Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-08
MONTANA FAVORED
IN MANY WAYS
CONTINUED From Second Page.>

greater industrial efficiency, which
cannot fail to be Of very material adj:
vantage in respect to the creation of
high local prosperity and to SUGGEST
full commercial production and COM
petition with the other and less
healthful sections of our country.
Besides the many decisive advan-
tages presented by the arid area al
ready mentioned, the typical Ameri-
can of the Western plateau is fortu-
nate in possessing an environment
which tends not only to stronger,
healthier body, but Il better mind.
1t is vitality important, also, to re-
member that the arid West is fortu-
nately entirely free from the racical
problem which besets the South,
threatens it's white supremacy, UNI
mines its racial purity and projects
All entirely dissimilar race OF econo-
mic inetficiency into all political and
commercial problems. Nor are these
questions ever likely to arise in the
West of the future, for not only are
it's preponderating life zones unfavor-
able to the development of the negro,
but the whole history of the black
man shows no tendency to migratory
movement except under forcible COM
pulsiOn.
Socially, the conditions in the West
make for equality and progress. 1t
is impossible that caste lines be
drawn in new communities recruited
from a thousand sources, nor would
the spirit which animates the self
reliant pioneer willingly permit such
castles to be created The only aris-
tocracy regarded as admissible is
that higher plane upon which appre-
ciative associates instinctively place
such men as have themselves done
great things. knowledge that one
man has as much chance as another
for both material and social success
hold open the door Of hope and stim-
ulates that competition which is the
chief factor IN human progress.
In the West. popular sentiment
Classics a man according to what lie
is and what he himself has done,
rather than what his grandfather was
able to accomplish. Where ten
dency Of the East is to revert to the
",
sent and plans for All even more
glorious future. Instead of being
rapt in alteration of their fOrefathers,
Westerners who find themselves par
ticipating on every side in ut least
equally mighty achievements, prefer
to regard themselves-and to be re.
garded by OtherS-mOre in the light
of worthy ancestors than somewhat
decadent descendants.
In the arid Western country, youth
and vigOr do not mark their pOssessor
for distrust and Misrepresentation by a
large part of the community, nor is 1T
heretical to entertain and advance
new ideas. On the contrary. such are
welcomed. All this makes for. and
helps to explain, the wonderful ma
terial progress Of the West.
Finally, in this mountainous coun-
try, averaging in altitude nearly II
mile above sea level, it is not too
much to expect in full confidence that
there will develop a hardy, determin-
ed race not only physically, mentally
and morally superior to that from
which it sprung and was unconscious
ly selected, but one which in the fiji
ture will stand for the best in Ameri.
can ideals of liberty and right. Large.
ly scorning the artificial and weaken
ing complexities of NATURALIZATION
as Il purer democracy it will be less
swayed by the instincts OF CONNER
cialism and the power OF wealth, and
form the best bulwark against the Ell
croaching greed Of aggregated capital
1t will act as a corrective not ONLY
against national decay, but as thu
best source of military strength
against outside aggression.