USA > West Virginia > Webster County > Moccasin tracks and other imprints > Part 12
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GOVERNMENT.
The nature of the government under which one lives affects his well-being to a greater extent than any other thing, not excepting religion. A close and impartial perusal of the pages of history will justify this asser- tion. From the time in which civil government was first instituted-a time very remote in the annals of an- tiquity-history records countless revolutions, insurrec- tions and rebellions. These were principally caused by the mistaken ideas of the rulers that the government was instituted for their good and for their personal aggrandizement, and not for the good of the governed. The people objected to any restraint of their actions and were restless and easily provoked to violence. The rulers were despotic, inhuman and licentious. Many profligate rulers resorted to extortion to replenish a depleted treasury.
In comparing the governments of the twentieth cen- tury of our era with those of two thousand years ago, we wonder how they could be endured. A better ex- planation of the objects of government can not be found than the ones given in the preamble to our Na- tional Constitution. "To establish justice, to insure do- mestic tranquility, to provide for the common defense, to promote the general welfare, and to secure the bless- ings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." This takes in the whole scope of government, and if these objects are strictly observed many abuses of government would speedily disappear.
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Government is established for the good of the ones controlled, and not for the benefit of the rulers. It is not for the good of the few to the detriment of the many. The general good could not be secured through any other agency and some form of civil government becomes a necessity.
Law. which is a prescribed rule of action, is the guar- dian of liberty, and without it there would be anarchy, which is a state of society in which each individual fol- lows the bent or inclination of his own desires without any restraint from any one in authority.
One object of government is to protect the people in their individual rights. It does this by restraining others from doing violence to their person or to their property. Government is therefore rendered necesary by the disposition of some individuals to do wrong, and this will ever be the condition as long as human frail- ties exist. But government is not merely repressive ; it must perform other functions; it is not only neces- sary to restrain the evil-doer, and protect the just, but it is necessary to promote the general welfare as well as the welfare of individuals in the protection of their political rights.
There are many things that must be done for the ad- vancement of a nation that can only be accomplished through the agency of civil government. It has much more to do besides restraining violence, redressing wrongs and punishing transgressors. Science and art are to be fostered ; education must be promoted ; pub- lic buildings erected and cared for; highways and bridges built and maintained. It has been said by many writers on Civics that government is a necessary
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evil and the government is the best that governs the least. The tendency of such statements is to create distrust of, and aversion to, one of the greatest institu- tions created by man. A government should be loved, obeyed and respected. If it is founded on justice and administered in wisdom, it is always beneficial to the people living under it.
If governments are regarded as necessary evils ren- dered necessary because of the viciousness and stupid- ity of the human family, there is no reason for the existence of patriotism, that is stronger than the love of kindred or any of the other natural affections. This is a very strong proof that government is regarded as a blessing and not as an evil. It must be admitted that there are abuses practiced in all governments, even in the best forms, because man being an imperfect being can not create a perfect structure. The best govern- ment is not the one that governs . the least but, all things being equal, that one is the best that makes the least show of governing. The wise ruler. whether in family, school or state, will avoid giving prominence to the fact that he is a controlling power, but the un- wise one will on every occasion endeaver to make a dis- play of his power.
There have been many forms of government known to history. The oldest was a patriarchal form in which the father ruled his family and immediate descendants, and at his death the next oldest member succeeded him. This, because of the migratory habits of the people, was not a very satisfactory form, and was superseded by a monarchy in which a king or queen ruled over a certain territory without regard to kinship. Sacred
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history tells of a very peculiar form that existed in Palestine which may be termed a theocracy, which is a government under the immediate agency of God. The law was revealed to Moses who in turn gave it to the people. We would naturally conclude that this would be a very satisfactory government, but the Hebrews grew rebellious and clamored for a king, which was given them in the person of Saul.
Another form was a government by the wisest and wealthiest men, called nobles, and is what is known in history as an aristocracy. This is now obsolete as a separate government, but it is sometimes found com- bined with monarchy. It was always unpopular because it was too exclusive and did not give the masses a voice in their most vital affairs.
As civilization advanced and education became more diffused, the common people obtained recognition and obtained a share in law making. In this way democra- cies were founded in Europe at a very early period. This form has for its foundation the right of suffrage and it has always been very highly prized by the mid- dle and lower classes of society. A republican form of government is a kind of democracy, in which the law- making power, as well as the executive, is elected by those entitled to vote. This form is substituted for a pure democracy in a large. populous country where it is impossible for the electorate to meet in one place for the transaction of business.
There are three essential elements in all good gov- ernments, viz: strength, wisdom, and honesty. A gov- ernment must be strong enough to quell insurrection at home, or to repel invasion from without, and to pro-
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tect its interests and citizens in foreign countries; it must possess wisdom in order that the best and the most suitable laws may be enacted; it must be honest or else it will fall into disrepute and will fail to receive the hearty support of the citizens. A monarchy is noted for strength, an aristocracy for wisdom, and a democracy (a republic) for honesty.
It is easy to understand why a republic is the most honest of all other forms of government. The people being the rulers, it is to be supposed that they will be honest with themselves. It will often happen that dis- honest men will be elected to fill a position for a short period of time, but at the next election they can be turned out of office and upright men put in their places.
The government of the United States is a very pecul- iar one, and can scarcely be comprehended by foreign- ers. It is not thoroughly understood by many of our own citizens. If we say that the citizens of the United States are one people in all respects and under a gov- ernment which is neither a consolidated republic, nor yet a confederacy, nor a mixture of the two, but one in which the powers of government are divided between a general government and a particular one, each emanat- ing from the same source, which is the people, we will have a very good idea of the government of the United States. Were the government a league of states, there could be no central or national government; were the nation a consolidated republic, there would be no state governments.
In a republic the will of the people is supreme, and all who live virtuously may live happily. All laws are based upon a constitution of their own choosing, and it
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may be amended from time to time where found to be necessary.
The National Constitution established three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial, and it also provides that these shall be inde- pendent of each other. The United States, in a way, combines monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, which are the three principal forms known to history. The individual called the monarch is typified in the person of the president, who gives strength and stability; the senate represents the nobles in an aristocracy and gives wisdom : democracy is illustrated in the house of repre- sentatives and gives honesty. A new set of representa- tives is elected by the legal voters every two years and reflects their opinions and sentiments. A republican form is considered the best government for an enlight- ened and an intelligent people.
BIRDS AND FLOWERS.
The Creator has given us a most beautiful world in which to live. He has also given us intelligence capa- ble of the utmost enjoyment, if properly cultivated. One of the greatest pleasures of life is within easy reach of every one if he but listens to the harmonies of Na- ture and keeps his eyes open to her different lines and shades of beauty. It is possible for one to go through this life neither seeing nor hearing, yet he is neither blind nor deaf. The most beautiful flower makes no impression upon the eye; the songs of the birds make no impression on the ear. He has utterly failed to get in touch with the God of Nature and the God of Reve- lation will be but imperfectly understood and will be but little appreciated by him.
The two principal words in the caption of this arti- cle are not very aristocratic when one considers the great array of adjectives that might modify or restrict their meaning. I think that these words are inferior to none in the English language except three-Mother, Home and Heaven. Each of these has reference to a higher organism and development, and they are su- preme in our language. Mother is the only celestial being this side of Heaven. She is the crowned queen of material creation. Home is the dwelling place of mother, where we forget all of our troubles amidst her all overshadowing love. Heaven is the only place where one can enjoy a full fruition of all the hopes and aspirations of this life. .
Birds are the greatest beings not endowed with will power or the power of knowing. It is said in the Bible
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that man was created a little lower than the angels. To my mind birds are but a few removes from man him- self; therefore birds are but little removed from the angels. Each of these several classes was spoken into existence by the same creator.
From a botanical viewpoint every student of biology can tell us the object and the purpose of a flower. God could have accomplished the same object through other means. But in His infinite wisdom He gave us the flowers to cheer us in the time of distress and darkness. Henry Ward Beecher, perhaps the greatest preacher that America has produced, said: "A flower is the greatest thing that God ever created and forgot to put a soul in it." I do not wish to criticise this assertion, but I like to think that such a lovely thing as a flower will appear in another world, just like the best repre- sentatives of the genus called man. I still hold to the belief of my childhood days.
These thoughts came to me as I sat by the roadside near the old Jesse Payne homestead one beautiful June morning just after the Bolair Training School had closed. I did not sit down because I was tired, for I had only left Bolair an hour before, but it was because it was of the many birds whose songs could be heard from all directions. This region, known as the Sand Run country, is one of the best for birds and flowers in West Virginia, or second to none in central North America. The birds on this morning were in their best spirits : a recent rain. had revived the vegetable world after a two weeks drought. The birds seemed to be celebrating this event in their best song; Nature's or- chestra, the most perfect of any, was very much in
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evidence. In this symphony a hundred voices were heard and many of different species. No false note was heard; there was no discord, because each musician had been taught by the same instructor. The voice of the wood thrush was heard from many trees. Two brown thrashers on the tallest tree on two of the highest points in the vicinity were singing. Any one who listens to the song of a brown thrasher will at once acknowledge his superiority in a musical contest. Five gold-finches passed by in their undulating flight and their soft musical notes floated on the balmy air ; from the top of an old chestnut, two flickers were renewing their former love; from a thicket on the Elk side of the divide an oven bird sang "teacher, teacher, teacher." I wondered if it could be the echo of the voice of a belated pupil over at the church where the Training School closed on yesterday; a red-eyed vireo made a clumsy effort at catching an insect on the wing in imitation of a true fly-catcher. Its mate joined him and they espied a hooded warbler that had attached a hanging nest in the crotch of a maple limb about five feet from the ground. They spoke to the brooding mother, but she made no reply. After they had gone away investigation revealed four white eggs flecked with black on the larger end. I thought what a busy time such a little mother would have providing food for her hungry babies. The call of a crow was heard over on the divide between Beaver and Sand runs; a grass finch sang his cheerful song from a sassafras bush growing in a nearby pasture field; away off in the deep woods the musical but plaintive notes of a wood pewee were heard: from a
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different direction the sweet voice of a scarlet tanager came floating on the air; he was answered by the Ken- tucky cardinal, a near relative; the scolding voice of a robin was heard overhead; on looking up a female of that species was seen with her bill filled with food and she hastened away to relieve the hunger of her nest- lings ; a least fly catcher, whose flight song is the finest note in nature's orchestra, was both seen and heard. The- tufted titmouse, the noisiest of small birds, was very much in evidence; his cousin, the chickadee, in his black cap, was exploring a cavity in a poplar stump; a blue bird, whose pugnacity is as pronounced as that of the English sparrow, made a dash at him and he sought the protection of the low brush growing along a fence. As I journeyed toward the Springs the yellow breasted chat sang from a dense thicket. The drum of a ruffed grouse and the merry whistle of a bob white were added to the list of birds seen and heard. On the "Golden Shore" the song sparrow, the sweetest singer of the family, attracted my attention. He, as R. Moore Dodrill says, puts all of his power into his short at- tractive song, which is repeated at short intervals. He is a permanent resident and gives us good cheer during February and March when song birds are not very plen- tiful.
June 9th is not a very good time to observe the flow- ers between Bolair and Webster Springs. The trailing arbutus made the roadside very attractive during a part of April and May. This most beautiful. yet unassum- ing little flower. was the first seen by the Pilgrim Fathers on the hills about Plymouth and was called by them the May flower, because it first appeared in that month. The mountain honeysuckle blooms in the
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month of May. I think "fire bush" would be a very appropriate name for this shrub whose golden flowers make it look like a bush on fire. The roadsides were then lined with this most beautiful flower in every shade of yellow and orange. A poet like Wordsworth could have written a poem about them that would ex- cel his "Daffodils." They usually grow in moist ground and are called swamp honeysuckles, but here they are not confined to this kind of land but grew all over the sides of the hills, even along the driest portion of ex- posed rocks where a little detritus has collected. They are also found along the margin of the rivers.
The locust was in bloom at the same time as the honeysuckle, and the pretty white flowers made a pleas- ing contrast with the yellow flowers of the little honey- suckle that grew by its side. The locust towered forty or fifty feet above its tiny neighbor but the little bush attracted more attention because of its flowers of such gorgeous hues and so large in comparison with its stately neighbor.
But very few of our nature students in Webster county have thought it worth while to examine the flower of the poplar. It does not attract very much attention because it is so high. The poplar was in full bloom on the above mentioned date. The only squirrel seen on the trip was one that made a hurried leap from one of these trees, where he had been rifling the tulip-shaped flowers of their nectar, which rightfully belonged to the honey bee. Many flowers strewed the ground, which had been cut off by him. In a few weeks the chestnut will be in bloom and these cream colored flowers will make the forest most beautiful, as there are many
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chestnut trees yet remaining even where the mill man has been located. The sour gum will be next in order and the girls can string these small bell-shaped flowers together and play the role of the queen of the May, al- though the month will be July or August. The bass- wood tree will be in bloom at the same time as the chest- nut, but there are few trees of this species in the Sand run country. On the Elk side this tree is very com- mon. The dogwood made these hills especially at- tractive about the time the trailing arbutus was in bloom. The flowers of many different hues bloom along the wayside leading from Bolair to Webster Springs. These little plants with their modest flowers are the true "Babes of the Woods." My mother, many years ago, showed me two tiny stars in the southern part of the sky and told me an old legend of two lost children in the forest. The two babies when dark came upon them nestled in each others arms and mother said that God protected them and that he afterwards placed two little stars in the heavens to represent them. The larger stars represent the trees under whose boughs they found shelter. This story came to my mind as I stopped to examine a trillium which had bloomed after its brothers and sisters had departed perhaps to bloom in another world. Who knows ?
The mountain laurel, thought by many flower lovers to be one of the most beautiful flowers, blooms in late May and early June. The large pink clusters of flowers are very pretty. The shrub is quite plentiful in Webster, where it grows in the most rocky and sterile ground.
The big laurel, or rhododendron, the state flower of West Virginia, will bloom the latter part of June. It
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is a general favorite. The flowers are larger than those of the mountain laurel and when growing close together these bushes make a rugged hillside have the appearance of a flower garden.
From April to late November when the frost king has laid his mailed hand on all plants these "Babes of the Woods" can be found along the road I traveled this June morning : wake robins, Indian pipes, and butter- cups; bloodroots, wild geraniums and lady-slippers ; yel- low star grass, blue star grass and wood sorrel; downy phlox, Jacks in the pulpit, and wood betony; violets (white, yellow and blue), golden ragwort, bluets, and rattlesnake weed; wild spikenard, Solomon's seal and wind flowers; golden rods, asters, and milk pokes, each in its season. Who can deny the fact that God has given us a most beautiful world when he understands the reason why He has given us such beautiful and at- tractive things as birds and flowers.
Keep your ears and eyes open and you will soon learn and understand this most important and beautiful lesson.
THE STORK'S VISIT.
The following telegram was written on the morning of June 20th, 1913, and was given to Hon. S. C. Bur- dette, of Charleston, and was read by him in a mass meeting at the Court House in Webster Springs in the afternoon at the Semi-Centennial exercises :
Wheeling, W. Va., June 20, 1863. To "Little Rattlesnake Bill" :-
Born unto Uncle Sam and Mrs. Virginia, a daugh- ter. This is the latest addition to a very numerous family, the eldest of whom is Kentucky, which was soon followed by Tennessee. Mrs. Virginia became fos- ter mother to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis- consin and Minnesota. This late arrival caused quite a commotion in the family of Uncle Sam.
As usual on such an eventful occasion, there was much discussion and speculation as to what name the youngster should bear. After a family consultation in which such names as Kanawha, Vandalia, Trans-Alle- ghany and Augusta had been freely discussed, it was decided to christen the lusty baby West Virginia.
Uncle Sam, who has been somewhat indisposed for the last two years, is now convalescent; mother and child are doing nicely.
(Signed) BROTEHR JONATHAN, M. D.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF WEST VIRGINIA. JUNE 20, 1913.
This is the fiftieth birthday of West Virginia. On June 20, 1863, a new star was added to the American constellation and the then little mountain state proudly took her place in the official family of Uncle Sam.
Formed as a separate state at a time in which the United States was engaged in a great civil war, and under the most inauspicious circumstances, that star has increased in brilliancy until West Virginia has be- come one of the most prosperous states in the American Union.
The intellectual development has kept pace with the material progress of the state, and to-day a liberal edu- cation is in reach of each of her sons and daughters. Fifty years ago free schools were almost unknown in West Virginia. To-day free schools are to be found in every neighborhood of the state. High schools were unknown. To-day they number one hundred and forty- two and are rapidly increasing in number. The State University, at Morgantown, is doing a great work in vo- cational and professional training. Denominational schools of high standing are doing their full share in the great educational awakening that is abroad in our land.
The geographical position of West Virginia is most desirable, occupying an intermediate place between the extreme cold of the north and the tropical heat of the south. It is the most northern of the southern states and the most southern of the northern states; it is the most western of the eastern states and the most eastern
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of the western states; its people do not belong to the type of any one section of the Union, but is a harmo- nious blending of each. A larger percentage of the pop- ulation belongs to the old Revolutionary stock than is to be found in any other state. The late Virgil A. Lewis, the historian, speaks of these people as being a large brained, raw-boned people who have subdued the forests, driven back the Indians, and established civilization in the Trans-Alleghany regions.
The spurs of the Alleghany mountains are plenti- fully supplied with valuable minerals and their surface is covered with the most valuable commercial varieties of timber. West Virginia takes a high rank among her sister states of the republic in the production of petroleum, coal, gas, and lumber. Thousands of peo- ple depend upon these industries for a livelihood.
While West Virginia has not usually been considered an agricultural state, more than two-thirds of the pop- ulation are engaged in the cultivation of the soil, and rich harvests are being gathered by those who farm in- telligently. A better day for the agriculturist has dawned. Scientific methods are displacing the old fashioned, hap-hazard ways of our fathers. Young men are studying in agricultural schools, and boys are forming corn clubs; the rapid railroad development has brought the town and the factory to the farmer's door, and the prevailing high price of farm products is stimulating production.
When we consider the short period of time that has elapsed since the first settlements were made in our state, we are most agreeably surprised at the great pro-
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gress made. When the New England states had at- tracted the attention of Europe by their great progress in education and commerce, the foot of civilized man had scarcely trod the region now occupied by West Vir- ginia. Soon after the first pioneers had reported the extreme fertility of the soil of the hills and valleys, people from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and the faraway New England states hastened to this Eldorado of the west. Their offspring, a hardy race of men, has always espoused their country's cause and has taken a distinguished part in each of the wars that has been waged since, besides defending their homes from savage warfare.
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