Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-02-11
Rural
Morals
Much Better
Than i'm
Large Cities
Bv KENYON L. BUTTERFIELD

weigh or measure standards Of moral conduct, except by OBJ
serving the resuts-that is, conduct itself. Of course a
EESs$~N trained scientist might undertake the elusive problem OF
El2E8 studying motives and ideals as they work themselves out re-
ASNE spectvely in an urban and in a rural environment; and indeed
NNf7II some day men adequately trained will study the rural mind
k1SE46 scientifically and develop son principles of rural social py-
ks5T1RSRb chology, but for the purposes of common judgment and prac-
teal conclusions we have to consider simply the results
There ire two prevalent ideas regarding moral conditions in the open
country. One is based on the theory that all rural communities areA ca-
dH, that the cities are hotbeds Of corruption and that all farmers are
honest The other is a sort of natural challenge to this broad notion and
asserts that the country is at least as bad as the city, if not worse than
the city.
No thorough studies of the actual conditions have yet been made, but
some impressions received from the Investigations of the commission on
country life have revealed rather interesting opinions held by residents
of rural districts themselves, not only farmers, but teachers, clergymen
and physicians, etc.
The general feeling seems to be that moral conditions in the open
country are a great deal better than they are in the large city, taken as a
whole, and far better than in the village. It is admitted that there is a
great deal of intemperance and this is put down as perhaps the most sei-
us moral evil in country life 1--WE are speaking of the country as a whole,
and not of any one sechOn). It is submitted also that there is a great
deal of profanity and vulgarty but that they seem to be decreasing
There is very little positive crime in the country and political honesty. on
the whole, seems to be the rule. The question Of social morality is more
complex, but the general opinion seems to be that, barring certain Sec.
tons O localities, the rather open conditions of country life favor purity.
There are doubtless plenty of exceptions to this proposition, which appar-
emily applies more fully to mature people-for conditions in some sections
among the youth arc sad enough.
While it is sheer demagogy to assert the complete honesty of farmers
a such, for they are as human as other folks, it is doubtless true that
there is more resentment among farmers than in almost any other class
when they are once aroused, against the violation of public trust. The
"up-country vote" cal usually be counted on in a political campaign where
moral issues re at the front.
1t is very doubtful whether a categorical answer is possible to the
question, care moral standards the same in the country as in the city p"
Localities differ. Sections of the country from nc another. But in gen.
eal should say that the moral conditions of the open country make for
the strong individual, morally IS well a intellectually; that the rural
environment also tends t a weak community life, inasmuch as individual
moral standards are in large part the result of community ideals; and
that there is likely to be a tendency toward what might be called moral
mediocrty in rural communities, a
tendency to rest content with old no.