The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-26

of wealth. England, evolving from
the chaos of the dark ages, made the
possession OF @ certain amount Of Eng
lish land the chief requirement to 6
seat in her House of Lords, which il
still in force. The great commoner,
Gladstone, witnessing the eff scts Of
this system, publicly declared that I'm
lees the policy of the House Of Lords
should change, the interest of the ma
tion would demand its overthrow. In
our Republic the same barbarism ex
lists, but in another form.
1t is not required by the Constitu
ton that q Senator shall himself be the
actual possessor of wealth, but under
che present system they are often
chosen by vast combinations OF wealth,
whose special agents they become; and
our system admits of more dangers
than that of Rome or England, because
the aggregate combinations OF wealth
which center in a single Senator are
much greater, and, owing their cleo
ton to these vast combinations they
must surrender their personal convic-
lions to the dictates of their masters.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE THE
THE GREAT IssUE-THIs SHOULD BE
MAINTAINED BY THE SYSTEM OF
''DIRKCT LEGISLATION"
Isaid. M. Speaker, that the highest
interest which attaches to this bill is
she recognition Of the great principle
Of the sovereignty of the people. This
DILL, if passed, will, l trust, be also a
promise of many coordinate reforms
Tor restoring the sovereignty of the
people in all departments of govern
ment under that system of pure de
nocracy popularity known as direct
egislation."
THE SAFEGUARDS OF TRUE DEMOCRACY.
Although the recognition OF the
principle that ''all governments de-
rive their just powers from the con.
4ent of the governed" dates from the
most ancient democracy and was de-
tended by the aOlest philosophers, yet
ike the arts and sciences. it was buried
'or centuries by the despotism, in
Grigues, and ignorance Of the Middle
Ages. It has, however, mad9 gigan-
cic strides during the past fifty years in
various countries, notably among which
are the Swiss Republic and Australia,
che latter the birthplace Of u i'm
proved ballot saystem. To illustrate
che modes by which direct legislation
is conducted in Switzerland, Ishsll sub
nit as q supplement to my remarks a
brief report of a recent and most i'm
oortant referendum recently submitted
and carried.
This ia the purchase by the Swiss
Republic on February 30 of the pres
9nt year, at a cost Of 200, 600, 900
of all the railway lines of the
country. During this contest the rail
road companies used superhuman ef-
forts to influence public opinion against
the measure, disfguring natures sub
lime monuments with cartoons, one
of which represented a Swiss sheph.
erd bowed to the earth by an enormous
on his back, labeled 81 300, 600,
300 francs"
They used the same arguments
which the railroads and telegraphs of
our own country use-the dangers to
national purity attending an increase
ia G )vernment employees )" the in
OF a government to successfully
manage great business interests" etc.
Yet, Notwithstanding the immense
sums Of money expended by the rail.
road companies to defeat the measure.
Notwithstanding the fact that their
railroads are built over and through
great mountains, with tunnels over s
miles in length, the most gigantic and
Expensive engineering feats in the
national ownership won by an
overwhelming majority, the vote be
Dg 384 148 { Yes" against III, $50 No"
If we enjoy national ownership of
railroads and ~telegraphs in this coun,
Try, the whole bribery of public Offices
Legislative, executive. and ildicia'-I
oy free ''passes," telegraph franks"
and '-retainers" would not exist, ar d
he railroads could not, in conspiracy
With the money power, force the cor
;empIated gigantic issue of interest,
bearing bonds, by plundering the
public Treasury of the funds viii, b
he patriotism of the people is go freely
furnishing to carry on the war.
CONCLUDED ON 6Ta PAGE