Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-09-23

this way, You are prepared with me to con
denim such political economy. But most
of us. while holding that there are some
things which majorities cannot make right.
and therefore ought not to do, limit these
prohibited things to the few reservations
in our state and national constitutions,
which forbid legislatures from establishing
slavery. abridging the freedom of speech
or the press, or of religious worship, TAX
ing private property for public use, with
ont compensation. and Il few other emu
meratch reservations generally cia>sed
among the natural rights of the people
The Declaration of American Independ-
cncc proceeds upon the assumption that
certain truths are sclf-evidcnt, axiomatlc;
that among these truths are the right to
life to liberty and the pursuit ofhappiness; !;
that to secure these rights governments
were instituted among men. These are
comprehensive general principles-thcse
Granted. and what becomes of the right
fulne-s of any enactment that does not Re
>pcct them? The rest is only a question
of science. of observation, of logic. Given
the axiom, of geometry and the law OF
uravit1tion, you can measure the distances
of the fixed stars. establish the orbits
of the planets and weigh their revolving
spheres: and given the selt-eVldent truths
pf mans freedom and equality, and YOU
( can construct Il government which shall
determine every question OF rlTht and
/ wrong bv a rule. if not Is exact rs those
If the mathematics, Vet rs accurate as
/ the human mind is capable of deduclng
/ hv the kcenc>t observation and the most
rigorous process Of reasoning. In fact
governments are not made, they
Il l,<. ,.,,
in advance or behind the ag" The season
makes Your crops; the people make Your
Government: and ncither the one nor the
o;lcr can escape the influences that sur
round them. \ people who want Il good
government. and know what it is they
want. and set themselves earnestly To
work to get it: cannot lon- be kept from
hayin~ a GOOD government. But our diff
ticultjc, are encountered ut every step. 1t
i no, ALWAYS that the lnaiority want 4
rood governments it i not always that
they would know such y government If
they should see it; it is not always that
thrv Will DO anything to bring about such
:, government even when they think they
wan, il. Sometimes. indeed. | think We
need. all of Us. To 90 back to the primer of
poljtiral economy. and learn liz lessons all
over aoaiu: if indeed. which i> doubtful.
VIZ. ever studied the subject At all
Not t, prolonr these observations. right
here. in the very principles of government.
j. the fat,l objection I" the " business ca
r..,. If rnlitjr- 4 government i not i
l,,l.inr.l partnership II i. in it> nature.
only to secure the eni ymrnt Of rights. not
4, cnoarc in >pcculttion. DO You ask.
may il no, help the farmer. the a@ricul-
,fu-ll ir,t,rt-.:' answer. no. If it lets
him alone. thlt i the best thing il can do
fl. linn. Give men freedom and an equal
.hlnr,. in life. and human energy and hu-
,nl,, brain will take care. of the rest: anl
,l,,. flrnc. does not need to be fed with
Government subsidies more than any one
cI~r l. * NOT the boy who has " every
thiur done for him. that develop, iuto
most -tllWart mIuh""i: Il i not the
Industry tlnt i prrprtunlly asking .ruV-
-rnm.lIt for help, lhat soonest l. able L
fi.eht IL own WAY in the contentious of the
market placr. Hit government should
>,4.-,.ycn when il @"r~ out OF IL proper
.ph-rr and roe- into hu-inc>>-that il does
mo- Injustice. II it takes the money rait
bv the farmer in taxes, to aid other indus
,r:r>. i, should take the money paid by
b other industries in 1tN,.- and aid the farmer
i There. should II, an equal distribution oI
none. The legislature that proposes L
l divide, tin. money in the treasury >honl
- divide fairly.
,.l;,;,.l ,qti,ity ,,u,,n.
t..,i,.,.. ,,,,.',,,. ninr.. bu~jnr~. in u III
,nl,. H.. defended :, FAR =.
,t,, ,I'.t,.,,.r, h,vinm Stood u
g. '''' ,,.,.;,'I,.,,i.. ~h,rinr f,. v,.,r
i, Government hn,utic-. now propose /
7 iu~i~. on i : fair divide. II IN dr>pll
/. Of s.onii;nr this wrth game. they pro
II r,,.. - takr their turn At the bar. the
i are showing something Of human >piri
" and cannot reasonably he blamed t':r il
' need not tell Vou. however. that Will
:. >ucl :: raid upon the treasury might hav
il :, tend ucv to- even up the di>tributio
Il of subsidies and bountic>, it would 200
i l.av.. the treasury Il empty n :, last year
+" birds nest; or, what j more prob lhl,
= would vt the treasury printing press,
' whirliny. and Hood the country with
l. ,.hr.r. rlnidly deprcciltinr and soon uttr1
t. lv Worthless paper money, not 80 valu:
" HE even IL autumn leaves, fox these II
II worth something IL fertilizers.
- Mia; | -ho1Il be clad to see com.. q:
= uf th,. farmers movement i, not more IN
b" Infinitely less business in politics. not mol
but les legislation. a return TO >impl,
:. methods @: administration, and 4 ryorot
- restriction of tA' employment of govern
+. men. machinery to it, Legitimate >pher
- At the h'-t government Is but an lmpprfr
= instrument, operated hN imperfect III
m.,n byin--. and the les it undertakes
:, do bcyunl securing to individuals frrpdol
\, and rllal rights. the less injustice it wi
" rrrpetratc.
:, p,,. ,h.u ,n,n h,. r,,n,. vr,n., !, ,
~ Iii, l,;,i.. f,,. v,.,,.. he cannot he st ri.r
- ~, =, ~ ;n.,an, Ills whole system i il
.I',.I. ,nl H., has o,,ita liLnl, ;.,.
III ,;,i, y. ,''i'T ,.'n,,,;t,nI hin..lf +, ma.
ic' 'D' ,,.,,,, n.I,;,.I h. h,. n,..',,,
~ ,'N,' r''' n',,f.r,raj his nr,,a,,i.
'' r I',,H .t;,.r ~, notes. I' Which he must n,v
IT,, -Ii,,,' Ion.uInnt unon lin, fnr wi, -
y, ~ I,'' ,'',l, ,,.,,,i What hn n;,,ht 4, e
~ Nv i''',' ,'.slI ;nta = O - =