The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-04-17
ONLY A TRAMP.
NO 1n

eyes. Let us e "Human virt1a do.
mands her champions and martvrs
and the trial of persecution always
proceeds" Every reform was n a
private opinion, and when it shall be a
private opinion again it will solve the
problem of the age Each new law
n political movement has meaning
for you" Count Leo Tolseoi, q Russian
writer OF some note, says: IF the
farmer does not possess land, a house.
n a scythe; if the shoemaker has not
q house, water and awl-then that
means that somebody has driven the
farmer OF of his land, and has taken
away from him, by force or fraud, his
scythe, cart, and horse" What is
the cause of the fact that some people.
IN possession of land and capital, q
enslave those men who DO not possess
land and capitals The answer which
occurs to common sense is that this re-
suits from money, which possesses the
quality of converting people into
slaves"
And where, as in all European So
c1etles, men by force exploit the labor
OF thousands of men and regard it as
their prerOgative, while the latter sub
NIT to force and regard it another
duty, there we have slavery in terrible
proportions" But according to
science, all that everybody regards as
owl 10 in roolitu N oororoo1 5-o-~a.
it turns out that there is an lnsignif-
cant majority of men Who alone know
what the common good consists of and
despite the fact that all the rest OF
mankind consider the common good
evil, the minority, in forcing the evil,
all the rest Can consider this evil as
common good"
But l think, sir, you are convinced
that if you want to be on the popular
side in the long run, the truth always
comes out ahead. Some time, some
way, you had better leave your gold
bug co-adjutators and join the ranks
of the pushing, patriotic IONS Of toll
and tears. And all he could answer
vas
20, you're only a tramp; go talk
your nonsense to the ignorant farmers.
They believe every fool doctrine that
comes along, anyway; it's no wonder
they are getting so poor"
But he forgot to say that they had
reached this condition under Grover
Cleveland's watchful care, subject to-
gold bug policy. They've got the
chance" but we've got no change
scarcely a nickel.
l met an old soldier of our profession
the other day, n who has counted
the o ties along many a railroad
track, and one whose tears have glist-
ened in many a noon day sun, and he
said that tramping was getting to be a
hell of a business. Being a Methodist,
l didn't quite understand his language,
but reckon he meant that this, like all
other enterprises, is retrOgrading. But
we must learn how sublime a thing
it is TO suffer and be strong" As we
wander % and fro in this world, trampS
get very near to natures heart.
Just low we see the foot prints of
spring coming closer and closer to
view. Soon the hooking bird and the
red bird and the thrush will begin
their joyous songs, and lin the spring
a young mans fancy often turns to
thoughts of love" 1 stopped at an old
farm house a few days since. A beau
tiful lassie of some eighteen summers
with mild, blue eyes and love lit cheeks
| and heart as pure as The angel hearts
were, sitting on the porch reading The
! PROGRESSIVE FARMER. While an en-
trancing smile sweet 40 the violet or
pansy played about her lovely lips, che
said: Come in, sir. You look weary,
won't you have q seati" I answered,
"Well, sweet Miss, as I'm only q tramp,
I won't tarry but for a moment.
How do you like that paper you were
just readingi Seems like everybody
takes it every where l CO." 20, l think
it a splendid paper" she said, but L
do wish they'd have something more
in it abou5 things we are interested IN.
Finance, land and transportation are
all right, but we girls would rather
read a little poetry and a little non
sense and a great deal about love. If
I get q chance I'm going to tell Mr..
Ramsey to give us a short article on
some familiar theme, something like
kissing for instance" l said, You
are about half right, I'll admit, and as
| am writing a few letters to this wide