The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-26

champion OF ne was, but
he was no time server, and did not
cringe before public opinion
'sThough all the people should de.
Glare a measure proper, I should
still have my own opinion, " he said.
If he favored popular measures he
would vote for them if he did not
favor popular measures, the people
should select some one else to rem.
resent them. 1t has been said that
sin the nearly forty years of his
Congressional service no other ten
members gave as many negative
votes This gave rise to the saying
that if Macon we're drowned, his
body would be found up stream.
AS an example of a vote that does
credit to his courage if not to his
Judgment, I give this: In 1926,
Washington sent his annual mes.
sage to Congress, and the House of
Representatives, in accordance with
the custom of that time, prepared
a reply. In his message Washing
tor had announced his intention 30
retire from public life and the pro
posed reply of the House Macon con.
sidered too fattering to Washing
ton and his administration. The
House, however, accepted it by a
vote of 81 to ID, Macon and Andrew
Jackson being two of twelve who
voted against it.
Among Macon's political principles
his never. failing devotion to demoo-
racy is undoubtedly entitled to first
place. The second, 1 am sure must be
given to his continual demandfOr pub
lie economy. I shall not say that he
did not carry his opposition to Con
g~ressional appropriations too far,
For instance, speaking of Presiden-
tial candidates 1924 he said
"When I go home my people will
ask me whom I regard as the best
man, or rather who will tax them
least, which is the same thing"
On pensions he waged continual
warfare. AS he had refused pay
for his service in the Revolution,
he now refused all pension money.
The people who stayed at home,
furnished supplies and supported the
old and disabled we're, he said, as
much entitled to pensions as those
who served in the army. For an
affirmative vote on a pension bill /
have searched his Congressional
record in vain. An ardent admirer
of Lafayette, he was one of seven
Senators who, in 1924, voted
against the bill giving that General
land and money as a reward for ser
vices in the Revolution.
But though, as has been said, ''the
a%usterest advocate of public econ
omy," Macon believed that we should
defend national rights. "For if
we do not" said he, "we shall soon
have none to defend" One of his
ablest speeches was in defense of the
bill to authorize the President to
borrow money to carry on the war
of 1912.
But to all increase of the military
force in time of peace he was opposed.
when people are prepared for
they r sure to fight" he said.
81 do not wish to carry this imita-
ton of England too far. To support
her army and navy, her people
are kept poor. Our people pay
enough taxes. The navy is in
tended for conquest and we have
enough territory. I am for standing
on American ground and IN
no other. First, Louisiana then
Florida, and now we want Cuba"
In the North Carolina Constitu
tional Convention of 1886 Macon
championed annual elections and as
vigorously attacked a land qualif-
cation for voters and the clause in
the old constitution which allowed
PrOtestants only to serve in the Leg
islature. In regard to the latter he
said "Who made man a judge that
he should presume to interfere in the
sacred rights of conscience? Man
is responsible to God alone for his
religious belief and liberty of
thought is his inalienable birth
Far his own part, he was
she Baptist persuasion" as he
expressed it.
In the CongT essional debates we
learn Macon's views regarding slave