The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-21
LET CONSERVATISM PREVAIL.

The Newton Enterprise is sorry to
see that THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, of
week before last contained editorials
written by Col. Polk r~epudiating the
conservative position taken by the
paper two weeks ago.
The opinion then expressed was that
two paramount issues are: tariff reform
and the free coinage of silver, and that
with the proper management, these
could be secured with absolute GER
tainty. This being the case it was very
imprudent to risk all by c~ontending for
those demands about which there was
serious doubts"
That is all right. You just simply
argue that the tail should wag the dog.
AllianCemen refuse to be the tail to any
party dog. The dog must have the
exquisite pleasure Of wagging his own
tail now and then. Alliancemen con-
tend that tariff reform and the free
coinage of silver are absolutely neces-
sary at this time, but when the coun-
try is suffering with several diseases, it
is like a sick man. 1t will do no good
to poultice a boil on the back of his
neck and then let him die with gan
creme. This country is suffering with
gangrene; it has it bad. Only vigorous
remedies will cure this great financial
disease. The Sub-Treasury will no
doubt knock the disease Timber.
But of course the other diseases must
be treated. Hence the need of other
remedies suggested at Ocala.
The Enterprise then uses the follow
ing language:
Nothing great in craftsmanship in
any age, so far as we are aware, has
ever been accomplished by extremists.
The best features of all governments
and the best laws of every country are
the fruits Of compromises. The COnsti-
tuition of the United States is a pure
bundle of compromises. In the light
of history and the light Of reason, it is
therefore not creditable to any man or
set Of men to say we will stand by all
our demands and have all or none.
This is equivalent to saying that all
who think differently from us must
surrender everything or we will go
with them no longer"
You are right, Bro. Enterprise. They
are the fruits Of compromises. We
have been offering to compromise all
along. You fellows are the extremists.
You boys claim that we must surrender
everything or yOu WiU 60 aCith as no
longer. We must simply put our
tongues in our pockets and accept
your terms Of compromise.
Why, of course we will compromise.
Why not? Have we not compromised
all the time? How did America come
to have one thousand m~illiOnaires if
we failed to compromise? We have
compromised until Wall street gam
blers control the prices of all our
products to a great extent. They con
troll elections, put their hands in the
U. S. Treasury when they get short
and make both ends meet. We have
compromised until railroad and other
corporations have grown vastly rich in
a few years. We have compromised
until the per capita in circulation has
been reduced from $50 in 1866 to Sc in
1891. We have compromised until
many hundred millions of dollars
worth Of land is under mortgage. In
1850, 20 per cent. of our entire wealth
was owned by our agricultural popula-
ton. In 1891 less than % per cent. is
owned by our farmers. Would this
be 50 If we had failed to compromise?
Certainly we will compromise. But