Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-06-30
MISSION OF THE SOUTH
TO CLOTHE THE WORLD.
Continued from First Page.D

mere dollar, but they have honestly
believed that the greatest good to
thls country lay along the lines OF
concentrated capitalism, and they
have simply overdone this line of en-
deaVor-to such an extent that one of
them has uttered the sentiment that
to die rich is to die disgraced." This
condition has left for the harmoni-
Gus development Of governmental
science q mediocre statesmanship ut
terly destitute Of true constructive
genius, and with no vision that en-
ables it to comprehend an evolution
AIRY development that becomes more
and more complex as the nation is
lifted into lofter and larger spheres
OF being.
This is what primary elections
mean-the initiative, referendum
and recall. These cannot be sneered
out Of existence, and some machinery
must be devised to permit a full ex-
preston Of national opinion on pub
lie questions as often as it may be
needed, without the trouble, expense
ana demorallzation of such elections
as we now have, depressing business,
and throwing our citizenship into
confusion. Our elections have be-
come almost national curse. There
is no reason why the post office de-
partment Of this government could
not do all Of this work with no more
trouble to the average citizen than is
required to write q short note. No
real reform has ever been attempted
along this line, and the masses Of
the people until recently have acQui-
csCed in the unchanging status Of the
republic, and the political barnacles
will never suggest any change which
would interfere with the methods of
franchise which keeps them in power.
Our political mechanism is so cum
bersome and so wrapped up in red
tape that the average business man
cannot do his duty as a citizen with
out degree Of sacrifice that he re-
fuses to submit to. Here is where
the professional politician comes in,
and with his pirate code Of ethics,
governs the country. Just as the
Pretorian legions sold Romes impe-
rial sceptre to the highest bidder, so
do the machine politicians in the
great centers Of population barter
away the rights and prosperity of
productive labor for trust-made gold
in this republic.
Is Farmer 10 BE Forced /?
There has been a great complaint
about the high cost of living. That
is all very well; but what about the
profits Of productive labor? The
only way to cheaper the cost Of liv-
ing is for more people to live on the
farms, and they will never do so un-
less the profits are made more at
tractive. What is there to keep the
energetic and ambitious boy on the
farm? The cry, back to the farm"
is mockery. The city calls, and
the lights of the great white way"
blind his eyes to the beauties OF
country lanes and blooming fields.
He hastens to find fortune in the
market place, where traffic makes
gold by it's very touch. The farm is
abandoned as the last resort and
fixed fate of the dullard and incom-
petent
History teaches us that nations
draw their true wisdom, unselfish pa
triotism and untainted virtues from
the deep wells Of contented agri-
culture; from those who live in the
quiet country places Of the land. who
have the time to think soberly. who
live temperately, and commune with
God in the temple Of his untarnished
skies. These are nation builders
and nation savers. How can we
maintain this mighty fortress in the
soul OF a people, if we destroy, or
permit to be destroyed, the comfort
and poise Of mind so dependent upon
a fair reward for toll?
We have no standards set by no.
bic birth in America. 1t is all based
on the individual. Our government
is absolutely origina! in this respect,
and we have reached a point Of com
plex commercial and political life,