The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-26
LEGISLATURE OF NORTH CARO-
LIMA, ATTENTION.
correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.

IF Ia q momentOuS Qu0StAOu "AOUHOA
or not the legislature will bring about
the headed reform for which 1t was
elected. We will wait and see.
The last legislature has made It's
record. but not for reform, and cannot
mass e~xcusable. In retributive prov1
dence it has gone into hands loudly
cIamouring for reform. And, as such,
it is big with opportunities, solemn for
obligations, and. should failure attend
It. awful for consequences.
Tt should go without saying that the
statute books are to be relieved of all
fraudulent election laws. North Caro-
lima will not a~cquiesce in anything
short of it.
Another special thing claiming pub
lie attention is the obnoxious extorting
taxation law oppressively and unjustly
laid upon the poor peddiing Jew. And
the noble executive body cannot come
out with garments unsinged, nor with
out the ''smen of fire and birthstone"
should it dare not to modest the oppres-
sive measure.
Be it remembered the reform move
ment stands firmly on an eternal basis
of equal rights to all and special
favors to none" Seeing the greatest
good to the greatest number, surely
the honored body cannot escape severe
censure and merited judgment should
the measure in question receive not
an equitable adjustment.
am indebted to one Of the race for
the information, and the absence OF
that to be pitied ace from bending
under the burdens of their occupa-
ton as in former days justifes the in
formers word, for, when as more than
than two years ago in the heated cam
paign of '92, a certain Mr.. F.,
coming out of his store, assailed me
for being a Populist and not a Demo
crat, and, like the masters he was
serving, for he was a victim of the
court house ring, he was prosely ting
for his party. Poor fellowl He ought
to have known better, for the Demo
cratic men to represent this county
both in the House and Senate were big
merchants, and that class were enemies
to his occupation, but such is party
zeaI I demonstrated, but that could
not be for him. So time sped On till
the legislature elected had well nigh,
or quite closed it's remarkable session
when the same Mr.. r came rudg
ing along, and I vas glad to see him,
but, alasl ! soon discovered a total
want of that flaming party zeal in his
carriage and countenance, for, 10! his
voice and GESTURES alike betrayed him
@ poor victim to some sad disappoint-
ment. Exclaimed, "Well, Mr. F.
what has the legislature done for you9'
"Well to tell you the truth, it has
slapped an extra ten dollar tax on me"
he answered. l then inquired how
much taxes he had been been paying
h~eretofore9 He said his taxes hereto.
fore were ten dollars and nov they
were twenty. Then, expressing grief
and regrets for voting as he did, he
vowed discontinuance of his occupa-
ton as he would not be able to stand
up under it. l was truly sorry for
him and his brethren.
o. shame upon enlightened states
men and cruel laws that would dare to
Cypress the poor of an enlightened
and Chistian land out of their heaven
destined employment.
But a new body goes in and, true to
principle and to its policy, will it, in
the fear of Him who ordaineth all
government, steer clear clear of class
legislation7 If not, too many will
sanction its downfall. Any law com
polling the poor merchant Jew to pay
In more revenue to his capitol than
any other being of like calling is abom-
Unable and wicked, as any one may see,
not from principle only, but from the
Jew himself shown up in his true
light.
In the first place, the same mail
able right must be accorded them as
to other citizens. In fact, it may we'll
be doubted whether any of us or our
ancestors have as much right here as
they have, for facts are at hand to
show that they have a divine charter,
so to speak, which non other can
claim, for the Lord says, And I will
scatter you among the h~eathens,
Levitt. 26 :S3; land the Lord shall
scatter you among the nations" Deut
4:27; "And the Lord shall scatter thee
amonO all naonIe from ono and oF tbe