Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-11-21
TIME TO CHANGE.

U
cess Of any portion OF the country in
any line was the pride OF all; and
when failure in any great under
taking by any locality was looked
upon as a national calimity. Each
section was cemented to all others in
one great aim, one endless endeavor
national importance. This spirit
accounts for the protective tariff,
which was responsible for the build
ing up OF the manufacturing estab-
lishments and industries of the east;
also caused the large grants Of
lands to the western railroads which
caused the opening Of the vast
domain between the Mississippi
river and the Pacific coast These
are but two instances Of the many
sacrifices made by the nation as a
whole for the immediate gain Of
favored localities. This was truly
an unselfish spirit and one without
which no nation, however great, can
ever succeed or long endure. To
this spirit of unselfihness and family
sacrifice, more than to any other
cause, can the United States as a
nation ascribe her present greatness.
1t is this unison that has made this
the first in the list Of the prosperous
nations in the world.
Are these conditions to endure or
is it to be true of the American
nation that she--like so many indi-
viduals cannot stand prosperity?
Are we at the Zenith Of our great
nessY In the future are we to retro
grader You might ask, why these
questionss Still, if you have watched
the trend of the times they do not
sound so foolish. In recent years
has not every locality governed its
position on every public question by
its own selfish iaserests In your
readings how often have you come
sapon such sentiments as are
expressed in the following:
Remove the tariff, tt onl y tends 20
fatten the manufacturing Industries
of the east
Down with the ship subsidy bill,
ii is solely for the benefit OF the ship
builders of the east.
Kill the silver bill, it will but
enchance the properties of the
mine owners of the west.
Remove the tariff on lumber, it is
only for the benefit of the lumber
men of the west and middle-west.
Kill the bill for increasing the
effectiveness Of the navy. The navy
is of no value but to protect the
coast of the east and west.
Cut out the appropriations for the
Of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. Such river water
way would only benefit the farmers
If the states that border thereon.
Do away with the standing army
i is unnecessary but to quell labor
lots in cities.
Why expend money in agricul-
;ural stations. Let the agricultur-
alists do their own experimenting.
The position you were to take
lpoD any Of these questions
depended solely upon whether you
ived in or out of the territory to be
benefited. No longer question Of
he nations greatness but Of local
gain.
just recently we have seen some
hing even worse than this sentiment
'hus expressed. When the present
srises came and many of the finan-
,ial concerns Of the east were pushed
some even TO failure. We heard
many expressions here in the west
hat were almost rejoicing at the
How have the mighty
Iallen. Such expressions are
national disgrace. The failures are
! national calimity but such things
IN BE- overcome but Disgrace that
,omss from such displayed selfish
,ess leaves stain that can never
- removed. Then what did the
vest gain by the failures IN The east i
fhing. The whole nation, yes,
Mole world was loser. Look Il
markets, tbe produce mar
we're shot to pieces BY the
!. y z