110 RURAL RECONSTRUCTION 



And they, each of them, stand in need of the other. It is only 

 ignorance brought into being by greedy shortsightedness which can 

 detect causes of antagonism between the two. In any case, if we 

 want to see country life, in Mr. Roosevelt's enlightened sense — 

 rural reconstruction, as we call it — made effective, we want shoals 

 of people on the land, populous villages, well-distributed land. For 

 such purpose we require the help of co-operation, with its large host 

 of men and women admirably fitted to help folk of the class to be 

 " settled," with the same wants, the same ways, the same ideas and 

 ideals, the same speech. We want a co-operative store in every 

 village, or a society's cart calling there daily, to become, not the 

 emporium of trade only, but the centre and nucleus of social and 

 fraternal union. We want co-operation in agriculture and co- 

 operation in domestic life. We want social, educational, character- 

 forming institutions. The aim that we should make for is clearly 

 marked out ; and we have the means for attaining it ready to our 

 hand, if we will only employ them. But this is not a matter for 

 bob wigs and khaki. Scientific institutions may render admirable 

 help. So may mechanical industries. Agriculture, small as well as 

 large, is dependent on both of them. But the impelling force, the 

 leaven that is to penetrate the lump, and turn it into good bread, 

 must come from the people themselves. You may lead, inform, 

 inspire their organisation. But the actual action in the work must 

 necessarily come from those who are to benefit by it. It is only 

 work so done that will stand. Government officers can help ; but 

 it is for the people themselves to " do." It is time we gave up 

 toying with the problem. There is real work to be done. And with 

 Ireland, Canada, and the United States pointing the way — not to 

 mention other examples — there can be no occasion for us to doubt 

 how we ought to proceed. Our political reconstruction began with 

 the cry : " Register, register, register ! " In rural reconstruction 

 our mot d'ordre should be : " Organise, organise, organise ! " 



