North Carolina Newspapers

THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, JULY 16, 18b9. For The Progress ve Farxer. ARE CHARTERED PRIVILEGES PERPETUAL ? ARE THE ER RORS AND EVILS OF PAST LEGISLATION INERADICABLE? What is Needed to Correct and Abate Them. By Maj. R. L. Ragland, of Hyco, Va. No. '9. ECHOES FBOM SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE REPUBLIC. James Madison says: "The princi ple on which the voice of the majority binds the minority is founded, not upon the law of nature, but upon a compact founded on utility." Thomas Jefferson says : "No society can make a perpetual Constitution or even a perpetual law. The earth be longs always to the living generation; they may manage it and what pro ceeds from it, during their usufruct. They are masters, too, of their own persons, and consequently may gov ern themselves as they please Legislatures of the day can authorize appropriations arid establishments for their own time, but no longer; and the present holders (beneficiaries), even where they or their ancestors have purchased, are in the case of "bona fide purchasers of what the seller had no right to convey. Future generations may or may not give tacit consent to the doctrine that the laws creating corporations are per- petual, but to the true one, that thev are revocable at will, for the public good, on the principle that the general good is above all private considera- tion. ' the earth beloxgs to the living, ation can place unequal, unnecessary or unjust burdens upon their success- ors. On this point we quote further from Mr. Jefferson: "This principle that the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead, is of very exten- serve tms nation as its iounaers m sive application and consequences in tended, a government of the people, everv country. It enters into the resolution of the questions nrhftthfir t.hft nation mav chancre thfi descent of lands holden in detail; whether they may change the appro- priation of lands given anciently to the church, to hosnitals. colleges, or- ders of Chivalry and otherwise in per- petuity ; whether they may abolish the charges and privileges attached on lands, including the whole catalogue, ecclesiastical and feudal, it goes to hereditary offices, authorities and juris- dictions: to hereditary orders, distinc- tions and appellations; to perpetuate ese enas, it is tne ngnt oi tne peo monooolies in commerce, the arts or Pe to altar or abolish it, and to insti- sciences and a long line of et ceteras ; and it renders the Question of reim - bursement a question of generosity and not of right." The elementary principles of a free society preclude the possibility of per- petuating in perpetuity , a nuisance, wraDg or fraud upon society; and the history of this country is replete with evidence of the sovereignty of the people in the "resolution" of several of the questions enunciated by Mr. Jefferson, when popular opinion de- manded the change. O It is therefore upon the natural and inalienable rights of the sovereign people that we base our hope for the abatement, annulling or changing of the corporate or legalized privileges of organized and concentrated pow- ers, which are preying upon the sub- tne very objects for which govern stance and rights of the masses of our mnt itself was instituted ? The population. - - I In the conduct of very many of these soulless corporations, the indi- vidual rights and interests of the peo- ple are not only totally disregarded, but overridden to that extent that the sucn omv as congress or fctate uegis public welfare is subverted and the latures may grant, and these may be - - 1. l T I- T 3 l "ll i it governmet plundered and weakened and its power and authority defied and endangered. ALL AUTHOBITY IS VESTED IN THE PEOPLE. On this point Mr. Jefferson says: "The people alone have the right to direct what is the concern of them selves alone, and to declare the law of that direction;" and we may add, as Lau ' "T " " correlative to the above, to alter, a - ii l jority in their wisdoin may deem lIT".r; . : :: . be injudicious or grants or permits, ; "Y t; flV -T press rather than to benefit society riZtirZ.K tulZ oi iu icFii. - ouwc.;u repeal or amend such law, constitu- fr5.i " K-rr di.A.:l ZYa L0a n ? aaiuJiVCi ivucgw. i IktpH PPress corporations and legalized PLUNDERING CORPORATIONS MUST GO." Their plea of " vested rights" wiU be unavailing to save them from im- moiation oy a wiuugm auu ouiragea 1 . i . j 1 . 1 people. For they hold their privileges au tu Wi" 7 rj"' y v'""1 merely uiu nui uy . , x .wucu tuese are repealed, as iney ougai ana Jill 1 v -v -m -. n 4- 1 y-k lr 4- -V 4-Vrf-h Vvj-Vw. 1 1 . . 1 1 JL 11 ciaries "is a question of generosity and not of ncht." and therefore not obligatory. ... MisiaKes nave ueen maae ana pow- r - a i i 1 .1 1 .1 1 1 i, ers granted which ought never to have remedy is as plain as the right to en- force it is clear and palpable. w vvuvvva v. v. a.vl w a j vjllv THE CITIZEN AND HIS WELFARE IS PAR AMOUNT. The fundamental principle of our institutions is based upon the assump tion and admission that the citizen is above the government or any creature or creation of the government; and that the paramount duty of organized society lies in elevating, in ennobling and in exalting the individual citizen, as the surest means of perfecting the commonwealth and perpetuating the stability, freedom and prosperity of the nation. And, therefore, every obstacle to the fullest and freest en joyment of his activities, personal liberty and rights should be abated, and every encouragement given to his energies, with the least possible dis comfort, inconvenience or interference with business or happiness, so as to induce and keep in him love of coun try, as of home, family and friends a patriotism which is bred ever true and reliable in the bosom of a con tented, prosperous and happy people. But when laws operate as bonds and restraints to hold the weak to be fleeced by the strong, under corpora tions, syndicates, trusts and combina tions, chartered or legalized, ostensi bly for the public benefit, but per verted to robbing the individual citi zen. Such- legitimized tyranny, unless abated, operates to induce poverty, suffering and discontent among the masses, divide the people into classes, incite class antagonism, and thereby produce utter disintegration, which leads to or ends in communism, socialism or an archism, or all, as they exist in some countries where aristocracy and plu- tocracy are held above character, pa triotism and other sublimest qualities of truest, genuine manhood. This latter element of society here is confronted with gravest responsi bilities resting upon them to wrest from corporations their special and perverted privileges; to enact addi- tional protection and safeguards around the individual citizen, so as to shield him from tyrannous exactions oy moniea comDinations, ana xo pre- by the people, for the people. The authority of the people to alter and amend whatever is wrong in constitu tional or statutory law is full and com plete. Our Declaration of Independence a charter older than the Constution or any law on our statutes, Federal or state prociaimea tne citizen enaowea oy nis creator witn certain inanena hie rights, and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to Uute a new government, laying its 1 foundation on such principles and or- ganizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." Here is power as broad as man's necessities or a nation's exigencies or extremities require. Now, who can doubt the power of this nation to change its Constitutfon and the States to change their Constitutions, or both nauonai anu oiate legislatures to alter or abolish any law which in any way militates against the principle as- i 1 ? i 1 1 1 t . .T A 1 sertea in tne aoove apstract r Ana, moreover, who is made the judge of the infraction of that principle and ueciue wnen government Decomes destructive of these; " i. e., to life; liberty and the pursuit of happiness" reader will, n unbiased, nave no aim- u : . x i i i culty m coming to tne ngnt conciu- sion on this momentous subject, Tbe powers conferred upon incor- porated and associated capital are auereu or auousneu at win, as snouia De speeuny uone in an cases wnere 1.111 IT 1.. tney nave oeen aousea or used arbi trarily. " Fiat justicia, ruat ccelum." R. L. Ragland, Hyco, Va. Withbow Alliance, No. 1095, July 1, 1889. Mb. Editor: I wish to say a few words through your valuable paper, Alll906:a ' vf .tLL vii. luuauvo Ahj eiuauj fcitu no aic oil' , aik. in th:a Stat? and others. I had the pleasure of listening to the speeches of our worthy PreicUnt and Mr. w- A- Graham at Rutherfordton on - OQfi . T4, treat. We should be thankful for such earnest leaders, who are not j i . ,, . . afraid to show up trusts " in their true form. Everything is cheap thi rRutherford countv t.kn flr fQj. Corn is bemg sold for 65 cts. cash, fin ct on t.imA WUrooo U fnrmallv sohi fnr 7. nt oCi 41 on tim Thi ho n hv th AllianrP. Rnmp will im9 1 j j I Wo wo coll 0 per cent and others were obiiged to come down so as to sell. I tkink there la a bright future for US if Wft will onlv stick and do our dut I J C J - - - . . Agencv Fund let us come together with onr mntriiv,?- a i I - w.i,i ivuviuui QUU UU UC UC- hind other States. Let us raisfi our own SUorort rtijI h, ioeo ,.nu I ATA -VkJ XJL UiUiOl . Let us work more and play less, and I fT l TTft TiPTsfiTi I QTrOr.ti r-y 4. a. i j and we will be a prosperous people! Wishing your Dape RnS tn jfnu Wishing your paper and the Alliance much success, I am, Yours fraternally, J. P. D. Witiibow, Sec'y. Cor. Thb Pkogressive Farmer. TALKS BY AN OLD FOGY. No. 7. In my last I stated that any analy sis of soil or plant would fail to give us the proper formula for enriching the land or producing plant growth. If the analysis of a plant when it is fully grown, when decay has com menced, iorms an maex 10 tne needs of the plant while young, while its little roots are scarcely capable of taking up nutriment, then the Old Fogy needs to have his head put under a pump and his head cooled. We must learn by natural methods. In the West lands were made rich by decaying vegetation, the soluble parts carried down into the soil by shading, and possibly preventing the escape of ammonia by retaining the nitrogen carried down by rain, and such overlaying masses decomposing and becoming soil again by burn ing of the vegetable growth, the ashes left to fertilize the soil. This is the Biblical method of rest which all land's were to have under Jewish law. This is equally true of the fertile lands on the tops and sides of our mountains. In Virginia and North Carolina, where the Blue Ridge attains great heights, these heights are fertile. Why ? Because 01 decay, of shade, of ash, all combined. In the far West, where the mountains attain too great an altitude for these processes to obtain, these results do not follow, and the summits, where not snow covered, are barren rocky heights. We may safely conclude, then, that nature's plan will produce satisfactory results. Let us imitate her. Cover our depleted lands with . 1 t -. peas, witn rye ana clover. JNature had ages to produce her results we only a lifetime. Let us turn under this vegetable matter and cover the soil again with peas, rye and clover, and let our kind friends who manu facture fertilizers know that we have gone into partnersnip witn Mother Nature, and we propose to furnish a few materials, and that God's immu table laws will do for us, without cost, the manufactory processes and save the millions we are annually expend ing. Liet us no longer theorize, but act on known facts. Brethren, it has been my fortune or misfortune to have visited almost all parts of the United States where agriculture has been carried on suc cessfully. I was not born in North Carolina. Whatever of preference I might have if it were not for cold facts would be in favor of another State. But I say to you, on my obli- gation as an Alliance, man when you find a State in this Uuion that has as many natural advantages as North Carolina has, and as few drawbacks, send me word and I will buy you the best hat you ever wore, even if I have to sell the coat off my back to get it. Deplete the forests of North Carolina to-day; in two decades you will have more timber than any State west of the Mississippi river and north of Mason and Dixon's line, save Ore- - 1 1". gon. ljet us utilize tnese advantages. We are annually clearing land. Burn your wasjte wood into charcoal. Now I have got into a hornet s nest. You are ready to ask, what good is char coal ? Has it any manurial value ? 1 shall not give you my theory, but the facts. From New York to Texas may be seen thousands of 11 hearths11 where charcoal was burned twenty five or fifty years ago, and of the- thousands that I have seen in my geological ex plorations of the Blue Ridge, I do not know of one where the land is not black, richer than the lands around it always mellow and moist, seldom wet, never bakey and I am sure that they have for all these years pro duced more than the lands around them. We also know that charcoal will take up rancid odors, it will re lieve butter, meat or fish of their dis agreeable odors when old ; and I know of an old fogy farmer in a sister State who has made his lands rich by grind ing and spreading charcoal all over the farm on which he lives. It is in finitely better than plaster or kanite for stables or cesspools and it is the finest absorbent for liquid manure that has ever been found, and 100 bushels of charcoal placed on a sink to absorb the liquid from the barn lot, spread on two acres of land, will en rich those acres permanently and will cause better corn or wheat to grow than 300 pounds of the best guano now on the market. It is believed that it absorbs the nitrogen of the at mosphere, retains moisture, etc., but I am not giving theories, but stating facts, and I am willing that the chem ist shall find out the why and tell you One other subject and I close. Mix your soils. Plants in their feeding are not unlike the human kind. They tire of any one thing. Composting does this; handling of sous does this, but the plow will also do it, if yearly you mix but little at a time. Do not plow lands that have been plowed only three inches deep, six inches deep, bit gradually deepen the soil. Now for the facts. Notice the cuts along your railroads. The sand may be poor sand always is; the land may be so thin it would not raise weeds or hens' nest grass. The clay on the places where the sand has been washed away lies like bricks, producing not a sign of a weed. Now notice the cut. The sand and clay have been mixed on throwing them out. The drainage is so great that it would seem that all vegetation would be dried up but see the results. Weeds along the R. & G. R. R. in such cuts that are higher than the tallest man; briers grow apace. Does this teach us notn- mg ? If so, we ought to have no eyes; for, we are of those having eyes, see not. I know a gentleman in the Shen andoah Valley who hauled clay that was dry for bricks and spread it over a sandy knoll and the following sea son the finest wheat in that great district grew on that sandy knoll. You may ask, why this great change ? 'Tis easier asked than answered. Take the Directors' report for 1887 (N. C.) Hear Dr. Battle: "The oil is com posed of carbon, hydrogen and oxy gen (cotton seed oil), combined in a very: complicated , arrangement. A different arrangement of these same elements would form sugar, cotton cloth or a drink of whiskey." The difference between charcoal, diamonds and sugar is less than the differences in our soils or in the fer tilizers now on the market. You may be able to get an answer from our chemist's statement that will at least show you how little man knows and how wise the methods of the Al mighty are. 1 would add, that Prof. At water analyzed swamp muck that was richer in nitrogen than any brand of fertil izers on our market. Suppose we try some in August for the next year. Weeds are gross feeders; they take up the soluble plant food; they steal it from your crcps. Keep them down in the fields you cultivate. Let me again suggest that, we raise millet, peas, clover and sweet potatoes; feed them to your hogs. I accompanied a brother delegate to our County Alliance at its last meet ing. He is one of the ablest men in this part of the State. We passed fields where the cotton stalks of last year's growth were yet standing. I asked his judgment on the amount of cotton per acre produced on the field in question last year. We agreed that 250 pounds of seed cotton was a large estimate; that is to say, $7.50 per acre. I then asked if planted in sweet potatoes how much it would produce, same fertilizer and same work. We agreed that 200 bushels would be a fair estimate; that is to say, sweet potatoes at three and one half cents per bushel would bring as much as the cotton. Now I know that if corn is worth 50 cents per bushel to fatten hogs on, sweet potatoes are worth 25 cents per bushel; if hay is worth $22.50 per ton for horses, sweet potatoes are worth 25 cents per bushel for horse seed; if bran is worth $15 per ton for cows, sweet potatoes are worth more than 25 cents per bushel. Fatten your hogs on ground peas and sweet potatoes,- the meat will not cost you 3. cents per pound. Plant fruit trees, vines and berries; encour age your children to eat less hog and more fruit; set them the example; hire less negro labor; use improved machinery; work more yourself; get more acres in pasture; keep sheep; get your own clothes as well as your children s from the wool you clip. Why, when you were all rich your wives tended to all this for the ne- groes; and one white cnild well com parisons are odious encourage home industry, and the blight and desola tion of debt will pass away and we will be a happy and prosperous people. THE CASH SYSTEM. The cash system gives the farmer his vote; educates him in the affairs of government; helps him to vote in telligently ; annihilates difficulties; strengthens the intellect; make homes attractive, educates, feeds and clothes the children. It teaches the value of the brain; makes a mother happy and contented. It wins friends, fills the barn and the larder and obeys the command of God, " Owe no man any thins." When we abolish the credit system, and adopt the cash system, we not only obey God's command, but instead of our creditor being master we call him friend. God in his infi nite wisdom and mercy will smile upon and bless us. Jix. THE CREDIT SYSTEM. The credit system is the greatest curse with which the farmer and laboring classes contend, it comes like a thief in the night. It robs home of its freedom, of its luxury, of its happy faces and of its intended likeness to that other home not made with hands. It robs the farmer of free thought and speech. It fetters and cramps the faculties until is no outlet nor inlet to. reason, and for this cause he becomes an inmate of an in sane asylum. His master, the creditor, lashes him with those fearful instru ments, debt aud mortgage, until he is often driven to a suicide's grave. It robs his wife, to whom he is pledged by all that is endearing and sacred. It robs his off-spring that bind the bonds more firmly; these are the gifts of God. who created them for him in his own image. Crop it as if it were a poisonous adder. Its sting is worse for its poison will taint generations to come. Its arsenical nature will effect the character of nations. Ex. LETTER FROM WOLVERINE. Timely Criticisms and Valuable Sug gestions. Mr. Dodge, who compiles the U. S. crop . reports at Washington, says in the May report: "About one-tenth of our agricultural products are exported. Yet the articles shipped abroad are few. They are cotton, tobacco, meats. breadstuffs and cheese. All other articles are but three per cent, of the exports." Europe produces one and one-fifth billion bushels of wheat and buys 95 million bushels of us. Half a billion pounds of tobacco and buys about half that amount of us. Europe buys 1,850 million pounds of cotton of us, which is over one-half of the European import. Fifty-nine thou sand tons of cheese they buy of us, and with meats and a small amount of other exports this has to buy all we import, except what is paid in corn. We made 25 million tons of sugar last year and imported five times as much. Every bit could be produced at home from cane and beets. Germany and France export mil lions of tons of beet sugar. Here is a chance for Southern industry. The trust adds about the amount of the tariff to its cost to consumers, or about 100 millions of dollars more than our sweetening ought to cost us annually. Probably nearly a million of dollars net profit goes to the .trust weekly. BelfonVs Magazine puts it at 80 million dollars last year. We im port 35 to 40 thousand tons of tea annually. Every pound can be grown at a fair profit in California and the South if American brains will but work to develop improved plants, cul ture and extracting the active princi ple for popular use. The laborers employed in its culture would wear your cotton, chew your tobacco, eat your provisions and compete m none of these products. We import from 15 to 25 thousand tons of wool annually, largely from Australia, South America and warm climates. One thousand tons each to fifteen Southern States would about supply this deficiency, and yet, ex cepting Texas, the whole South isn't recognized in the wool market as much as Ohio, Kansas or even Michi. gan. With its myriad acres of hilly land and mountain sides sparkling with streams and clothed in perennial green, it is the natural home of the sheep, and yet ! ! ! Our agricultural exports exceed 70 per cent 01 ail, our manuiacturers ib per cent. We can compete with for- eigh manufacture but to a limited ex tent, and in but five farm products. in only two can we compete to any extent cotton and wheat. Both are menaced by English capital and East Indian cheap labor. Our only salva tion is m diversined industries and a home market. By the census of 1880, New York had 265 agricultural implement manu factories; North Carolina 34, car riages and wagons 667, against 47; clothing 1,860, against 3; drugs and medicines 112, against 000; fertilizers 75 to 1; furniture 911 to 42; glass 141, to 00,000. But enough of comparison except the total number of establish ments which for New York it 42,739, and for North Carolina is 3,802. New York has an area of 47,000 square miles and North Carolina 50,000. One developed home markets and di versified industries; the other depend ed on land and labor to pay for everything wanted with two or three products. You have dwarfed growth and impoverished the soil and now feel the throes of financial death as a result. It took the sword to cut the scales from the eyes of this Southern St. -r-v 1.1 m. .raui and tne Durning brand 01 war to sear the wound, but now that you are converted, let faith produce its perfect fruit. Diversify industries so shall the danger of over-production of one thing grow less, and competition less ruinous. Home markets save cost of transportation, commissions and rob beries. They are best. " Have hope " in your future; "Hare faith" in yourselves. " WOLVEBINE." THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AND POLITICS. From the New Farmer. It seems that some of the brethren want the Alliance to go too far into political matters, while others hold up their hands m horror at the bare mention of any political question in connection with the Alliance. Of course our Constitution forbids party- ism, and if it was admitted into the Alliance, disruption would be the in evitable and speedy result; so that the brethren .do well to sacredly guard it along this line. Yet we must not be overzealous, for one of the declared principles of the Alliance is to educate the agricultural classes in the principles of economical government, in a strictly non-partisan spirit. How i3 the Alliance to do this without frequent discussions of pro posed measures and politics ? It seems to me that this purpose of tne Alliance is a very important one, and the position well taken. The dis tinction between partisan politics, and discussing an economical question without reference to party is easily made. Let's illustrate: The general gov ernment levies a tax upon consumera including farmers, of 47 per cent for the protection or enriching of man facturers, thereby accumulating Ji immense surplus in treasury, and " citing a reckless expenditure of th people's money; also enabling thea protected corporations to form tru t and rob the people. 8 In our own State there is n ment who favor further protection t these corporations and other class of capitalists, by offering, if they Ju move their plants or build new ones in our State, to exempt them from fcivtt mem a liberal chartered right to plunder our people unrestricted by State Will any man say that it is not n7 nent for the Alliance to discuss and determine whether such a policy win benefit the country, especially farmers and seek to educate its members re' spectmg their true interests in the matter ? Surely this is one of the great n poses of the Alliance, but then here we would draw the line and have the Alliance stop. Having educated its members upon any question of gov. ernmental economy in a non-partisan spirit, it will not have transcended the limits of the Constitution, and it mar then safely trust the members, ind vidually, to do their duty as citizens and from their own partv nnnnn. tions. In Mississippi the overshadingque. tion is white supremacy. "Wit.,.., this all is lost. But as Gen. Lee W said, "That question is already set- tied, ana an we nave to do with it now is to keep it settled." In order to do tnis it requires the individual white vote. The farmers, or members of the Alliance, then cannot afford to form a party; and even if it was otherwise right or expedient, proscribe ana exclude other classes. Besides an overwhelming majority of the domi nant party are farmers and nearly all members of the Alliance are Demo crats. If there is anything (and there is much) in the past legislation of which we can complain, it is our fault; and all we have to do to right jt is, not form a new party or change our party connection, but give proper attention to the primaries and demand justice be done us. The Alliance people have less need for a new party than any other class for we can dictate the policy of the already dominant party if we will; and no other class can afford to inte grate any more than we can. We go into politics as individuals and citizens, not as members of the Alliance; but this need not prevent us, when we are assembled in the Alliance, from study ing our interests pertaining to all mat ters political or otherwise. When a manufacturers', bankers', medical or other associations are in session, they usually appoint a com mittee on legislation, whose duty it is to inquire what legislation is needed by the body or class they represent. And when the association has deter mined upon a measure, they take steps to effect the enactment of the desired law. They do not form a new party; neither is the association accused of going into politics. The Alliance can pursues a similar course, and we possess certain great advan tages. We cannot afford to cut off a law yer's, head simply because he is a law yer: but we need not arm one who will cut off ours. A lawyer who is known to favor the protection of the agricultural interests of the State, and whose character is a guarantee of good faith, is in every way worthy of the Alliance votes, whether he is a mem ber or not; but surely farmers are not to blame for refusing to vote for the paid attorney of a rich corporation that is asking to be exempted from taxation, and that the burdens of the government be laid upon the shoulders of the farmer. Did ever a corporation vote to tax themselves and exempt farmers ? Or would they support a man who sympathized in the remotest degree with such a policy? Then 1 think that any poor farmer who votes to tax himself for the benefit of rich corporations ought to be elected to the lunatic asylum. Brethren, let us study all questions that pertain to our interest in the Alli ance, but let us keep the Alliance out of party politics. Fraternally, J. H. Simpbox. Watson, Miss. NEWS FROM THE MOUNTAINS. Wampleb, N. C, June 5, 1889. Mb. Editob: Elk Shoal Alliance, No. 1,729, was organized May lOtn. 1889. We now have 38 male and ia female members. Bro. J. M. Edwarus is our President. He is a yoH farmer and seems to be the ught ma in the right place. The people see to take considerable interest m Alliance. This (Yancey) county one of the best counties in the 2' notwithstanding it adjoins Tennes We have the finest timber, the eye water, the highest mountains and t finest fruit of any county in the We have had a great deal of raint summer, and have just commence cutting wheat, which is extra good. Oats and corn look well. We have a splendid fruit crop. I send you a few subscribers for The Pbogressivk Fabmeb. Will try to send you more soon. Yours respectfully, W. J. King, Sec j.