Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-08-20

We have been deeply impressed
during the past week BY what we be-
lieve to DO vital truth. II ID this;
Despite constant manifestation Of
seeming vagarIes, the Western man
is the true American. No honest
mind can fail to recognize the whole
Someness Of the atmosphere which en-
velops these big, lean, bronSed, stall
wart sons OF Anak; none can question
the full sincerity Of purpose indicated
by the hearty grasp Of the hand, the
straightforward gaze from the clear
eyes; none can contemplate without
regret the utter misconception Of the
spirit Of this community which per-
vades the East. These men Of the
West are not fanatics; they are not
even radicals ct heart. True. many
are led astray.by the siren songs Of
false prophets, but from no evil in
tent and through no fault Of their
own. They hear no other voices.
The seli-seeking demagague is omni-
present and ihdefatigable. He is out
and about, speaking here. there, and
everywhere, winning popularity for
himself and bis suspicious WITNESSES,
while the thoughtful student Of
affairs groans from his closet over
"the ignorance Of masses" The in
evitable consequences is that which
ever ensues from the constant drop
ping Of water upon stone. Hearing
nothing to the contrary, is 1t in any
way surprising that thousands per-
haps millions, Of our countrymen
have been induced to believe that
practically all who live in Eastern
cities are mere vultures seeking to
feast upon the products Of othersF
The reason why Eastern men Of parts
do not come West and allay impress
sions which really are false is suffici-
emily obvious. They are not narrow,
as is often charged; they are simply
lazy and comfortably Indifferent to
any obligation that is not pressing
and immediate. 1t does not suffice
to reioin that Western men OF like
caIibTe do not make themselves known
in the East. Nothing would please
them better, but, unfortunately,
bitter experience has taught them
that they cannot get the kind Of a
hearing they care for. They can and
do occasionally go and speak in
Cooper Union, but how many OF the
solid citizens whose attention they
desire and deserve are ever there to
listenp No, it is not the West that is
responsible for the prevailing misaP-
prehension between the sections. It
is the East. And it is up to the
really broad-minded and patriotic
men OF the seaboard, whom we hear
bewailing menacing condi-
lions, to bestir themselves and come
West in the fl Sd and respond in KIM
TO the hearty welcome which invari-
ably awaits them. For ourselves, we
say emphatically that we have no aP'
prehension Of any serious disaster
overtaking the republic so long as
these strong hearted, pure-minded
men who have been treading on our
toes for the past week continue to be
as they are. They are good men,
They are not given over to prejudicei
they want to reason, and lack not
candor in admitting themselves to be
in the wrong when fairly convinced.
And while they require information
their fellow countrymen'
their need is far less than that Of the
thousands Of Fasteners who assume I
The "what's.the-use" attitude and
all Westerners as cranks,
Again we say, the Western man Is the
true American. He has the fine
spirit, whose outputs are energy, fair
play and kindliness. -[Harper's Week
y.