The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-06-04

G4O4S SA4S
of every individual, at some time aur'
ing his existence, a critical or turning
point for good or evil, so in the pro
stationary experience of organized So
ciety. a crucial epoch-a crlsls-comes
with cumulative force and more stu
pendous import.
RETRosPECTIoN.
We now realize, in a retrospection
of an hundred years experience of
the past of this Republic, what great
crises it has survived and what storms
the Ship of State has safely weathered
in lis most eventful voyage. "Our
whole history is a succession of crises.
Our national salvation demands, IN
supreme exercise, certain military
virtues. Vigilance in watching oppor-
tunitles; tact and daring in selling
upon opportunity; force and persist
ence in crowding opportunity to its
utmost of possible achievement
these are the martial virtues which
command success"
We realize, too, the stupendous adj
vancement which this country has
made in material progress and wealth,
the wonderful development and ma
tional growth which have come with
invention-the Harvesting of steam
and electricity, those t~ireless servants
of characterization and enterprise, to
place the United States in the fore
front of the nations of the world, in
dustrially, intellectually and progress
lively. Here, the phenomenon is pre-
scented to the world of the youngest
nation in the tide of time becoming
the richest and nos powerful
Forty-two vigorous Commonwealth
are united to form this great nation,
whose possibilities, if wise counsels
prevail, the widest conjecture cannot
picture, nor the most extravagant i'm
,agination conceive.
From 1870 to 1880, while there
was q decrease of wealth in Europe
the wealthiest division of the globe
of 8 per cent. per head, here there
was an increase of 80 per cent A con-
tinuance of such prosperity and adj
vancenent for less than a century
longer, will assuredly make this Re-
public richer than all the world be-
sides.
THE WORSHIP OF MAMMON N IT'S
EFFECTS,
With increased wealth come in
creased perils. Already the power of
money is being seen and felt in our
mercenary politics, while p%lutocracy is
striving for control of the government
and all our industries.
AS civilization increases and ex-
tends with it's overwhelming diversif-
cation and multiplication of wants,
which money can crafty, so relatively
will the power of money increase and
widen, with ever-increasing desire.
This "root of all evil is tainting the
fountains of justice, controlling Iegis-
lation and invading the sanctuaries Of
the church.
Every nation has its a~ristocracy,
which is mainly n of birth in the
older civilizations. But here, we have
an a~ristocracy of wealth-pIutocracy-
whose armorial ensigns are registered
trademarks and whose tides are the
official designations of consolidated
capital and associated interpretations.
z Money is power" and is being used
to crush out competition and to mer
cilessly extort the utmost farthing
from dependent labor, above a mean,
subsistence. The headlong haste after
riches is flooding the land with adul-
terations injurious to the health, if not
fatal to the lives of the people. 1t
,erects unsafe houses and builds i'm
perfect and dangerous machinery. 1t
leads to speculation, gambling, defal-
cation, forgery, theft and murder.
There are a thousand and one in
huences at work all over the land, cor
rupting youth and demoralizing age,
set on foot to make money.
Doodle too often controls and de-
cides elections, thereby poisoning the
foundations of government, and NAM
monism is at the bottom of it ALTO
control legislation IN the interest of
corporations, syndicates, associated
and Individual capital, for gain. The
Senate of the United States is largely
composed of millionaires, and the pro
curement of seats in this House of
Money Lords is too often tainted by
Doodle.
We are fast becoming a nation of
mammonites-worshipper Of wealth.
where the standard of measurement
is In dollars and cents, even to per-
sonal character and social standing.
And unless something occurs to change
the sordid and venal tendency of the
times, we are fast being threatened
with gross materialism, with all its
corrupting influences and debasing
attributes. Wealth is a blessing, if
o,os, 80 = or1ohF b,,+ hooonoea ~