The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-14
WHAT IS

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The word Democracy comes from
two Greek words which lee the
strength of the people, and, by an easy
transition in thought, the rule Of the
people.
When an intelligent nan says he is
a Democrat, he means that he IS the
friend and supporter Of that system or
theory of government in which the
people themselves are the source OF
political power. Mr.. Lincoln gave ex-
preston to the fundamental principle
of our democratic system when he
spoke of it as a government of the
people, for the people and by the peo-
pie"
The word Republic comes from two
Latin words, and means the same as
Democracy means, the only difference
being that one word is of Greek parent
age and the other of Latin origin.
But the words Democrat and Re
publican have come to mean in popular
usage something entirely different
from the genealogical senses given
above. The Democratic party of this
country is the party that holds the
view that the Constitution of the
United States should be so construed
as to give the States paramount au-
thority in the management of home
affairs. The Republican party, on the
other hand, holds that the general
government is paramount in all mat
tiers; and that the States should have
no freedom of action outside of the ex-
pressed or implied permission to act,
which the general government gives.
These two great parties differ widely
also upon questions of finance and tax
ation-upon questions of economics.
We have gone particularly into the
matters above to show that the present
Alliance movement is entirely demo
cratic-republican, if you within the
strict chronological sense which we
have explained. We believe in Mr..
LincOln's statement Of our govern
mental theory most fully. This is a
government of the people, because it
takes it's origin and derives all it's Just
powers from them. This is a govern
ment for the people because it exists
and exercises it's functions for their
benefit alone. This is a government
by the people, because any action that
may be taken by it is the action of the
people themselves, expressed through
their representatives-thei employed
servants. Now all this the Alliance
affirms most emphatically. What is
there, therefore, in the way of any
Democrat, or in the way of any Repub-
lican, to hinder him from being an
Alianceman, soul and body?
The Alliance believes in the rule of
the people, and so is democratic. The
Alliance believes in the rule of the
people, and so is republican. Any
Democrat, any Republican, therefore,
who believes in the rule of the people
can be an Allianceman without doing
any violence to his principles, or to his
conscience.
We understand it to be the aim of
the Alliance to unite all men of all
parties, who believe in the rule of the
people, in n great body, in order that
there may be in this country a real
Democratic party-a party that be-
lieves in the people and exists only for
the good of the people. Both the Demo
cratic and Republican parties, so called,
are more or less in favor of the classes,
and against the masses. We want to
build up a body that will be in favor
of the masses and against the classes.
This being our outspoken purpose, can
any man say we are trying to harm
true Democracy? Can any man say
we are trying to harm true Republi-
canism
We have now set forth exactly what
we hope to do. It will be seen that
our movement means the enlargement
and Acknowledgement Of the whole peo-
pie. We ask the confidence and sup
port of the people upon this declaration
of principles. And we shall get what
we ask.
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING?