The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-07-31
SHOULD THE FARMERS TAKE
: STOCK IN POLITICS 2

we cup tne from me
Southern Alliance, which contains
much solid food for thought:
"Our readers viii pardon us for
asking what seems SO insidious a ques.
ton as stands at the head of this ar
ticle. We do not mean to be insidious
in anything said in this paper. What
we do mean by the above heading,
will be made plain by what we now
ask you to consider. For more than
twenty years there has been a ten
dency, if not a common practice, to
leave the management of. political
affairs in the hands of a few town and
city politicians, chiefly to lawyers and
other professionals, not always of
sufficient Importance to be kept busy
until the saying was sc common that
it failed to awaken the alarm which
it's import would warrant, that town
rings and lawyers are running the
politics of the country" Now, we
beg to say that we have never been IN
sympathy with any disposition to
charge any class of our fellow-citizens
with any intention of unfair dealing,
or of presuming to ignore any class,
or to trespass upon the rights of the
farmers. But frequent fippant say
ings concerning the competency of
farmers to manage politics or fill
political stations, together with the
very common practice of sending
lawyers almost exclusively to our
State Legislature and to our National
Congress, has led to the reflections
contained in this article. If, in these
reflections we are unjust, and if there
be no real cause for the fair-minded
criticism implied, then we shall con
graduate ourselves and the country,
and will be content to leave our
political interests, just where they be.
long, viz: in the hand of every good
and true citizen regardless of avoca-
ton or professional calling. AS we
read the signs of the times, w are
impressed that the farmers are begin
ming to realize that they have been too
frequently used as a can to an end
by political aspirants, who knew but
little of the real wants of the farmer,
and Of Legislation necessary to enhance
and magnify the agricultural interests
Of the country at large; and we be-
lieve we now see that the farmers are
beginning to realize as never before,
that they are a prime factor in the
politics of the country as we'll as in
the monetary affairs thereof. Out of
this recognition has grown, or more
properly, is growing, a determine
ton to throw the weight of their
great power into the politics
of the country and to have a real voice
in State and National legislation,
which legislation may greatly set for.
ward, or hinder and embarrass the
great interests of our farming citizens.
Of course we do not mean to intimate
that no lawyer or professional nan is
capable of serving in political spheres
in a way that would promote the
farmers interest. Many Of them are
farmers themselves, or have been, or
they are Of sufficient intelligence to
know the wants of all classes of our
citizens. These men do the country..a
grand service, but farmers, as a class,
have not had, within the last twenty
years, that kind Of Legislation that was
healthful and helpful to the. farming
interests Of this country. We think
we see a tendency for the better, and
without assuming to be the political
counselors of the farmers, and sim
cerely hoping, that as a class, we will
be too wise to be drawn into political
strife, or that we will be so incautious
as to be drawn into discussions of any
kind that would engender strife or
discord, yet we would say, that, with
concert Of action, and by allying your
selves with good men of all classes,
that you may have, at an early day, a
more potent voice in the Legislative
halls of our State and national gov
eminent, that will be highly promotiye
of all the interests of our common
wealth without regard to class or call
ing. A better day is coming to this
broad and heaven-favored land of ours.
All hail the day
We beg to say, in conclusion, that
all we mean by writing the foregoing
is, that farmers need greater protection
a class, which protection and help
must come from their own ranks as
they shall rise up and unite themselves
with all classes of good citizens in all
the callings Of life, and secure an ad-
ministration of State and National poll
tics that will be equitable to all, and
onnressive to nOne.n- ua1