The Washington herald., 1914-08-24
The Man from Goshen.
by EMORY :. HAYNES

II you motor up through Orange County, New
York you see the horse in great numbers. Goshen
keeps the historic "horse trot" as sacredy as fifty
years ago. Proud and graceful animals arch their
necks and sniff the occasional auto disdainfuly
along the State roads. Over the beautiful farm
lands enormous herds of cattle roam. It is ideal
farmers paradise. Evidently every one has money
in the bank. 1t Is rural power enthroned.
There is no governor of the State that has it in
his power to snap his finger and bid this Goshen
citizen Go fight" There is no war lord over the
sea who agree with some other lord that
is time to set these free to quarreling with
some other nation. Ii is unthinkable TO American
that such asstalwart ablebodied citizenship of
the average type, should be reservists to be called
to the colors at any old time that State governor
wanted to sound the trumpet.
But the rural inhabitants of Europe do not show
that way. Depend upon it, and readers who have seen
rural Europe will bear me out in it, the sel-govern-
ing, administering look of the Goshen man is not
seen in days ride through rural Europe.
The free men OF Europe have been coming to
America for the last fifty years. and those who are
left not free. They do not think for themselves.
In the cities there free thinking But the farmers
not free citizens by any means. They are peas
ants.
No radical move by government be made in
this republic without the Goshen type of man, the
nation over. That he should be out on furlough, a
soldier under leave is impossible He livts his own
life. He is horse breeder, town voter, and then
a State and Judge of the President and his
own Congressman But most of all he is for Orange
County and Goshen.
Fine State roads, faithful steam and trolley rail-
way service for milk and the market, good Schools
churches long and cheerful life There
you have it, the rural life of the republic. About
we'll dream of moving Mount Peter of moving this
man down the valley with a regiment off to the wars
unless the war had
Look afar over the valley and see a burning barn
on this hilltop and that. Flames beckon to flames,
swinging wild fiery and kissing hatred to some
distant nation. See now the beautiful farm house.
here at the roadside, swarming with soldiers who de-
spoil it of its goods. Look where groups of women
and children fee before the advancing line of soldiers
who destroy for the sake of destroying Away be-
hind the armies stretch tramped harvest fields be-
tween here and the Hudson River. Utter devasta-
ton. storm devastated region. With the
feeble crack of few rifles. the defenders not being
here. but off to distant battle fields This is the
picture of, say, rural Belgium today Look again,
quickly
Is not that the church, flaming up the little city
hospital pride of the villagers for years. the town
hall? The whole landscape is afame. The whole
is thick with and cries of horror.
And let speed away. For tomorrow the invading
host will reach town. Away: Whittier shall we
go? For the land is flooded with invasion.
No valley of New York State ever saw it. No
village, like Goshen was ever touched by this curse
If seek to depict it, sitting here on this peaceful
hill top, looking down. must imagine it And know
cannot portray it. The Southern States have
known what desolation a marching army leaves be-
hind But it is all unknown here.
Let appreciate our measureless blessings Let
us deal kindly with another. Let US refuse to
foster bitterness between labor and capital and let
larger charity be extended everywhere What
fools would we be to blow breath and crack our
cheeks that might kndle domestic Goals of strife
Great the century of peace between English speak
ing nations But creator is the proud boast that no
hostile army has. for more than hundred years.
set FIRE to the farm houses and the wheat fields of
Orange County.