The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-28
HEATHENISM

Mr. EDITOR Now what is heathen-
ism? Is it necessary to have an image
made of wood, stone or brass before
which to bow in humble devotion
thereto o make a heathen? If so, we
have not over six millions Of heathens
in America. If it does not require this
we have about fifty millions. I would
like for some astute philosopher to
settle this point so the average Ameri-
can a know exactly his religious
status.
We put our definition of a heather
this way: Any person who has a blind
faith in anything earthly al to its eff
cheney or goodness, and that faith not
directed by sound sense or reason, but
from a long standing habit, by birth or
circumstances, is a heathenin a limited
sense. This will make several kinds of
heathens. First class-The worshipper
of images. Second class-Democratic
heathens. Third class-Republican
heathens. Fourth class-Sectarian
heathens. Fifth class-Believers in
ghosts, spirits and dreams. To these
may be added many more. To be sure
there is a little heathenism in the make
up of every man, and hecannOt always
help it. But he should strive to do so.
To be understood, we don't say all
image worshippers, all Democrats, all
Republicans, all Sectarians and all be-
levers in ghosts and dreams are
heathens. Far from it. But we say
all persons who have blind faith in
them not directed by sound sense and
reason, but from a long standing habit,
by birth or circumstances, are heath
ems This is what l say, and nobody
is going to deny it
Why do we talk about heathens?
Because we want to break their faith
in their old id )ls and induce them to
come over to the help of the people in
their struggle for their rights. Heath
enism is the parent of slavery the dark
est, the foulest and most wretched
slavery. You know it. Everybody
knows this. Then to remain and to be
a free people, you must throw AVA
heathenish things. The strength of
plutOcracy lay in the political heather
ism of the people, in the power of money
to corrupt. Will you not make one to.
break this power and save the Re-
public?
Where are the sons of the sires of the
revolution? Don't you see the issue
and note the crisis? What are Won
going to do? Listen to the siren SONGS
of the tools of Wall street. AWAY with
you'll Freedom, Christian civilization
and human progress in the right has
no use. for you. Go and help enslave
your children and then die. and rot.
Some call themselves Christians
The God of battles was never on the
side of p~lutocracy. On which side are
you? Can rotten and corrupt govern
ment maintain for long a pure Chris
tianity? Don't you know that the
moral and Christian integrity of a
people is always moulded by the gov
ernmen 2 Like king like people, And
you sit idly by and read political trash
from paid tools until the wave of black
desolation sweeps over you? Stumps
in the road of Christian civilization
which needs be grubbed up. This
world cannot stand still a day. If it
should it would fly from it's orbit, burst
into ten thousand fragments and be
burned up. Stagnation is death. Mo
ton is life. Let's proceed. Come, all
you soldiers of the cross. Let's pro
coed. Don't take the side of the poll
tician where the most money is. There
are brighter jewels of Christian glory
among Gods poor than ever daZzIed
on the breast of a p~lutocrat.
Wait awhile till I make I'm nv
! mind" Today if you'll hear the voice