The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-10-07
LETCER FROM CHATHAM
COUNTY.
The Kind of Legislation we Need.
PITTsBoRO, n. @.

PITTsBoRo, N. @.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I read The PROGRESS,
sIvE FARMER with new interest every
week. | admire the bold and fearless
stand it takes for the interest of the
farming and lahoring classes, and l
am sure that it is growing stronger
and stronger every week in the conf.
dence of the people. The people will
not abandon their own cause. They
could not do this without a loss of
self respect.
An enquiry as to what we need will
not DE inappropriate now. We need:
First, that legislation, both State and
National, should be more in the in
terest of the farming and laboring
classes and less in the interest of the
favored few. The tendency of the
government to drift into the type of
European despotism, of titled nobility
and slaves, of millionalres and serfs,
must and shall be checked and it shall
be made in fact as we'll as in name a
government of, for and Oy the people.
1t is the farming and laboring classes
that have made the wealth of this
country. They pay It's taxes, and
when need be, fight its battles. they
will take care of themselves.
Second. To secure this end, reason
and truth must assume their empire
and sway over the minds and hearts
of the people; and passion and preju.
dice must be suppressed.
The sectional and party prejudice
which has existed and which still ex-
lists in this country, is a reproach to
our civilization. 1t has contributed
more than all other causes combined
to our present depressed condition. 1t
stirs up strife, discord and dissention
throughout the length and breadth of
this country. 1t is intended to blind
the people and deceive them. Unless
1t is checked it will destroy this gov
eminent. "Behold he eateth and
drinketh with sinners was the cry
made against the greatest teacher
that ever came into the world. 1t is
the cry thai is always made when
other arguments fail. But this cry
will not avail. The Gre It Teacher
will be triumphant. Love and harmony
will take tie place of strife, hate and
discord.
Whenever this is the case, and not
till then, the interests of the farming
and lsboring classes will become the
interest of the government. If the
government took the same care in
providing for the welfare of the peo.
pie that 1t does in seeking the inter.
estS OF It's pets, the people would be
much better off; they would have en-
Ployment at which they could earn an
honest living; they would have com
Iortaole homes. In a word they
would have a free, independent, un.
life.
IHird' Taxes mus be greatly re.
ouced and the farming and laboring
Ci@SseS must pay a smaller proportion
" tnem. The most rigid economy
HlusV De enforced in our National,
DS@'0 ana county government. Every
,19o expense must be cut off, every
SS01e'S Office abolished. Salaries and
ICES must be greatly reduced and a
iuS' and equitable equation established
" Ia" between the wages of the
.fGoief and the compensations of
T TTce'Hoiders and professional men.
81 1IIs Will be equal and exact Justice to
o. and special favors to none.
A. nave been fully identified with
fn0 farmers and laborers' movement
VIII lis beginning in this State, four
LIARS ago, up to the present. l have
'09H a worker in that movement and