The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-28

bound
We build b ladder by which we
From the lo@ly earth 70 the v~aui;ei
skies.
an We mount, 70 is SUNNI, round
b round.
And 80 i. IS with grea, social AMI
movements.
Great problems are solved slowly but;
struggling humanity marches on. step
= step. contsn. TIA, a, each ~nightfail
IS can pitch its tent on a li.;le higher
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
4 have called 70 the issues
when brought the Democrats ana Popu-
lists together and which justified me
cooperation during the las. four years
Ii, me now i"vlte your attention 70 )
question which would justify oo-opera-
ton g this time even though We dit-
upon economic questions. r IS
our taul. tha, these neN questions
have been thrust into the arena % poll
tics. il IS not our fault that The people
h.ye been called unon 10 cnnside- qnes
ticns % eycr-increasinG magnitude. II
1855 the tariff question was the principal
subject % discussion aud the Democratic
party coutended that the masses Were
carrying a burlen OF unjust ana uaneces-
sary taxes. IN 1892 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between the
Democratic and Republican parties. al
though in the Vest and South The money
question was assuming greater and great
er proportions and the Pooulists were
contending tina; our monetary system was
more responsible than the tariff LAWS
for the depression in agriculture ana the
distress existing among the wage earn
ers. IN 1886 the whole question az tax
alton became Of secondary Importance
because of the increased boldness Of those
opposed the gold and silver coinage
Of the Constitution. When the Republi-
cans declared at st. Louis that the res
t~oration Of bimetallism Is this country
although desirable, was impossible with
out the aid of the leading commercial
nations of the Oh world. the Populists
and Silver Republicans. Joined with the
Democrats in asserting the rights and
duty Of the American people to shape
their financial system for themselves. re-
gardleSs Of the action OF other nations.
The failure of the Republican party to
secure international bimetallism and its
open espousal OF the gold standard still
keeps the money question in politics, but
no economic question can compare in i'm
Dcrtance with a question which con-
Germs the principles and structure OF
Government. Systems of taxation can
be changed with less difficulty than
financial systems and financial systems
can be altered with less danger and less
disturbance to the country than the vital
doctrines upon which free Government
rests.
REPUBLIC OR EMPIRE-WHICH?
I'm the early sixties when we were en-
gagged in a contest which was to determine
whether We should have one Republic or
two, questions of finance were lost sight
OF. Silver was at a premium over gold
and both gold and silver were at a pre-
MUM over greenbacks and bank notes,
but the people could not afford to di-
vide over the none question in the
presence of a greater issue. And SO to-
day We are engaged in 4 controversy
which will determine whether we are to
have a republic in which the Government
derives its lust powers from the consent
of the governed, or an empire in which
brute force is the only recognized source
Of power.
In a Government where the people rule
every wrong can be righted and every
evil remedied. but when the doc
trine of self-gOvernment is impaired aud
might is substituted for right there is
no certainty that any question Will be
settled correctly.
a colonial policy would so occupy tho
people with the consideration of the ma
tons foreign policy, that domestic ques-
ions would be neglected. Who will
haul down the flag or Stand by the
President would be the prompt response
to every criticism of the Administration,
and corruption and special privilege would
thrive under the cover of patriotism.
1T is not strange that the Populists
should oppose militarism and imperialism
for both are antagOnistic to the princi-
pies which Populists apply to other
Questions. Looking at questions from
the standpoint of the producer of wealth
rather than from the standpoint OF the
speculator, the Populist recognizes in mil
itarisln 4 constant and increasing bur
den. The army worm which occasionally
destroys a field Of wheat is net nearly 50
dangerous an enemy to the farmer ~
a large standing army, which invades
every field of industry and exacts toll
from every crop.
EVILS OF COLONIAL POLICY.
"If 100. 900 men are withdrawn from the
ranks CT the producers and placed as &
burden On the backs of those who re-
main, it must mean longer hours, harder
| work and greater sacrifices for those
who toll. and the farmer, while he pays
more tia his share Of the expense
Of the army, has no part in army con
tracts or in developing companies, and
his sons are less likely to fill the life
| positions in the army than the sons Of
those who, by reason of wealth or polit-
| ical prominence, exert influence at Wash
ington.
Soon after the Republican leaders ba-
| gan TO suggest the propriety of a colonial
| policy the papers published an interview
given out from San Francisco. by a for
| eign consul residing at Manila. He de
clared that the people OF the United
| States owed II to themselves. to other
| nations and to the Filipinos to hold the
Philippine Islands permanently. At the
conclusion of the interview there ap-
peared the very significant statement that
the gentleman was visiting the United
| States for the purpose OF organizing a
company for the development of the Phil
ippine Islands. 4 few days later on his
way East, he gave out another Interview
| in u-hiah ho ovr1ainai that tho corn IA ny