The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-24

1t IS simply a matter OF government.
One people ruled by selfshness, by lack Of prin-
ciples, by brutality, wasting their opportunities
through ignorancei
The other people, ruled by themselves, intelli-
gently, with an understanding of their advan-
tages, making the most of their naturally scanty
soil, and each doing his duty as his brothers keep
er-encouraging by legislation the development
of every resource, including that of the mind,
by education; preventing the use of dangerous
drugs; encouraging economy and sobriety; pro-
tecting the weak woman from the strong man;
discouraging the craze of the gambler and Civ
ing everv aid to the upbuilding of character in
the people; working out by constantly perfected
ideals Lincoln's government "of the people, by
the people, for the people,"
1t is time for us of the United States to wake
up. We cannot go on corrupting the youth by ex-
amples of graft unchecked, permitting the gamb-
ling habit to take possession alike of society and
of the slums, tolerating, even with a claim, the
from acquisition of great fortunes stolen by lit
ties from the very poor.
We cannot permit all this without endangering
the foundations of a Republican form of govern
ment. Because a republic is possible, as Napoleon
said, only to a people of high intelligence and
high intelligence and high character. And pre-
high character. And presently there may come
a time when no one will so have taken possession
of legislative halls, so intimated the press, so
insidiously themselves, that there will be no one
left to defend the ideal of the republic.
IF one-tenth of the men and women of this
country should resolve to do their duty earnestly
and fearlessly in securing good legislation, in
sending good men to Office. in themselves knowing
what good legislation means, the crying evils of
the days would quickly disappear.
Nine-tenths of all crimes is the result
Either of too great riches or of too little,
Of "Monstrous Opulence" or "Monstrous Pow
erty."
Great wealth seldom does otherwise to those
who achieve it than to corrupt them or those who
come after them; and poverty is a biting whip
which drives to ignorance and crime.
Every time, reader of this page, you know of
urrelieved poverty, of misery, of crime, do not
try to excuse yourself of responsibility unless you
are giving your fullest efforts toward driving cor
ruption out of government, preventing the prey
ing of the strong through unjust franchises up
on the unfortunate, forwarding the highest educa-
ton of the peoples children, and doing all in
your power to secure the best possible wages to
labor, so that there may be, not great wealth to
the few, but moderate wealth to the many.
You do not see how to help?
Then select as your leader some one whom you
regard as acting unselfshly and having a clear
view of the public interest. Put yourself under
his direction; contribute to those things calculat-
ed to benefit the government, to give clear con-
~ceptions of things; circulate books which open the
eyes of the public and raise up their ideals; and,
above all, go to the humblest primaries; or if you
have no vote, have your husband or sweetheart go,
and see to the selection OF good men for office;
keep posted on legislation in process of enact