The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-30
WHY WILL THEY NOT DISCUSS
FTP

NANSS
ests, we must appeal to their reason
rather than to their credulity. GA
reason for the faith that is in you !"
is what an anxious, investigating pub
lie mind demands. Hence the col
umns of the reform press for months
past have bristled with challenges to
congressman and others who oppose
the SUB Treasury bill, to come out
and discuss it squarely and manfully
on its merits. Its discussion before
the American Congress has been de-
signedlY and purposely suppressed.
Congressman refuse to discuss it
through the press or before the people.
Attempts to discuss it before public
meetings have been thwarted. Is this
fair? Is it manly2 Is it just ? The
people want light. 1t the measure be
"unconstitutional, "chimerical " evils
ionary," "wild," { socialistic," the
people desire to know it. If they be
in error they want to know it. But
it is an insult to their manhood and
intelligence to demand that they sur
render their opinions and abandon
their po ition on this bill upon the.
simple assertion of any man, whoever
or whatever he may be. If a member
of Congress opposes the measure, the
people have the clear right to demand
Of hIm has reasons for has opposition.
And further, they have the right to
demand that he shall present his argu-
ment in such fair and candid form
that they may be thoroughly examined
and weighed. He has nj right to
waive the people off with the simple
declaration that the is Gun.
constitutional" To expect them to
quietly acquiesce in such a dictatorial
and pompously domineering proceed
ing would be to brand them as towards
unworthy the proud name of Ameri
can citizens.
Why, then, will they not meet the
challenge of the friends of the bill and
discuss it The simple and truthful
answer is: They dare not do 1t. No
issue, involving such tremendous in
terests of the farmers and laboring
people, has been presented to the
American public in a half century.
And yet editors and so called states,
men would fippantly thrust it aside
as " Wild" "socialistic," "unconsti
tutional," etc., and refuse to discuss it.
Public men who affect to shape and
lead public opinion on great economic
Or political questions, or who seek the
suffrages of patriotic people must not,
cannot evade or ignore such ques
tions.
We publish an article in this issue
on the Sub. Treasury bill from a
Georgian, not a member of our
order-and The Progressive FARMER
makes the following
PROPOSITION TO ANY MEMBER OF CON
GREss FROM NORTH CAROLINA, %
who is opposed to the bill, The Pro
aREssIvE FARMER wiU give him an
equal amount of space an whlch to reply
to the position therein taken By the
author. Will some one of our mem
-bers accept the proposition d? We
hope so.
1t is amusing, to say the least of it,
to witness the vigor with which some
persons assail the details of the bill as
presented to Congress. If the prtnci.
pie underlying the measure be correct,
just, constitutional, equitable, and right,
it is the duty of Congress to conform
the details to the principle.
W. have noted with some degree
of care the arguments of members of
Congress against the conStttutiomaLiiy
of the measure. They say, simply,
that it is unconstitutional, because
it provides that the government shall
lend money and it would be unconsti.
tutional for the government to do so.
WE PRoPo TO SHOW NEXT WEEK
by the highest judicial authority
under L government, to wit: The
Supreme Court of the United States,
that the government mag lend money
GOsthtn the Constitution. We propose to
show, further; that the government
has loaned money through the action of
the American Congress and aOlth the Vote
Of almost every member from the South
ern States.
If we shall succeed in establishing
this fact, then the only plea we have
seen entered against the constitution
atty of the Sub Treasury falls to the
ground. But will they discuss the
principles of the bill ? If so, The
PROGRESSIVE FARMER will cheerfully
give them ample opportunity to do so
through its columns.
If The PROGRESSIVE FARMER, as has
been repeatedly charged, has misrep.
resented the position of any gentle,
man on this measure, it will be only
too happy to give him an opportunity
to correct it. WI they discuss the
principles upon e0hich the bill IS based ?
They dare not do 1t.