Mr.
. uiisoh vas ~ s.iiiis,er-Henerii ne sald ne
, Mam.ea 10 .',ih 10 me apouI TINS Iree-de,
that tho e Pr.s ds II . WAS ca i ne SAID