Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-01
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY OF WEST
what Experience Has Taught an
Observer of the True West
srn Spirit.

OMAHA, May S1.-To the Editor Of The
Bee person coming from the east, where
a stricter observance of the stereotyped
rules Of polite society is practiced, is sur
prised and, at first, somewhat shocked at
the informality of western manners, and
the apparent. terms. of equality on which
men and families treat each other. In the
small country towns of the west-beyond
the Missouri river-we see the evidences
of this common level among the people; no
distinctions existing. socially, by reason Of
different occupations or differences in pc
cuniary or other conditions.
This is, naturally. the primitive or pio-
neer condition of society, and in the best
sense and broader view this social condi-
ton raises men and women to a really
high plane of social life. When a new ter
ritory is lrst settled by people, coming,
as has usually been the case in this coun-
try, from different states and countries,
the spirit of interdependence predominates.
The people meet and greet each other
though but yesterday strangers-with the
feeling that they are bound together some
what as soldiers are by ties of patriotic
sentiment and common fellowship and in
forest, and that they are enlisted to battle
together in a common cause. They are
willing to give, for the common good. the
settlement or colony may be a success, and
they feel great pride and satisfaction in
what is ACCOMPLISHED to establish and
maintain its prosperity by either individ-
ual or collective effort. In such a young
community the authenticated Irishman,
who, when in the 'old country" savagely
hated every Johnnie Bull in the king
dom, sheds all his long nurtured animosity
almost unconsciously, the serpent sheds
his skin, and greets the Englishman with
hard but kindly slap on the back, and
resonant How air ye me boy" at every
meeting.
| We have spent O considerable time since
| 1886 in travel over the trans Missouri west,
| especially In Nebraska, Kansas and Colo
RADIO, and have been observant OF this
spirit of mutual kindness and regard that
everywhere prevails amongst the country
! people OF these states Many men of com
! paratively large means. running often into
the hundreds of thousands, are to, be
found in the young towns and neighboring
farms and ranches there, but, as a rule
they are unaware that by the acquiring
of more lands and cattle they have changed
their character, OF suddenly taken on any
rare mental or spiritual acquisitions and
when they meet their fellow townsmen or
the village street they are the same as
In former days; they extend the same "glad
hand" the same old and familiar saluta.
ton, warm and sincere, How der do Bill
or Mike /" when yer goin' to ship your
hogs7" and other greetings equally direct
plain and interested, spoken in the same
homely phrase, and in the same spirit OF
cordiality.
Such Is the social democracy of the west
II we may add opinion in conclusion
| we would gay, that, under this western
social regime, there are brought out
grown up and matured some of the grand
est men of the age; plain and common, ye
uncommon men. Gentlemen. who are pre-
eminently worthy the name; gentlemen
who have doubly earned the title withou
the study of artificial rules. but by tn,
unstudied and daily practice Of Chester
fields imperative law. TO wit: That a tru,
gentleman is noble minded. truthful ant
sincere in his speech; upright and gallan
In his conduct; addresses himself to tn,
poor and rich alike; never gives ofrense anC
stands upon his record and his honor.
O