CHAPTER XIII 



AN AMERICAN PROGRAM OF RURAL 

 RECONSTRUCTION * 



THE American farmer has never failed to meet all the 

 issues of the highest patriotism. In days of peace, he 

 has done his full share in the conquest of a continent for 

 man's use, in helping to feed the world, in perpetuat- 

 ing and extending free institutions of government, uni- 

 versal education, and ideals of a high morality in home 

 and community. In times of war, though a lover of 

 peace, he has responded to the need of the hour with 

 promptness and effectiveness. At Concord, he " fired 

 the shot heard round the world." In our Civil war 

 men of the soil on both sides formed the majority of 

 the fighting forces; to-day their sons and grandsons are 

 in France. In the present crisis the farmer has rallied 

 to the call for labor and sacrifice in his own field of 

 work. He has enlarged his acreage of crops and 

 sought, under great difficulties, to increase his yields. 

 He has fed his own armies as well as the civil popula- 

 tions of his allies. 



In common with the men in other great classes of our 

 people who have believed themselves handicapped in 

 their work and life, the American farmer has felt the 

 recent stirrings of important changes in world affairs. 

 He realizes that the \var has been fought for a truer 

 freedom, a more real democracy. He has faith that 

 the common man is to have a better chance; that the 



1 This chapter is in some sort a summary of the whole book; con- 

 sequently, many apparent repetitions occur. 



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