The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-14
REVOLUTION IS INEVITABLE
But it Must be Made to Come Peacefully
Through Evolutionary Methods.

amount as to exceed the ability OF the
people to pay; therefore the situation
with which we stand face to face Is one
of race freedom from, or race slavery
to, debt and usury.
A revolution is even now impending,
which must be, peacefully through
evolutionary methods, or suddenly
through much of blood and suffering
and loss im~measurable, and must ulti-
mate in lifting the ace to a higher
plane and a purer and better civiliza
ton or turn it backwards in the direc-
ton of savagery.
Whether it ultimates in barbarism
or a higher and better civilization mag
tUeH depend upon Whether 1t comes
through blood or peacefully. The pas
sions, prejudices and hatreds engen
dered by internicine war, I'VE if the
struggle ends in the overthrow Of plu-
tocracy, offer no sure pledge of suf-
cient wisdom, patient endeavor, for
bearance and brotherly love remaining
with which to build anew, and better
than before, our social fabric.
1t is better and wiser to exercise the
forbearance and brotherly love and to
put forth the earnest endeavor now,
than to wait the coming of revolution
through force, a better and a wiser and
a surer way out of our difficulties, and
such a way must be found or made,
and upon this brief statement of con-
ceded facts and reasonable conclusions
based upon those facts, that l offer a
plan for organization, education and
final peaceful, a well as comparative
" speedy, evolution from the old into
the better nsw, trusting that twenty
years of service in the reform ranks,
nearly equally divided between the
North and the South, will be accepted
as a guarantee of good faith on my
part and secure to the propositions at
least a thoughtful reading and consid-
Grafton.
1t will be observed that the plan pro
posed does not interfere with existing
organization or propose to replace them
In any degree, but will rather assist
them by performing a kind of recruit
ing service through the education of
the masses upon economic questions.
The plan is the most simple, most in
expensive and, I believe, most effective
means of educating the people possible
to devise and offers a reasonable prom
Use of preventing a revolution through
blood and of working a peaceful and
complete solution of our troubIes-the
final and universal emancipation of
the race from slavery through debt.
And this is the plan:
1st. The organization of
"CLUBS OF INFORMATION"
to be as nearly informal as possible, to
avoid all local expenses, to meet in a
social way in private houses, the total
cost to be a fee Of five cents at enroll
ment and a fve-c quarterly due,
both to go to the national head center.
This, small as it is to the individual
member, will, if the enrolment equals
my expectations, be sufficient to main
tain the expense of keeping up com
munication between the clubs and the
head center, pay for the necessary
printing and help sustain, for the time
being, those clergymen who would
gladly preach the gospel of human
rights, if they, like the rest of man.
kind, were not bound with the slave
aboiou Of tho poonov pOuor
I propose to free such as wish to be
freed and set them at work within the
church, that they may show to the
people the truth, that teachings
are those of Him whom the orthodox
world calls Master" That there are
many men and women of wealth whose
hearts are not hardened and whose
understanding is not closed to a per-
ception of the dangers which threaten
civilization, who will gladly con-
tribute to this work, I do not in the
least doubt, and in time and in turn
the clergy sustained in their work tenn
porarily will become fund -raisers for
the further prosecution of the work of
liberating the race everywhere from
slavery to debt and usury.
Into these clubs of investigation will
come all who wish honestly to con-
slider the causes for existing conditions,
and the absence of all formality and
the tri1ing expense attending will, 1
believe, make fve-cent contributors of
at least a million of men and women
within twelve months, who, while thus
educating themselves and each other,
will be furnishing the means by which