The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-11-11
BROAD GUAGE PATRIOTISM.


a fair and manly way and discuss it re-
fore the people, the measure is gain
ing strength every day. The Sub
Treasury plan has not been. 50 strong
and popular since It's introduction into
the Senate by Senator Vance, as
it is at this very hour. Many of the
brainiest business men and of the
l,gal profession throughout the coun,
try are coming forward and support
ing it. All the bosh about its neon.
situtionality is being exposed and
the people r beginning to see the
hidden hand that is manipulating the
opposition to this great measure of re
form. Among the many sensible
things that are being said Of it, we
fn1 the following from Major A. O..
Bacon, of Georgia, in response to a
letter, urging him to become a can
didate for the United States Senate
He says be is not a candidate, nor
will he be, but he says some things
which we quote below and commend
to the earnest attention Of the Ali
dh4C VI ANO1G I'LL OlLA"s
With you | share the earnest hope
that the man selected to the position
of Senator may be one prepared by
capacity and conviction Of purpose to
stand in that high place as the cham
pion of the agricuIturalists IN their
present effort to lift from he22selves
the burden Of unjust federal laws in
force, and to secure the additionalle leg
i~slation which they deem necessary to
insure their increased prosperity. No
mar would contend that the farmers
interest is the only interest to be COZ
sidered in the selection of a Senator.
Other interests are entitled to equ.l
consideration. But this time this is
the farmers fight. In this contest all
other issues are subJrdina ed, and the
single recognized issue is, whether the
mar to be selected will, or will not,
stand ia the Senate to light for the
farmers, Extensively and defensively,
on the line of battle which they them
selves have marked out. Itis a clean
cut issue, and those who are not with
them ~squarely on that line are against
them. For those who refuse to stand
on the particular line marked out by
the farmers, the only escape from the
charge of hostility to the relief which
they seek, lies in the vainglorious
assumption that their wisdom exceeds
the combined wisdom of the whole
agricultural class, and that they knox
better what the farmers need than do
the farmers themselves.
For 100 years the farmers Of Georgia
in the ma orlty IN every legislature
without exception which LIS as
sembled in the state-have elected
United States Senators on all kinds If
issues, and in the interests Of various
classes and industries. But never once
in that time have they put forward
and elected a Senator purely upon al
issue for the particular beuft OF the
agricultural interest After having
0Orne for a generation the evils Cf the
most Ubiquitous and discriminating
Federal Legislation, after having locke
long and IL vain for relief from many
conflicting and unsuccessful legislative
schemes and devices of Others, they
have themselves finally formulated and
agreed upon a plan which they say and
believe will give them the needed re
lief, and to the country. They, with
their dependents, constitute a very
large majority of the people of Geor-
gia and W much the larger portion
Of all the property within its limits
The success of their industry is the
foundation of all prosperity, and is ab
solutely vital to the continued existence
of every other business in the State.
Surely under such circumstances there
can be no more reasonable demand
than that which the farmers now make,
that the Senator to be this time elected,
while he will represent the interests
of all classes, shall be peculiarly and
particularly the representative and
champion on the floor of the senate
Of the particular legislation which they
have themselves devised, and the enact
meut of which they demand in their
behalf.
1t matters little who that man may
be, provided he have integrity of char
acter beyond question here or
elsewhere; fidelity and constancy of
purpose to honor him by their choice,
and capacity for the high and respon-
sible duties with which by their favor
they clothe him.
Weighed in the balance against such
all Issue, the question of the personal
political fortune of any one man is as
insignificant as is fate Of the vain and
gaudy butterfly when compared with
the full value of the farmers crop.
The worlds progress has never yet
stopped IN account of the loss of the
service of any one man. In the needs
of the time there has always been
found some one to bend the bow of
Achilles.
TIT -