The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-24
PRESERVING OUR POLITICAL IN.
DEPENDENCE.

In his annual address before the
Farmers National Congress in B ston,
October Srd, P esident W. D lizard
touched upon some live political ques
tions. What he had to say regarding
the preservation Of our political indie
pendenca deserves the serious consid.
Grafton of all American citizens,
whether farmers or not. We copy
herewith the closing paragraphs Of
his address,:
For our cWn sake as farmers, aud
for the sake OF our country, we need
to be constantly agitated and aroused
10 another direction. There is larger
need than ever in our nations history
for the oil time r~esolute independence
Of character and political judgment
which once characterized the Ameri.
can farmers. Fifty years ago the pres
ent corrupt party boss, with his as
sessment Of corporations aud con.
troll Of Legislation would not have
stood for a moment before the coura
geous farm judgement OF the country.
To-day this political merchant, who
trades in the temple on the political
and material fortunes Of his fellows.
has fastened octopus like on the nation
and exercises a most dangerous power
in state and national legislatures.
The sentiment OF the farming CLASSES
is no longer regarded By the political
boss with the wholesome dread that
ought TO exist. This is largely due q
serious decline among farmers of indi
vidual independence Of political
thought and action, a substitution of
mere party for patriotic standards of
judgment.
A corrupt and debauching spirit of
commsrcjalism pervades our p jliaical
atmosphere and poisons the founda
tions Of Law, lib5rty and progress. ]
would not advocate the formation of
an agricultural party to correct this
evil, for I 10 not believe that any man
should administer his political duty in
this country according to the trade he
follows, the race he belongs to, or the
religion he processes. But I do hope
to see the farmers stand forth as
strongly az they did Of yore, the ter.
r0r Of corrupt politicians and the hope
of honest government every where.
This can only Os brought about by q
sturdy refusal to follow the lead of
corrupt party lead 3rs, IN all parties.
It is largely through this submer-
gence Of the polite II influence Of the
farming classes that the present unfair
and offensive systems of taxation exist.
Property is pro 2erty. Taxation
should be based on the dollars worth
Of property, no matter how it is inves-
ted. That which the law recogniz 3
al property and defends as property,
should be tex d as property, accord
ing to it's value. A general violation
Of this principle is producing wide
spread decentralization and discomfort
in society. Men who pretend to be
men in everything elsa, coolly become
perjlrers in order to save q few dol,
lars 10 taxes.
The fnbl effect may be comprehen
ded in this question: If a man will
swear falsely 20 cheat the public, how
long will it be before he will perjure
himself to rob his neighboe2
Let me suggest a partial remedy, at
least: After the assessor has completed
his work, and q month before the
final review, let is hs req lired by law
that the personal properly list shall be
published and placed before the pub ic
eye. There is great moral force in
publicity. AS farmers especially we
should create public sentiment in favor
of such Laws, for a very large proper,
ton Of the property o. the country
escapes taxation.