Norwich bulletin., 1920-07-02

in self-government But here despiteI long experience, the results are disap- pointing. It is not that the vitality
 of the democratic principle lacks demon
 stration;; on the contrary, we. observe al constant demand foe more democracy to
 cure our ills. The unpleasant reflection
 is that while we so unceasingly pro
 claim the principle, we make such a poor
 showing in it's application : - : In the
 art of governing ourselves we not only
 fall short of what we should expect in a
 free people of so great intelligence, but
 we frequently present sorry specta-
 cie."
 Well. what do you think of it, fellow
 farmer? You and I, talking together
 mostly about farm problems and farm
 interests, can't expect to have much
 heed given us or to be much considered
 in any way by the other millions who
 have gone crazy in their wild chase after
 the pot of gold at the end of the. rain
 bow
 But what are we going to do about it, ourselves? What position are we going to take? What are going to be our aims | in the crisis which iulpends?
 Are we going to lay down the shovel and the hoe? Are we going to desert the
 armies, of work and go over to the hordes of loungers and loafers: become what ] they used to call in contempt afternoon 1 farmers?" Are we, too. going to enlist under the flag of the Molly-coddies? ! I wonder if allaof us appreciate the weight of tremendous responsibility which Is on our shoulders? Responsi- i biiity not only to ourselves and our fam l flies, but to the nation and to the world? ?
 Plant an orchard for posterity? 9" sneered the old groucll: Whats poster y@rr ;4t, l the question at all In Charles Kinesley's story book for children there were two powerful fair les, Mrs. Do-as-you'd d-be-done-by and Mrs. Be-done-by- -as-you-did. And the fol- lowers of the latter lady always had a hard time of It. They mostly lived on the simple principle of holding every | thing they had and grabbing everything ! else they could reach; of always keep ing both eyes open for the main chance and never giving a glance at the other fellows chance-except to gobble iteaEay on opportunity, All. of which resulted in their invariably bringing up in the fair 1 ies' big jail at the other end of nowhere.
 Our faxmers' world is not inhabited or visibly managed by good fairies. For
 from it. It is a world of hard and stub born facts. That is, the dirt world un- der foot which we work and sweat over Is of that sort. But, glory bel That
 isn't all our world. Over our heads ex-
 bands the infinite blue. Under 1t the clouds drift and the birds circle. Far of above it the sun shines by day and the solemn stars sweep by night. It is our
 duty to work dirt. It is also our privi- lege to '''hitch our wagons to a starr. as Emerson poetically bade. Above all, we have the best chance in creation to take long and large looks a.
 the world and its problems. We live in
 a clearer air and in saner surroundings than are granted to many others. We do not have to associate with bolsheviks nor populate our persons with cooties. And. to whom much is given, of them shall much be required.
 We ought not to be expected to work
 twelve to sixteen hours a day to provide cheap food for I-Won't-Works who grun-
 ble at eight hours, five days week. Nor ought we to be expected to sweat in. cal leo shirts and denim oyeralls that loaf
 CTS may wear silk shirts and S15 shoes.
 Anyway. we can't do it, whether expected 1 to or not But, if we continue reasonably united in. our adherence and devotion to the old
 ideals of industry and economy and eff i ciency. we can exercise powerful, it