The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-06-15

social conditions which have been a
slow growth through the centuries.
| GROWTH MUST BE GRADUAL.
They would create tree instantly
and have 1t all complete and perfect at
It's creation, doing il while you watch
them, like Hindoo juggler. They
are not content TO plant the acorn and
let the sturdy oak of social strength
grow gradually in accordance with the
law of nature and as was intended by
the all-wise Creator.
But we cannot charge Natures
| laws.
They are as Interchangeable as the
stars.
Whatever men may do they must
first learn to do.
Every oppression from which the
producers of this country or any other
sufferer to-day is because they have
not learned or been trained to do for
themselves the things which they
leave Ii to others to do for them.
And those to whom they leave such
things to be done, plan to make the
greatest possible profit to themselves
for doing them.
1t is human nature that they should
and always has been and always win
be so.
THE DELUSIoNS OF POLITICS.
The delusion that you can protect
producers from such expressions by
making laws or by electing this man
or that man to Office or putting this
political party or that political party
in power, is a delusion which has long
been maintained by a multitude of
people.
But it Is only a question of time
when those who are misguided by this
deluslon viii awaken from their
dream, and learn that there Is no help
for them but to help themselves and
do things for themselves.
This great movement in the direc-
ton of doing things for themselves by
cooperative methods among producers
from the land is something more than
a mere question of profit and loss.
1t is the slow awakening of a slum-
bering giant, who is just beginning to
feel his strength, and when he has
finally raised himself up to his full
height, and trained his mind so that
it can direct for his own protection all
the faculties which God has given him,
he will look back with surprise and
at the days when he
imagined he was bound hand and foot
by the Liliputians by whom he was
AWAKENING OF THE GIANT.
And it is in the awakening and
.,sv ~.
of the abilities and ener-
gies Of the people themselves, which
is the hope of this nation for the
future.
You cannot Cypress a man who
draws the rewards of his toll straight
from natures treasure vaults--gets 1t
from the land itself-land which he
Owns-land on which no money lender
holds a mortgage-provided always,
that that man has learned to coop
crate with his fellow men of the same
class, to do for themselves the things
which 1t is beyond the power of the
Individual man to do for himself-the
things which require the combined
md cooperative effort of many men
% accomplish.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RUSKIN.
The broad solution Of our social
problems which | am presenting to
you contemplates the creation of con-
litions in this country under which
We will carry into practical effect the
ound philosophy of Ruskin when he
aid:
but since we live In an epoch OF
hange and too, probably, Of revolu-
ion, and thoughts which are not to
Ne put aside are In the minds of all
men capable of thought, | am obliged
0 affirm the one principle which can
nd In the end will close all epochs
f revolution-that each man shall
ossess the ground he can use, and no
nore"
1t contemplates as a part of our
ublic school system that every boy
hould be trained so that he will know
ow to till the land for q livelihood.
c0ntemplates that the rush to the
tiles shall be stopped by the better
lent of all the conditions of rural life
good roads, nearby neighbors, rural
telephones, net works of electric rail
rays, rural free delivery, thickIy
ettled communities and towns and
illages in close proximity to every
arm home. so that every farmer may
njoy as well as the city dweller the
dvantages of schools and churches
nd Libraries and gymnasiums. ana
here art and music may be studied
,r enjoyment in the home as well az
the cities.
1t contemplates that wherever the
ling to be done for the benefit of
lch community requires the effort
more than one man, that those who
squire to have the thing done for
ZEN, whateyer it may be, shall COM
Inc together and do 1t for themselves,
rovided it is within reach Of the
nited and cooperative energy and
lpital Of the aggregated number OF
diyiduals who require to have the
ling done for them.
In this category are creameries,
undries, rural telephones, agsocia-
Dns for the cooperative purchase Of
Ipplies, associations for the sale or
sposition Of the products Of the soil,
I'd many other associations which |
light mention for mutual economy.
utual benefit or mutual protection.
In sections where irrigation Ii
scessary, cooperative canal systems
ID irrigation works come within this
teg0ry; and in many parts of the
untry where irrigation Is not now
necalIy supposed "a be necessary