The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-09-21
POPULIsM, DEMOCRACY AND
POLITICAL CHAOS.

lie who 0aree not lS6O anu COupTO
misses cannot be trusted with leader
ship. When a great issue is develop
ing and new questions arising, when
mems minds are in a formulative period
and there is chaos of views among even
those striving for the same general end,
when party lines are changing and the
necessary re alignment lacking in direC-
ton, then is the greatest need for lead
ership TO bring order out of chaos, to
give direction to that which lacks direc-
ton, but then too is the greatest temp
tation for would be leaders to compro
mise and avoid the responsibilities Of
leadership where announcement of
convictions may mean the wrecking OF
personal ambitions, then the smother
ing of convictions by those who are
coWed by the shadow of their own am
billions. He who seeks to shape his
convictions and views toward great
and rising questions by the effect that
such shaping of views may have on his
self advancement and who, unable to
forejudge what shaping Of views will
best promote his personal ends, comes,
so far as the public is concerned, to no
convictions at all, is untitled for leader
ship.
Two generations ago the struggle for
the emancipation Of the negro from
chattel slavery was growing into promi
hence, superseding all other issues.
Henry Clay, weighted down by his
own political ambitions that cramped
his judgment and made him a coward,
essayed to gain leadership by compro
mise. He sought to tie down the ques-
ton to one of demarcatioD between
| slave and free States to be carved out
of the national domain and he sought
to make that demarcation by compro-
mise. But the question was not COM
promisable. II chattel slavery was
wrong north of a certain parallel of
latitude it was equally wrong south of
it, if slavery was repugnant to the
great truths on which our Republic
vas founded in n part Of the country
it was equally repugnant in all. And
so the issue would no be narrowed
despite all that timid leaders could do.
The issue broadened, and would be
leaders who sought to narrow it, fear
ing that bold announcement of opposi
Eion to the institution of slavery would
make enemies and interfere with the
attainment of political ambitions, lost
che respect and confidence that can
only come with true leadership and
went down to defeat as they deserved.
So it was that Henry Clay failed in the
leadership he esssyed. He failed be,
cause, fearing to lead, he was untitled
for leadershing. Not until a true leader
came forward, q nan with great am
Oition, but with ambition to serve his
country rather than himself, whose
ability to lead was not cramped by per
sonal ambition, was the struggle for
the emancipation of the negro from
cnattel slavery crowned with SUCCESS
The new and greater struggle for
emancipation, emancipation of our
producing classes from industrial
slavery, is n 70 more comprOmisable tbs n
6he old struggle for emancipation Of
The negro from chattel slavery. The
new struggle can no more be narrowed
chan the old. TIE would be leader, the
party that would strive to narrow it
cannot be trusted. The enslavement
Of our producing classes to an oligarchy
IF wheat and the struggle for emanci
patton is developing, and as it pro
crosses new issues arise. And these
ISSUES must be met by the party that
would lead successfully. To tie down
the question Of emancipation from in
dustrial slavery to one issue, whereas
the channels by which the moneyed
nligarchy seeks to accomplish the en-
slavement Of our people are several, is
quite impossible.
TIE aggressions by which it is sought
to grind u producing classes down
into the poverty that presages indus
trial slavery are made through several
agencies, separate distinct, and
as these aggressions have developed, so
have new issues arisen. And all of
of these issues must be met. The eman
cipation of u industrial classes can
never be accomplished by meeting one
and passing the others by, never be at
tainCd by checking the a~ggressions of
oligarchy at one point and leaving it
free to pursue its aggressions at all
others, never be accomplished by over
throwing n of the agencies, severing
one OF the bonds that ties our people to
industrial slavery and permitting the
welding of other bonds for their en-.