The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-12-15
THE TWO

Almost every day we read of some
body saying he is a "Jetfersonian
Democrat" or a "LincOlnian Republi
can" If you are the same of either of
these statesmen in principle and prac-
tice you are all right as a citizen and
as a partisan. But how many of the
leading men of either party follow the
teachings and practice of the illustri-
Gus men of days gone by? Do you
! suppose that either Jefferson or Lin
coin would recognize the party plat
forms of to-day? Read what a few
statesmen have said:
Andrew jackson said in his farewell
address while crltIciZing the national
bank: 1T openly claimed the power
of regulating the currency throughout
the United States In other words, it
asserted (and undOu otedly ~pOssesSed)
the power to make money plenty or
scarce at it's pleasure"
O. p. Morton: There is gathered
around the capital of this nation a gang
of pirates who Numbered successfully
at the doors until they have driven this
government into the most prepQster-
| Gus acts of bad faith and legalized rob
berry that ever oppressed a free nation
since the dawn of history"
Thomas Jefferson: Il sincerely be-
lieve with you that banks are more
dangerous than standing armies. Put
down the banks, and if this country
cannot be carried through the longest
war against her most powerful enemy
without loading us with perpetual
debt, | know nothing of my country
men"
Salmon P. Chase: MY agency in
procuring the passage of the national
banking act was the greatest financial
mistake of my life. 1t has built up a
monopoly that effects every interest in
the country. 1t should be repealed.
But before this can be accomplished,
the people will be arrayed on One side
and the banks on the other in a contest
such as we have never seen in this
country"
Abraham Lincoln: Monarchy is
sometimes limited at as a possible
refuge from the powers of the people.
1t would be scar cely justified were | to
omit exercising a warning voice against
returning to d%espOtism. 1t is the effort
to place capital above labor in the
structure of the government. l bid
the labOring people beware of surren-
dering a power which they now pos
ess, and when surrendered their lib
erty will be lost"
John @. Calhoun: place the non
power in the hands Of a combination of
a few individuals and they by expand
ing or contracting the currency may
raise or sink prices at pleasure, and by
purchasing when at the greatest de-
preston and selling when at the great
est elevation, may command the whole
property and industry of the CON-
munlty The banking system concen
trates and places this power in the
hands of those who control it. Never
was an engine invented better calcu
lated to place the destinies of the many
in the hands Of the few"
Abraham Lincoln said in 1865: Yes,
we can all congratulate ourselves that
this cruel war is drawing to a close. It
has cost a va t amount of treasure and
blood. The best blood Of the flower of
American youth has been freely offered
upon IA country's altar that the ma
ton might live. It has indeed been a.
trying hour for the republic, but [ see
In the near future a crisis arising which
unnerves me and causes me to tremble
for the safety of my country. AS a re-
suit of the war, corporations have been
enthrOned. and an era of corruption in
high places will follow, and the O
power Ct the country will endeavOr to
prOlOng It's reign by working upon the
p~rejudlces Of the people until all wealth
is aggregated in a few hands and the
republic is destroyed. l feel at this
time more anxious for the safety of nv
country than ever before even in the
midst of the war. God grant that my
fears may prove groundless."
[Ifthose men were living to-day they
would be in the Alliance movement and
they wouldn't advise the people to wait
till judgment day before they do some,
thing.-EDIToR.