The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-11-20
Copyright 1906. by Joseph b. BoWIos
Copyright in Great Britain
AL! Rights ResCrVcd)

Lincoln. Neb. oct. Is. 1906.-One
who :travels in foreign lands is likely
to learn but little of the governments
of the lands through which he passes
unless he makes Il special effort to
inform himself, for the lines of travel
are laid through the communities
where law and order are maintained
and where the government is so stable
that the casual observer has no occa-
sion to investigate its inner workings.
The mountains tower above him and
ne sees thcm; the chaSms yaWn before
him and he beholds them; and the
various forms of agriculture leave
panoramic effect upon his memory.
He Frequently meets the merchant in
his store, sees the Iab0rer at his work
quite often, and occasionally behOIds
| d grandee in his carriage, but not be-
ing able to speak the language Of the
country, he learns little about the
forms of government and less about
the political aspirations of the pcO-
| pie, and yet, the science Of govern
| mcnt is one of the most important
| sciences, and the royal art" as it
has been called stands first among
| the arts. TOlstoi has declared that
the science which teaches us how to
| live is the most important of sciences,
and surely the science of government
| comes next. While it is true that an
individual can by misbehavior forfeit
| the blessings OF good government, or
| by good behavior minimize the evils of
| bad gOvernmcnt-WhiIc it is true that
no government however good, can save
| a man from himself if his tendencies
| be evil, and that no government,
| however bad. can entirely deprive
| him Of the rewards of virtue, yet,
governments may do much 10 en-
| courage or to hinder the development
! of the people.
Governments may retard or advance
| O Of Il
instance, our government is in part, at
| least, responsible for the unparalleled
| Development of the United States be
cause it has given the largest en-
| couragemcnt to the individual. The
Japanese government has in like man
ner stimulated education by the cs-
| tabliShmCnt of q public school system,
and has developed a large number Of
| public men by the organization Of Il
parliamentary system. Turkey, on
| the other hand, has blightrd some Of
| the fairest portions of the earth by
suppreSsing political Independence, by
| ignoring education, and by leaving the
industrious citizen at the mercy Of
| the maraudcr. There has been little
political life in Turk ey because few OF
| the people have had the education
necessary to take broad survey Of
| the country and it's needs while great
stretches of fertile country lie uncuI-
tiVated because the government is 50
lndIferent to the rights Of the people
| that the tillor of the soil has no as
surance that he viii be allowed to
| harvest the crop which he plants.
Those who have investigated the
| subject contend that the valley
| of the Jordan would be fruitful
region if protection were given
to those who would cultivate it,
| but because the Bcdouin has been al
| lowed To come down from the hills
| and reap where he has not sown. the
| land is neglected.
In a trip around the globe one sees
| in actual working every form Of gov
| ernment known to man. In Russia,
| an unlimited monarchy until recent
| ly, laid its oppressive hand upon more
| than hundred millions Of human be-
| ings. They held their lives. their lib
| erty and their property at the Will Of
| the ruler. Any citizen in the Czar.S
vast domain could be taken from his
| home and eXiled for life without he
| or his family knowing the cause OF
| his punishment. The royal family
| and the office-holders held the peoplc
| in contempt and even denied the
natural rights of men. The people