The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-10-12

free school to be distributed
among all the States equally accord
ing to population Of school ages from
6 to 81 years, to assist the people in
maintaining free public schools"
Populists are aware that these prin'
ciples change the whole taxation sys,
tenn from the present, which, as the
American says, ''throws an undue
share OF the burdens Of government
on the poor" and will rest it most
heavily on accumulated wealth. No
honest reformer in any party can OBJ
iect to this we believe.
Turning again to the Americans
leader, we read, ''snd by legislative
and executive authority by the courts
in the interest of centralized capital,
cannot be ignored" The Peoples par
ty has given a clear deliverance on this
issue that it is thought cannot be made
palmer. In the second paragraph Of
the preamble of the Omaha platform,
it says, viz
''The urban workmen r denied the
right of organization for self protec
ton imported pauperized labor beats
down their wages; a hireling standing
army, unrecogniZed by u laws, is
established to shoot them down, and
they are rapidly degeneratiDg into
European conditions. The fruits Of the
toll of millions are boldly stolen to
build up colossal fortunes for q few,
unprecedented in the history of man
kind, and the possessors OF these IN
turn despise the Republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb
of governmental Injustice we breed the
two great classes-tramps and mil
lionaires."
Here is an arraignment of political
legislation and execution of upright
eous law that is not excelled anywhere,
nor has it been successfully controverted
but it's truthfulness has been painfully
exhibited to the whole nation within
the last sixty days in the old key
stone" commonwealth of Pennsylva
MIA of which Philadelphia is the me
troplis. But passing to the st. Louis
platform, it sets forth, under the sec
ton headed, Arbitrary Judicial Ac
tion." the Peoples party declares, VIZ:
The arbitrary cours Of the courts
in assuming to imprison citizens for in
direct contempt, and ruling by ipjunc
ton, should be prevented by proper
legislation"
1t is believed that nothing more
plain or strong need be framed.
have now noted every Issue" re-
ferred to in the Americans leader and
I think every intelligent reader must
be able to see that the Peoples party
realized the existence Of each OF the
issues and that it did at its first organ
iKation, meet them equarely and gave
a plain, though perhaps a too brief,
deliverance of principle designed as it's
reform measure in each issue.
The party has, all through these
years aside from it's unfortunate
fusion, and does yet, stand for these
reforms.
But there is one more issue now very
prominently to the front. In the 1rsS
platform it reads, viz:-"We com
mend, + = the legislative system
known as the initiative and reteren
dunn"
In the second platform it says, 1--WE
favor a system of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum,
under proper constitutional safe
guards"
Why did the American not note this
issue, for it is surely up to the front
and it will not down. Is it with our
party on this issue as well as on the
sections of the platform to which l
have heretofore referred9
There are some other features in this
very able leader of the American, that
/ wish to notice but will defer until
next week. SAMUEL ARCHIE.
Mica, N O.
Investments In the gold lands of the
South continue to be make by Ameri