The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-05
CARDINAL TRUTHS OF DEMoC-
RACY.
P~aternalism, What Is 1t 2--Times Have
Changed Old Foggy Politicians.

~AShSGu- OAo u FOIC1C1anS.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Roswell P. Flower,
Democratic Governor of New York,
says: 1t is a safe doctrine to assume
that this government should not do
anything for the people that the people
can do better for themselves" "This
tendency to paternalism is battling
down the boundary line of States and
~obliterating the principles upon which
u republic is founded"
We will cOncede that an individual
can do for himself better than the
State, the individual should be left to
do it. What the State can do better
for itself than the United States can
do, the State should be left to do it. It
follows as q logical sequence what the
State a do better for individuals and
a class than individuals and classes
can do for themselves than the State,
should do it, and what the United States
al do better for the States than the
States can do for themselves the United
States should do it. Is this a govern
ment of the people, for the people, by
the people? If so, who is to decide
when they shall act individually, or as
classes or in the capacity of a State, or
as all the States collectively The
people.
This is Democracy, Who shall be
the judges, the people or Office seeking
politicians? Who would be the most
likely to arrive at a correct cOnclusiOnF
What is paternalism? It is the people
of the United States seeking to do for
themselves that which experience and
common sense teach them they can
better accomplish acting as a whole
than in The capacity of States OF classes.
Every measure introduced for the
benefit of the people must stand or fall
on its merits. Ita measured is discussed
and found meritOriOuS, it is for the
people to say in what capacity they
will act. If after due elaboration they
come to the conclusion that a measure
a be secured by acting as a whole,
who is to gainsay it?
If they r wrong as to methods, it
Is the duty of those who see it to point
out the wrong. It will not do to cry
"paternalism." THE States are in
jeopardy"
These declarations, unaccOmpanied
with proof, is worthless, and no more
sense is attached to them than the lab
bering of poll parrots Every measure
introduced by the Alliance must stand
or fall or its merits. They are open to
criticism Is there a demand for those
measures? Ii there is, and it is con-
coded, then II anyone objects they
must suggest a better and show where
it is better. If they do not suggest a
remedy, then the measures must stand.
Have the opponents of the leading
Alliance measures suggested a substi
tute? Not that anyone knows of. Then
these measures must stand. The ALI
ance claims they can better secure
these measures and right their wrongs
by acting as a whole than acting as
classes or in the capacity of a State.
If they are wrong, then it is the duty
of the DIRECTORS to point out the wrongs.
Have they done it9 If they have, it
has not seen daylight yet. If the OBJ
j~ectors cannot show a better way than
the plan Of action laid out by the ALI
cry "~paternalism, the rights of the
States are inperiled." "Paternalism"
won't scare anybody. What difference
does it make whether the people act as
a whole or in the capacity of a State or
as classesl
Is the liberties Of the people any
more endangered by the people acting
as a whole any more than if they were
acting as a part? Isn't the liberties of
the people as safe in the hands of the
whole as they are in the hands of a
part9 Isn't the combined wisdom of
the people equal to that of any State9
Can the leading Ocala demands be
be~stsecured by the peopleof the United
States acting as a whole? A. I'VE de-
mand the abolition of the national
banks" Can this measure be repealed
by the people of the States9 Isn't this
not be repealed by the combined action
of tho UhOln n0fTnn9 IF TC InonnCcih1n
to make any argument against the peO-
pie acting as q whole. The system is
robbery and im~poverishes the people.
Where stands the Democrat and Re-
publican party? The machine Demo
cratic politicians cry unconstitutional
and paternalism, and the Republican
party cries unconstitutional fiat idiots.
B. 1--WE demand the government shall
establish sub treasures, or repositories,
in the several States, which shall loan
money directto thepeopIe at a low rate
of interest, not to exceed 2 per cent per
annum On non perishable products,
and also upon real estate upon proper
limitations upon the quantity of land
and amount of money" Can this be
secured by the farmers as a classi If
so how so? Why don't you tell them?
Here Is yer one half of the people
o0hAAS LIZ I6IIOL lIOLu pi060uG u0pEGS-
slons. In their combined wisdom they
have chosen to act as a whole to secure
needed relief. What is the cause of
present depression complained of by
the farmers ndlabOr unions? 1t comes
from loaning the credit of the people
to corporations outside the channels of
trade and compelling them to pay %
times more for their balance of trade
than they a make off of it, and Civ
ing this corporation the power to bear
or bull the markets as they see fit and
getting the wealth producers in debt
to the non wealth-prOducers billions of