The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-22
LOWER RAILROAD RATES AND
FARES.
The S~enatorship.
CYRUS THOMPSON.
BY w. j. PEELE.

BY w. ], PEELE.
The legislature, as suggested by the
Caucasian, can now enter upon the re.
duction Of railroad rates and fares.
Two cents q mile for second class and
two and a half cents for first class pas
seDgers, and a proportionate cut of
freight rates, will make a good start,
and will doubtless benefit both the rail
roads and the people. The government
has made more money on two cent
stamps than it did on stamps at three
cents, the reason being the business in
creased SO much. Monopoly and greed
| are rot always wisest in their own in
terest even, but if left uncontrolled,
will frequently plumber till they kill.
The people, through their representa-
tives, can be more safely trustt d, be-
cause if they find they are doing in
jury or injustice, they will keep chang
ing until they get it right. They have
an interest both in themselves and in
the railroads, while the roads are in
terested mostly for themselves; and
very often greed blinds too much for
clear d~iscernment. The constant re-
duction in the price of farm products
makes g reduction in railroad rates
and fares imperative. The high sal
aries of officials and their preference
for a gold standard indicates great
prosperity in the midst of surrounding
poverty. This is all right, provided
the prosperous do not prey upon the
poor. Ali special privileges become
devourers of the poor unless they are
carefully guarded by those in authority.
P. Ex-senator Pritchard's alleged
re conversion to Friendship to silver
shows, if true, how liable he is to a
change Of heart. He reminds me OF
the old school teacher who told the
school committee that it was a matter
of indifference to him whether the
world was round or fat; that he could
teach either the round or fat theory"
as the committee might desire. Allthh9-
old man wanted was a place and a sal.
airy. Pritchard, it seems, will adopt
any views upon silver if he be allowed
to peacefully hold the S~enatorship and
the salary thereto attached.
The protested silver man who votes
for such a friend to silver as that,
can hardly realize how the people of
North Carolina will regard him.
A man vino will employ a servant in
any private business of consequence
whose heart is not in it, is regarded as
a fool. The Popuiists are asked to en-
ploy a servant in a great public bust,
ness who, according TO his own testi-
mony as disclosed by his letter, has
had a change of heart since his election,
and who, his friends now claim, has
gone back to his first love again. The
man who ran for the legislature as a
protested enemy Of the single gold
standard will stultify himself, to say
the least of it, if he votes for a U. s.
Senator who is thus backsIidiDg or
playing hide and seek with the POpU-
lists on the silver question.
Plenty Of North Carolinians can be
found Of character and ability who are
honestly in favor of the money of the
! Constitution. Their hearts are in the
peoples cause upon this great question.
They will lot content themselves with
voting for financial measures which
will relieve the people, they will work.
Ransom voted for the free courage of
SILVER for many years when the ques.
ton came up; his vote could not pass
it. But when his vote was 9eded he
voted against it. His heart was not in
the cause. He backslided when the
crucial test came, al come it must to
all. And now, with Ransom's fall and
failure upon every tongue, it is serious
" proposed to elect q man to do what
he did whenever his crucial test shall
come. If the Populists have gained
the confidence Of the people and gone
into power denOunciDg Ramon as q
traitor to his State and section, what
shall be said of them if they Detray the
confidence of the people by electiDg
a man they know, or have every rea-
son to believe, is not a true friend to
their cause, wen if he should now pro-
TESS another ante election change of
heart.
It will take a great deal of Mark
Hanna's money and McKinley's spoils
to compensate ever a political adven-
tuTer for such sacrifice Of principle.
If the Populists send a gOldbug to
the Senate, or q half hearted silver
man (Who is the least to be trusted of
the EwCO thew will have wPitEon their