The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-08

sons. That the old North State has greater
advantages for the man of capital, for the
man of but little means than any other
State, to me, at least, is apparent. To at
tain the greatness as a State she is capable
Of her citizens. have a duty to perform
they owe to the State as citizens reaping
benefits from law and order, not only their
share Of the burtheas of taxation. but their
best thoughts, and no man can shield him
self from his duty-it is every citizens duty
to do all he can to free the State from the
grasp of those who sees benefits at its hand
only of a mercenary kind.
You, who are laboring and struggling to
maintain your families, to educate your
children, are remiss in your duties when
you do not use your every effort to secure
such legislation as will be beneficial not
only to your county but to the State as a
whole. To-day we are oppressed by griev-
Gus monopolies. Railroads are compelling
us to 1.-THE our incomes to maintain the Off
Gals in luxury and ease-we who ship, or
receive freight, are helping to pay FOR those
luxurious coaches that carry the fortunate
few as their whims and caprices suggest.
1t is your duty to rise IN your might and
compel by legislative enactments public car
riers to charge you as they charge those
where there are competing lines. We hear
HULL u CuC ~. ". LII. II. D ny
own experience leads me to believe that, by
that phrase is meant, a system to extract in
freights all you make during the year, but
if any one can show how any advantages &C
crue to individuals or State, other than the
aforesaid Railroad officials, | shall be
pleased to have the followings problem de-
monstrated Why are we compelled to pay
In freight alone more for a barrel Of apples
shipped from Charlotte to Littleton, than
we can buy apples for raised in Michigan,
shipped to New York City, thence to Lit
Teton VIA Norfolk? Western citizens have
an abundance Of corn that sometimes we
would gladly buy. but this blessed (?)
SYSTEM adds in freight SO much that we
can buy Kansas corn cheaper than corn
raised in our own State.
One other disadvantage, and | have pre-
sented both sides fairly:
Our public school System is a fraud,
and if we cannot select better representa-
tives it were better for US if we were not
(mis) represented at all. If our school sys-
tenn was so changed that we could educate
the poor of the State if we had a free Rail
road law, and no subsidies, if we had our
convicts at work for private parties, paying
into the State a Revenue instead Of being
an expense, we might soon reach the posi-
ton that as a State North Carolina is en-
titled to. When this is done, and 1t Will
be done, what a proud future opens up for
this grand old commonwealth. With a
generous soil, with a climate exceeded by
no country on the habitable globe, with ma
tural advantages equalled by no sister
State, with natural resources capable of
giving employment to more than the total
population of South Atlantic States, then,
sirs, in the galaxy of States she will stand
without a rival.
When l look over this country, beautiful
ly diversified with rolling plains, with
swelling slopes and sunny hillsides," with
mountain scenery %unequalled when I
mingle with a people, social, refined, intel
ligent and hospitable, I feel that there is no
place where the foot of man has trod that
could lure me from this highly favored
country, and I can say without hesitation
op my part that | know of no country or
people that [ love more than this or these.