The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-06-26
written for THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.1
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
Joe Jackson Now Gives q Few Thoughts
Stolen at Stray Moments From
Lies Varying Scenes.

NO. 4.
We want Conscientious men-men
who love the right for rights sake, who
nate the wrong because it is wrong.
we want men who have "shown their
faith by their works, who have proven
their worth beyond a shadow of a
doubt" We want men who will make
the causes they represent more popu-
lar, men who will add lustre to their
positions. We want moral men, men
who believe in God and humanity, men
who have felt the stings of the worlds
vanity, and folly. We want working
men, men who know by experience the
wants and wrongs of the people. We
tollers have been ruled too long by the
ldlers. No wonder politics is at so low
an ebb when we think of the number
OF lawyers in Office. On the farm, in
the store, in the factory, in the mine,
everywhere we find able toilers who
can lead in State affairs. These men
know labor's wrongs and would right
them. They have felt the cold grasp
of poverty's hand would try to blast
that hand. They have wept over
empty bins and shivered amid the
SHOWS In thread bare garments and
toiled intears, and doyou suppose such
men would vote for Wall streets sake9
No, they would die first.
We want young men. Tom. Dixon's
public life began in the North Carolina
legislature. Trust these men till they
prove false to their trusts. We have
many a Dixon here now if we'd only
give them a chance. Push the young
men to the front. We need their manly
strength and noble hearts to battle in
our cause. We need true men who
will not desert their colors in the hour
Of toll, men who abhor traitors, men
who would die rather than desert their
comrades. We want progressive men
-reformers. 1t takes lots Of manhood
to stand up against old follies and fogy
ideas, but it must be done. We want
orators and writer's. We should praise
such and give them a word of cheer, a
smile of peace ever and anon. All, it
does a fellow good to be praised some
times, and it don't hurt anybody. We
get weary of writing and speaking
when nobody seems to appreciate our
efforts. Of course our orations and
writings are often very frail, and there's
not much in them, but when we do
the best we can, don't get angry with
us. It's not. very funny to think day
after day and write night after night
trying to help the principles that we
think are right and then get no reward
for all our labor. "Taffy" is cheap,
but there's a power behind it, if we
only knew it. We want men who are
more ambitious to help their country
than themselves. I used to think I'd
like to be a "big" man and have my
name on every tongue, but I 10 care
nothing for such foolish dreams. The
only reason in the world / would want
an Office would be to use it to the good
of humanity. I'd rather be a tramp
than president if a tramp had as much
power to do good as a president has.
To hearken to my personal wishes l
never would hear another thing about
politics, but if we all give up what will
become of the country9 Somebody is
bound to toll, to strive, to fight in these
times. I'd rather sit back away from
the turmoiIs, away from the hum of the
political pot as it boils and Sizes, but
somebody must fight for the peoples
interests.
Give me a homely, thatched cottage
on a little farm and I could be far hap
pier than amid the din of Congress, but
somebody must do this, why not youI
He who makes our laws makes our
liberties, and hence we should be care
full in Sc Letting Office holders. Give us
statesmen and patriots for officers.
Down with a modern mockery, the
greatest farce on earth, modern poll
tics. There is plenty of manhood LETT
in our State, there are plenty of honest
men who love their country, who will
uphold a just cause; they can't afford
to do otherwise. 1 love that man who
earnestly upholds what he honestly
thinks is right, though he thinks
directly contrary to me.
The politicians will see this. They
will soon cease to cry anarchists,
fools, knaves," because it don't pay. ]
always feel sorry when people suffer.
I always take the side of the weak and
oppressed. I forgive everybody fol-
wrongs they do me. I have not an
enemy ON earth that I know of. love