The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-29
The Country Not So Bad.

Is the country going to the devil as fast
as 1t can gallop or roll? 1t would be easy
80 to conclude, if we were to confine our
selves to one line Of facts or the COM
ments of writer's having certain point
of view. We have been pretty much dis
posed to concede, whether right or wrong,
that American city life Is far from whole
some, and that the world, the flesh and
the devil are fairly well In control. But
when we have admitted that, we have cast
our eyes over the country, from Maine
to California, and we have said to our
selves that, in the countless towns and
villages Of that great sweep and on the
1--WE millions of farms were to be found
a manhood and womanhood that is the
hope Of the republic and would save 1t
in every crisis
But Grover Cleveland has stopped fish
ing long enough to tell us that this hope
Is denied us. He declares that rural SEN
tinent has suffered such diminution and
perversion that it can no longer be relied
on as an efficient agency for reforming
and lettering our condition. The shadow
OF the city has fallen across the country,
MI, Cleveland says. lie tnuS oeScTlDes
the old-time countryman:
There was time, and it Is within the
memory of men not yet old, when In
our rural districts were found the homes
of sturdy, independent and Intelligent
Americans, not by any means unfriendly
to city ways and occupations, but still
insistent upon the value and dignity Of
their own mode Of life. These men were
independent and strong in political
thought and action. They were stubborn
in holding to their ideas Of right, we'll
informed on public questions, ready to
resent all patronizing efforts of unso-
licited leadership, not ashamed Of labor
and frugality, and proudly content with
their lot and opportunities.
Now, however, the farmers son grows
UP with a contempt for country life, ac-
cording to Mr.. Cleveland and hurries to
the city just as soon as he can get away
from his mother. Thus the country loses
in vigorous population. But, worse than
that, city influences have weakened the
natural strength and fiber of the country
dwe11er. The great monopolies which
have crushed out the small proprietor
have had the effect Of breeding a "listless
Indifference to political conviction"
i D.
and tendency that are already in the
past rather than present conditions and
tendencies. The farmers son Is begin
ming to take an interest in the country,
and to love 1t and his fathers occupation.
He is finding that rural free delivery, tel
ephones, trolleys, centralized schools, ETC.,
are giving him all the advantages of city
of its /l1,or ,fon
and united to the advantages Of country
life
There is in the country little of that
listless Indifference to political conviction
which worries Mr.. Cleveland so much.
Our farmers, or, at any rate, our western
farmers, have very strong political con-
victions, and are usually better informed
about politics and national problems than
the city man who reads his papers fifteen
minutes day and thinks he is student
Of current affairs.
No doubt there has been a great de-
mora1ization Of the farmers In the far east
ern states. But there whole states should
really be considered as cities, and the So
called farmers as nothing more than sub
urbanites. Out west is where the Amer
lean farmer lives to-day, and Is living
sane, healthy life. well-to-do. independ-
ent as any man, reading, thinking-and
getting ready to save the nation the next
time it needs saving.
And, Notwithstanding the common opin-
ion, there is a large number Of honest,
od-fearing, serious minded people In the
cities who can take a hand in nation
saving and are, indeed, at the present
doing something in that line.