Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-06-22

H"u az At ohNt as huDhllluIe TOT
social conditions which have been
slow growth through the centuries.
GROWTH MUST BE GRADUAL.
They wonld create a tree instantly
and have Il all complete and perfect at
its creation, doing ii while you watch
them, like a Hindoo juggler. They
are not content to plant the acorn aud
let the sturdy oak OF social strength
grow gradually In accordance with the
law of nature and as was Intended by
the all-wlse Creator.
But we cannot change 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 1t 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 will
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 delusion which has long
been maintained by a multitude of
people.
But 1t is only a question of time
when those who are misguided by this
delusion will 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 diree-
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
1t can direct for his own protection all
the faculties which God has given him,
he will look back with surprise and
establishment at the days when he
imagined he was bound hand and foot
by the Liliputians by whom he was
surrounded
AWAKENING OF THE GIANT.
And it is In the awakening and
training Of this giant-a symbolicaI
embodiment of the abilities and ener-
gies Of the people themselves, which
is the hope Of this nation for the
future.
You cannot Cypress 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 it is beyond the power of the
individual man to do for himself-the
things which require the combined
and cooperative effort Of many men
to accomplish.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RUSKIN.
The broad solution of our social
problems which l am presenting to
you contemplates the creation of con-
ditiOns in this country under which
we will carry into practical effect the
sound philosophy of Ruskin when he
said:
"But since we live in an epoch of
change and too, probably, of revolu-
ton, and thoughts which are not to
be put aside are in the minds of all
men capable Of thought, l am obliged
to affirm the one principle which can
and in the end will close all epochs
of revOlutlon-that each man shall
possess the ground he can use, and no
more"
1t cOntempiates as a part of our
public school system that every boy
should be trained so that he will know
how to till the land for livelihood.
1t contemplates that the rush to the
cities shall be stopped by the better
ment of all the conditions of rural life
good roads, nearby neighbors, rural
telephones, net works Of electric rail.
ways, rural free delivery, thlckly
settled communities and towns and
villages in close proximity to every
farm home, so that every farmer may
enjoy as well as the city dweller the
advantages of schools and churches
and libraries and gymnasiums, and
where art and music may be studied
for enjoyment in the home as well as
in the cities.
1t contemplates that wherever the
thing to be done for the benefit of
such a community requires the effort
OF more than one man, that those who
require to have the thing done for
them, whatever it may be, shall com.
bine together and do it for themselves,
provided it is within reach of the
united and cooperative energy and
capital of the aggregated number of
individuals who require to have the
thing done for them.
In this category are creameries.
laundries, rural telephones, associa-
tons for the cooperative purchase Of
supplies, associations for the sale or
disposition of the products of the soil,
and many other associations which /
might mention for mutual economy,