The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-05-08
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
Farmers are the Producing Class and
Should Rule UncrOwned Kings are
Between the Plough Handles.


portance to principles" Just as long
as principle rules this nation Just that
long will this nation stand. To-day
principle versus policy is in eternal
combat. Just so long as the toiling
masses of America are oppressed just
that, long our nation is treading with
the iron heel of despotism upon her
most sacred interests upon her house
hold altars. It is the farming class
who 'have borne the ark of our civili-
zation" and have driven forward the
wheels of our industrial progress.
Upon their shoulders have rested those
empires which have adorned the pages
of history, whose rulers history re-
cords with fame while they are name
less. The farmers hold the reins of
government-touch the mainsprings of
pOwer-wield the omnipotent Uor pOp
UIi, UOc det, !" the sceptre of all rightly
administered popular government, the
divine right of all equality. Our rural
population is greater by three times
than our city populace One fourth of
America is housed within the walls of
cities. One fourth of her wealth, her
brain power, her merchandise, yet our
rural populace still clutches the sceptre
OF citizenship. The morality of sterling
integrity of our masses, our country
yeomanry can yet stem the tide of
wrong and sorrow and the tale of want
and oppression-of poverty, which
stalks unbidden through our thorough
fares and like Banquo's ghost, will not
down tale of riot and dissipation un-
tempered by wise legislative acts shall
be no longer a menace to our civdizs-
tion and the regret of our historians.
For against it the history of the toiling
masses bears the story of an uncrowned
king. He has never ruled but always
served. Conquerors rode in triumphal
chariots bedecked with flowers while
he is nameless. He mined the gold
that was fashioned into the crown and
yet that crown did never press his
brow. He has woven the robe of
Bacchus feast, reared the massive pal
ace of the king and within it's shadow
lived in want. Why has he made the
cave his dwelling place., the frugal
meal his repast and nature his guide.
Why has he come to US unwept, union
ored and unsungG Because he was the
common man. He is the orator who
has never had an audience. The poet
whose song has ever been unsung. The
man who has never received his due
recognition at the hands Of his fellow
men.
Sovereignty looks up; the common
man looks down. Most gems are low;
a few are high. The holy grail is some
times far but oft times near.
1t has been the work of the farming
class to sing the Marsellaise,0R univer-
sal freedom near the throne of the des-
pot, the palace Of the king. By him it
will yet be heard along the Rhine, the
Danube's flow, in SiOeria's desert waste
and among Wall street monopolists.
Greatness may dwell in a hut and wor-
ship in a cave. Before Wall street
boarded a single dollar the labOrer
washed it from the mountain sand.
The American farm house is the home
of the American king. The American
millionaire is attended by martial
music as he walks abroad and in his
path are scattered trophies. He bears
the purse strings of a nation, but the
man at the home f1reside holds the
heart strings Of nation.
To day we need men, men whom the
Iusts of office cannot kill, men whom
thespoils of Office cannot buy, men who
have opinions and a will, men who
have honor. Issuch man to be fOund9
The soaring shaft that stands by Po-
tomac's stream answers yes! The
school house, the college answers yes
Every boy who to-day walks behind
the plow from thousand places made
sacred by the sleeping of heroic dead
comes the answer yes. Oh universal
man, thou art he. The common man,
the heir apparent, an uncrowned king,
Day by day amid dim camp-fres,
amid the smoke of battle there comes
to us this figure from the middle ages,
uttering many noble song, many
hopeful poem has pealed from his lips
He touched the peasant and told him
he was a prince fit to wear crown of
myrtle and bear the weight of just and
righteous laws, bore the spirit OF lib
ertv where the walls of pagan temples
stood, where the priests of slavery and