The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-10-01

y
DOES THIS LAW AFFECT EVERYBODY ?
Before proceeding with the argu
ment, let us see if this law which we
find obtains everywhere, affects every
body. Centralized governments
England, France and Germany borrow
readily at per cent. Even bankrupt
Russia is now borrowing at 5 per
cent.
In our country per cent bonds are
from 27 to % cents above par thus
netting the money loaner less than
3 Ia per cent interest In New York
money is loaned on call frequently at
2 to per cent. In fact, we are the
wealthiest nation on earth and we
have more millionaires than all Eu-
rope together.
MONEY IS PLENTIFUL.
In the government vaults are
locked up hundreds of millions in
gold and silver In the national and
saving banks there are thousands of
millions, and yearly we are growing
richer. Foreign capitalists are pour
ing money into our Golfers at the rate
of $500, 900, 900 yearly and yet with
all this vast aggregation of capital
the farmer-the laborer is daily grow
ing poorer.
But when we come to seek the
cause of the general prostration of
farming industries, and the cause of
low wages we are met by specialists
who advocate every possible position.
And why2 The lawyer hired by
client is bound to defend him, and if
his cause is bad one, he invents one
plea after another, raises an objection
here and another there, and if posi-
BILE directs the mind from the true
issue, and then so twists and comforts
the evidence that we are frequently
left in confusion and doubt. In our
case, brethren, the lawyers are nearly
all on the other side-the jury is
packed and after listening to these
eloquent specialists, we sometimes
wonder if we are not the most shift
less people on the face of the earth.
L freely admit that we are not as
careful and as provident as we should
be, for if we had not been careless
and Indifferent our liberties would not
well nigh be thing of the past and
from proud position of freemen,
down to that of Slaves to Plattocrdts.
HAS THIS CONDITION ALWAYS OBTAINED?
If not, let us examine the cause of
events that produced the change, and
better still let us examine the pro-
cesses when this condition of affairs
was unknown.
In the beginning, my brethren, man
was made tor agriculture. In Para
disc, Adam had to work "to dress
and keep" the garden. In historic
time all colonies have been agricul.
tural.
A PARALLEL.
Let me parallel the history of
century. In ITS, few North Caro-
linians gave to the world a " Declara-
ton of Rights" these eminently just
and righteous principles were sown
broadcast and in l776 our National
Declaration of Independence was
thrown in the face of Tyrants, the
father Of Monopolies and Trusts. Just
l3 years later, after the most unequal
history records, the right
prevailed and Equal Rights to all was
on our banners and we
adopted constitution broad and Just
and our country became the farmers
and laborers' paradise. We sent up
as our representatives, men who had
our Interests at heart.
We called our Governors from the
plow. Many of our Presidents were
farmers, and at the expiration of
Office retired to their farms and again
mingled with the people. Now your
corporation lawyers and penny-a-
liners ridicule the farmers, and talk
about our hayseed legislatures. So
did the tories and emmisaries of King
George 100 years ago.
If you will look over the list of
Congressman from the 13 original
States you will be astonished to find
So per cent of them were farmers. 1t
was but natural that the legislation |
should be to aid the farmer and
Lsborer.
They legislated in their own inter
ests, and that such legislation was for
the good of the country, is proven by
the fact that ours was the most pros
porous country on the face of the
earth. Strikes were unknown.
Wealth was more evenly distributed
than ever before. We had fewer mil
lionaires tbs true, but we had infinite |
y fewer paupers. Our Legislators
and Congressman were '.Old Fogies,"
they gave the public lands for homes
only to actual settlers.
WHAT RESULTS FOLLOWED
4