The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-04
zee PaoPLn,s PLArFoRM.


Progressive Democracy.
speolal Correspondence Of The Progressive Far.
CHAPTER 1.
That which pertains to the DISPOSE.
ton of public matters, to the rules and
regulations or laws pertaining TO the
government of this country or any
part Of it, is Political Economy for the
people of the United States, or it is the
Peoples Politics and a formula of the
fundamental principles involved in this
economy may be called the Peoples
Political Platform.
In our Republic it is the science
which treats Of government of the peo-
pie in all departments.
The person who understands this
science thoroughly in every depart
ment and how TO apply it so as to pro-
mote the liberty and happinessot the
people is a proficient statesman.
In the United States, The people are
the government, that is, they hold the
right and power TO formulate and ad.
minister ell their laws. Therefore,
every man who casts q vote should I'm
derstand the fundamental principles
upon which is built the system Of each
department Of the government.
For example, the Franchise is the
system which maintains and regulates
the interest rights of the people to vote
and govern themselves.
The Financial System pertains to
money or the medium Of exchange
which the geople use In the purchase
and sale Of their products or property.
The Taxation System is that which
involves the taxes collected from all
the people, rich and poor, for all gov
eminent purposes, national, State,
county and municipal.
The transportation system involves
the public carriage of ali the people
their products, property and mail. or
all public communications.
SO we might speak of the legisla.
tive, the executive aud judiciary, as
each constitutes q separate system in
the political economy Of our govern
ment.
~ The Farmers Alliance was organized
for the purpose Of promoting the indus
trial welfare Of the class Of people
known as farmers and also to pro-
mote the best principles and politics Of
the political economy pertaining to
themselves and all people in the gov
ernment.
It is not necessary to argue this pc
sition, but I simply refer to the pre-
amble and constitution where we see
that ''equRl rights to all and special
privileges to none' covers the whole
science Of political economy and that
all its politics, systems and principles
In government are proper subjects of
discussion as well as all subjects per-
tanning to agricultural pursuits or SO
cial life; not, however, in a partisan
sense or from a party standpoint.
The Order is absolutely prohibited
from binding the membership to any
political party or to any sect in reli
Gion. In these the membership is to
have untrammeled liberty. I men
ton this to show that it is no infringe.
ment on my own rights or the rights
of others as members of the oder to
discuss political economic principles in
the organ of the Alliance.
I want to have a plain, common
sense discussion Of the principal sys
TENS In our government economy,
through the columns Of The Progress
sIVR FARMER
In doing so, 1 will take them up in
order as presented above In this arti.
Gle, giving a short chapter each week
for perhaps three months.
The first subject is the Franchise,
which involves self government that is
now mainly exercised through the bal.
lot box by aAvote in which makers and
executors Of laws for the people are
chosen.
Our government is Democratic (peo-
pie goVerD) in principle, but Republi-
can in form; that is, through repre-.
sentative:servants (not bossee).
The fundamental principle inherent
with our government and upon which
the fabric rests, in that the people ehall
rule; that is, they shall, by agreed to
mRjorities. make and execute all the
laws.
Our people have proved within the
hundred and twenty two years of our
national existRnce that such govern.
ment is practical, promotes liberty and
urges progressive humanity onward