The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-15

Initiative and Referendum IS q key 20
unlock the mysteries and schemes of
oppression. We also gave our ides on
hnance-that we should have only
three kinds of money, gold silver and
legal tender all Of equal potency.
We then gave q verse or two against
monopoly-Arst on the money monop-
oIy-for the free coinage of silver 16
to for the government to coin and
issue it's own money and control il by
it's own system-for the government TO
commence to lay and operate the most
oppressive monopolies and by the in
terest On money loaned and profits to
be finally able to do with the collec-
ton oRtaxes. Perhaps in talking this
way we may be living ahead Of our
age or grRsping at m~oonshine.
We have gone so far as to tell how
the thing may be done, which was not
required Of US as a platform writer;
but it is better when a person advances
a new political thought to- show the
mechanical effect of the same.
To carry out the plans proposed We
could not ct first ease to collect or
divert any taxes from their present
uses, and if there came q surplus it
could go in as capital TO be loaned out.
In ten years we would increase our
legal tender between two and three
billions of dollars and that generally
so as not to disturb business and have
them as good as gold.
Nevertheless we would not advocate
the government ownership Of monop-
olies, il there was any other way pro
posed as good. The law against them
is worthless; the courts Z OF little
good; the commissioners Intellectual;
and the only way out of it that I can
now see is government ownership. Be
sides, it is a natural government func.
ton. The government itself is a mo
nopoly and all these little one are
palpable usurpations of government
rights. Should it be asked il the gov
eminent charges a profs where does
the good come inf It gives the gov
eminent command for the benefit of
che whole people, and let the profit be
nigh OF low, they go into the peoples
common fund-th0 treasury-and
there Ia no oppression.
We have also advocated O division
of patronage between the parties In
proportion TO the popular vote Of each,
whether by o commission or In some
other way, is inamaterial. To in almost
idleneas to talk Of extending the range
Of government under the old rotten
spoil system. This ID the rubbish which
fore the wheels Of progressive reform
can roll. Is debauches and corrupts
everything political. The BEST ideas
of progress and reform would all go
aWry with this poisonous vapor in
camp. The head Of this dog must be
chopped of. Tnis will be no easy
j ob, a. the very life and soul of the
dominant parties depend upon it; the
life of monopoly depends upon it, a
long line of special privileges depend
upon it. This ia nearly the sourc of
all our woes. Kill the lion in the path
and WI Gar go on improving and to
improve. Without it, all may prove
a ruin, and abortion and death.
We also notice the kingly prerogA-
tive of the Presidents veto power,
and advocated that q majority on re-
view Of its action should be suh oiens
60 pass over the Presidents veto. This
power, with the influence of public
patronage, coupled with the potential
tiles of campaign Doodle and other
corporations makes this nation a seeth-
ing cauldron Of tyranny and oppres-
sion.
In our next article we will give the
mechanism to carry into effect the
Initiative and Referendum and will
now give SONS remarks IN government
itself. Government ia for mutual ben
eft and protection. Anything which
is plainly calculated to accomplish
these ends goes without farther debate.
Not only is government q monopoly
ostensi6ly for the purpose of benefit
and protection. but it always and
every an experiment. As genius Inc
vented the steam engine and genius
has kept on improving the same, 80
is with government and We do not
know to what of improvement it may
attain unto as yet, for up to date
government has been used by the rul
ing elements for their own selfish ends
to a great degree. Government is met
only on experiment but lie framed on
expediency. Il il expedientl 10 the