The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-04-12
GENERALIZATION.

Mr.. EDITOR Once there wasa great
pride manifested in an indefinite some
thing the politicians called State SOW
erelgntY, which every one could con
strue to suit the occasion. This State
sovereignty discussion was squelched
by the war. Now comes along another
bone of contention called centraliza-
tion, which every disputant can make
to mean anything or nothing. Great
party statesmen are given to these un-
certain and indefinite questions on the
tariff, State sovereignty and centraliza-
tlon, because they neither mend nor
mar evils and comes in conflict with
no class interests. But when you talk
of free coinage of silver, anti-alien
ownership of land, the issuing of money
direct to the people instead of issuing
1t direct to banks, they shrink away
from these questions with horror and
alarm. They affect somebody's in
terests and these statemen want votes.
But we want to call attention to a
Capitalization more baneful than any
ever combatted by these politicians.
Ihls refers to party Capitalization,
which annuls all State sovereignty,
all State institutions, all the votes and
voices OF the freemen of a State. We
refer to the party caucus. We contend
that no representative has a right to
submit the Instructions he has received
from his State and the pledges he has
made to his constituents to be nulli6ed
by any man or set of men. That this
is the most hurtful kind of centraliza
tlon, base, false and cowardly. Any
man who would talk of Capitalization
and State sovereignty and so act con
trary to these things isa- politician.
GREAT AND GLORIOUR PRINCIPLES AND
TRADITIONS.
We frequently see something about
glorious principles and glorious ira .
ditiOns, and we have earnestly asked
again and again for the public press to
point them out to the people; but not
a sound Is heard, but they are great
and glorious. So far as we have been
able to gather up from the discordant
and contradictory actions of both par
ties, they have no distinctive principles
at all, either glorious or inglorious.
The only question on which they draw
lines of battle seem to be on Oneside a
tariff for protection" on the other a
tariff for revenue" and this too with
with the glaring tradition or fact that
the one passed a revenue code ignoring
the principle of protection and the
other law without regard to revenue.
So these old parties in practice deny all
their glorious principleS-that Is, the
one glorious prIfrcl!,Ie on which sthoy
Iretand to differ. Some kind friend
would do us a favor to give us clean
cut statement Of these party principles.
AS for the traditions, we have enough
of that; we prefer history And if
history is any good, the evil and the
praiseworthy is badly mixed.
THE SONG OF THE SIREN.
Our party, say s the partisan, has
al ways protected against the class
legislation Of which the people com
plain. The other party did it all. This
Is as false as false can be-false from
beginning to end. There is not a law
on the statute books at Washington
against the operations of which the
people complain, whi III was not placed
upon that book by the unprotesting
votes of men of both parties. In fact,
the parties seemed to vie with each
other to see which should win the smiles
and Doodle of the money power. Don't
deny this, gentlemen, have the record.
"NoTHING WILL MAKE NE LEAVE MY
PARTY"
The man who says this is political
heather unfit to live in Christian
civilization. He is a carbuncle on the
republic. disgrace to human reason
Parties change, and frequently they in
corporate a principle or policy which
they did not have before. The mate
rial composing a party may change its
complexion. There may be many
things desired which it will not advo
cate. Any man who will promise per-
petual allegiance to a party is a tool, if
not fool. All men who boast of their
party are tainted and dangerous. All
men should hold their votes ready to
vote for any party which in their best
judgement will promote justice and
right. This is the sentiment of Wash
ington. This is the true sentiment
Many men will sell all the better in
stincts of justice and good government
for office; but the mere voter has no
such temptation. Upon the voters de-
pend the issues Of right and good gov
ernment. NotUpon party instruments
and office-hunters. Remember this,
please, till the sun goes down,
w T