The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-03

organizations without regard to prin.
ciples, or the voice of justice, will in
the end destroy a free people.
1t would be well for US to remember
that Washington, in his farewell ad.
dress, warned future generations
against the baneful effects of the spirit
of party.
1t is time for those who have prin,
ciples to advance,
TO ACT THE PART OF MEN
Are you slaves? What do you fear
Is it possible that for home and couu-
try, and wife and little ones, you dare
not break the chains of party, and
brook the intolerant partisan spirit
that will ~persecute you9 He whopauses
for this reason is a political
sERF AND A COWARD.
The Democratic party, Cleveland
lied, Shermanized, Ransomized, Eos
silized, Nepotized, Civil Service Hum
bugized, Centralized, Bondized and
Trustized, has been on a debauch-
drunk on Gee 1t is having gold
administered. DR.. Cleveland and his
assistants have produced blood
poisoning. The grandchild of Jetfer-
son seems doomed. l a no longer
support a party that / cannot defend,
and in which l have lost all faith and
hope, and for which 1 have no more
charity.
POPULAR Discomfort n ITS sIGNIFI-
~CANCE-THE POWER OF THE MASSES.
Not only the STUDENT of history and
of political conditions, but every intel
Iigent man knows that this is an era Of
great AID almost universal popular dis
content. To quote the words of DR..
Josiah Strong, The discomfort of the
people is more significant now than
ever before, because now the
PEOPLE R DETERMINED TO RULE
When they we're slaves, crushed IN
der law, customs, institutions and all
the rigid strata of the social structure,
their discomfort signified little until it
gathered the might OF an earthquake
sufficient to shatter society with is
upheaval. Now, numbers possess the
power and a exercise it through the
established channels of the law. What
king, or emperor, or aristOcracy may
think or propose, is Of no consequence;
but what the
MASSES THINK OR PROPOSE
is of the utmost consequence, for they
are to determine the future Of civiliza-
ton. The rich and powerful are natu
rally conservative. 1t is of course,
those who are disconnected with their
lot who want to change, hence it is
that new ideas, whether political or re
ligious, generally gain currency
FIRST AMONG THE POOR.
Evidently, popular discomfort has
profound signifi 3ance. What is that
significance? 1t is as true of society as
Of the individual, that dissatisfaction
is a sign Of upward, not downward
movement. Popular discomfort marks
a staenant civilization-China. Popu
lar restless1e marks a progressive
civiliz ation-Japan. New wants are
rungs in the ladder Of progress, and
civilization reaching up to them mounts
to something higher. The discomfort
of the masses means that they feel the
pul5ations of a new life born Of
INCREASED INTELLIGENCE
As we have seen, to add to a mans
knowledge, is to enlarge his horizon,
to make him conscious of new wants
and to show him new possibilities.
Twice before in modern times, has
there been a deep and wide spread dis
content among the people-once Onthe
eve of the great reformation of the
sixteenth century, and once on the
eveof the French Revolution. Certain
conditions which appeared just before
the former, re appeared just before the
latter. 1t is most significant that these
same conditions, among the most i'm
portant Of which is popular discomfort,
have again re appeared!
The first of these grest movements,
was primarily religious; the second was
political; the third will be
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
The first destroyed spiritual dts potism,
the second struck the death blow of
political despotism. Is it not quite
possible that the third will put an end
to economic despotism7
We have seen that popular discon
tent is widespread and deep seated.
That it will be satisf d with nothing
less than most important and far reach
ing. economic and social changes; and