Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-24


article in the Saturday Evening Post
of September 19.
Mr.. Cleveland calls attention to the
fact that the makers of this nation
set their standards in accord WIN
those who lived simply and whose oc-
cunation brought them close to the
soil and who were scattered IN lheir
habitations. He thinks it may well be
douhted # the minds of the fathers
of the republic compassed the expec-
,ation that in the future so many points
of divergence would exist between the
nonulations of city and country as have
actuany supervened.
The commercial and financial prom
inence of our great cities, he says, Is
matter of pride and there should De
no shadow of complaint because bus1'
ness enterprises have extended ana
rich men multiplied in the cities.
IN contemplation, however of GER
tain unfavorable features OF life ID cit
les Mr.. Cleveland would be glad II we
would be sure that the wholesome
counter balance of uncontaminated
rural characteristics and influence had
been so far preserved that we could
look to a safe and steady operation OF
genuine rural sentiment for cheek
to any unfortunate tendencies which
cities have developed.
The writer points out that small
communities and farming sections
have become infected and weakened by
constantly extending city boundaries
and that rural life has suffered by the
advent of envious discomfort. He de-
scribes the former independence of
rural communities and the once-pre-
vailing intelligence and discrinina-
ton of rural political thought.
Sees SAD and Ominous Charge.
The concluding portion Of Mi.
Cleveland's article. which is copyright
ed. 1903, by the Curtis Publishing COM
pany and is reprinted from the Sat
urday Evening Post by special permits.
sion, describes the change which has
come over rural communities. and is
as follows:
Among the changes in this happy
situation none is more sad and ON
inous than that which has followed the
invasion of those small communities
by the agencies anG influences of the
huge business aggregations which cast
their shadows far and wide. The mis-
sion and purpose of this invasion is
the control or strangulation of the
small business enterprises and
occupations. which have not
only proved adequate for
neighborhood needs. but have Gre
ated and fostered healthy, robust and
rural independence. With the success
of this destructive mission the men
of business in small neighborhoods be-
come employees and underlings, Or at
best are reduced to dependence upon
the will of these trusts and combina-
tions for the privilege of continuing
their trades and occupations. If the
evil traceable to his movement should
go no further than this the country
would incur tremendous loss in the
suppression of so large a volume OF
the saving vigor of opinion which Is
horn of assertive membership in the
guild of business, and Of so much OK
the sedate and deliberate political
thought and action which arises from
a direct personal and distinctly indi-
vidual stake in public affairs.
Door Open for New Evils.
"These distressing cons eQuences.
though serious enough are negative
in character since they only represent
a loss or substraction of wholes ONE
conditions and sentiment. They. how
ever prepare the way and open the
door for another evll-active, agrees
ive-absolutely ruthless of the public
good and hardened against every pa
triotic impulse. In the constantly
nearer approach of city influence to
rural communities and the closer re-
lationship between them. in the ten
dency toward rural discomfort born Of
increased familiarity with the apparr-
ent wealth and ease of city life. and,
more than all, in the listless indiffer-
ence to political conviction prevailing
among those in small communities