The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-06-04
the historic round which nations

1.-the historic round which nations
rum"
DANGERS WHICH THREATEN N HOW TO
AVERT THEM.
There is danger to any free govern
ment in the concentration of accumu-
lated wealth in the hands of pluto
Gratis. For it creates a concentration
of power unrepublican and dangerous
to popular institutions. The powers
of the government itself are SO dis
tributed land most wisely too) through
its executive, legislative and Judicial
departments, that each one may act as
a check upon the others. But large
sums, in hands Of INSCRIPTIONS men,
too often find avenues for unhallowed
and dishonorable use against the well
fare and peace of society. The very
magnitude of the mercenary tempta-
ton sometimes overcomes moral r
sistance.
The millionaire and trampcome and
go together; for the conditions favor
able to the producing of one make
the other inevitable, and both are
comparatively new additions to our
society. And society has most to
fear from this class-the extreme rich
and the AFFECT poor. Any conditions
of society or business, o. any laws,
State or national, which favor or even
make it possible for men starting pen
niless, to accumulate an hundred mil
lions of dollars in a lifetime, are radi-
cally wrong. For, in order to heap
up so vast a sum, necessitates "reap-
ing where they have not sown and
gathering where they have not
strown," from unearned increments in
watered stocks, options and futures,
forestalling cornering combines, trusts
and in other unholy ways, which the
law should s~trenuously prohibit. Ger
tainly there can be no honesty or fair
ness in one mans taking from others,
appropriating from society so large a
sum for his Individual activities; and
any system Of political economy which
permits or tolerates it, is radically
wrong and needs revising. Moreover,
one of the conditions of a healthy
body, as of a sound and healthy body
polite, is diffusion rather than comges-
tdon for congestion of wealth in the
latter, like congestion of blood in the
former, induces morbid and sometimes
moribund conditions.
As a nation, we are fast becoming
luxurious and corrupt. How shall
we meet the crisis now upon us and
how avert the evils which threaten to
engulf us? What will keep us from
the fate of those once, proud, pros
porous and powerful, but fallen and
persisted nations of whom now moth
ing but their history and example re-
main as warnings? All the signs
point to nearing the crisis of our
fate. What will extricate and deliver
us, and restore this government to it's
pristine economy of fairness, sim
plicity and justice? We answer, the
great middle class must come to the res
cue! for they alone possess the moral
courage and force of numbers sufi-
to meet the crisis successfully
and restore this nation to it's old chan
nels Of safety and stability.
Our main hope is in the Anglo
Saxon blood of our best people, which
hates tyranny in all its forms, and
most dearly loves and prizes jus ice
and equity. Therefore, as patriots,
we should not despair when so much
is at stake, and when we have cause
to confidently hope that success will
crown right efforts in developing in
our HeaveR-favored land, the highest
order of Anglo-Saxon civilization.
And if human progress follows a law of de-
Times noblest offspring is the last"
Our civilization should be the noblest, for we
The heirs of ali the ages in foremost files of
time.
NoTE.-We are indebted to DIR.
Strong's grand book, "Our Country"
for extracts quoted and some of the
ideas elaborated in the foregoing, and
commend it's reading by every patriot
in the land.
A VOICE FROM THE EAST.
MAPLE GROVE ALLIANCE, No. 1879.
Murfreesboro, N. c., May 2, '89.