omes to protect--they had only votes
to _sell_. But here, with our mighty experiment in human government, we
have an irresistible power, the elements of which are straight-thinking
men, who want only the right to prevail, and who have wheat and corn to
sell, but absolutely no votes! God be thanked for this! When the torch
of Communism shall
BURN THE SENATE HOUSE
in the city, the swords which were yesterday plow-shares will surround
the glaring pile, and steadfastly blot out of existence the conspiracy
of the beer-saloon and the "dead-fall;" when the bayonet of the gaudy
foreigner shall glisten on our coasts, the ranks of farmers will hurry,
side by side with the metropolitans, to chase the adventurers back into
the seas.
"Agriculture," says Zenophon, "for an honorable and high minded man, is
the best of all occupations and arts by which men obtain the means of
living." How true this is! One would think
"BUSINESS"
in the days of the Greek were carried on just as it is now--the
concourse of a pack of men turned wolves, hungry for trade, and
devouring each other in the absence of common sustenance. To succeed in
business in a city in this epoch, and to be at the same time a
high-minded and honorable man, is very rare--is usually the result of
employing lieutenants to do the "business," and keeping the "dirty work"
away from the knowledge of the principal. But when the farmer drives a
bargain with
"THE GOOD GODDESS"
how clean is the transaction! There is no lying, no cheating, no
treachery, no rivalry. How frank and open is the face of him who has
concealed nothing! How hearty is his laugh--for has he not laughed with
nature--with the twitter of the birds, with the low beating of the
bells? Has he not faithful friends--friends of a life-time? When he has
gone into debt has he not paid? Has he ever considered
FIFTY CENTS ON HIS NEIGHBOR'S DOLLAR
a full return, and has he walked into his neighbor's parlor (shabby for
lack of the fifty per cent) and congratulated him on the return of the
holidays? A spade is a spade with him. A thief is a thief. He does not
like thieves. He says so. Neither does his city cousin like thieves. His
city cousin is very careful not to say so. He does not like monopolies,
he says so. Neither does his city cousin like monopolies. His city
cousin would "turn off" any clerk who said so very loudly, let alone
saying it himself. He does not like corruption and hypocrisy. On t
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