The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-05
THE GRANGE.

AT its fifteenth annual session, held
In Tarboro on the 10th ulU., Master
w. R. Williams, of Pitt, delivered
an address which was received with
enthusiasm by the Grange, from which
we make the following extracts; it
is good reading
In the history of our country nev
er was there a time that behooved
farmers more to meet together for
consultation, to view their situation,
to study their requirements, to advise
actions that are necessary, and to
make demands that are urgent. There
is NO Disgusting the truth that great
discomfort prevails among all wealth
producing classes. Farmers are get
ting poorer. Short crops and low
prices have forced many of them to
mortgage their lands. The result is
fewer land holders and more tenants
The speculator handles his crop, the
merchant his supplies. The relief is
only in bankruptcy. How can it be
otherwise when the farmer prices no.
thing he sells, and nothing he buys.
The relief he obta ms wrecks his home,
demoralizes society, engenders class
prejudices, and weakens devotion to
patriotism. The laborer is badly paid
and is steadily sinking into Dependent
cy, and is murmuring at his scanty
existence; mostly because his employ
ers are unable to pay higher wages.
And yet the startling truth stares us
in grim mockery that hundreds Of
millions of dollars in gold and silver
are lying idle in the treasury of the
government. 1t is said that this gold
and silver now lying idle compromise
in amount an excess of more than all
the species held by the banks Of Eng
land and France combined. The gold
and silver in France and England is
the basis Of paper circulation, where
as ours represent comparatively y no
thing, For all usefulness it might as
we'll be back in the mines. Both par
ties are responsible for this strange fl
nancial policy. The republicans for
providing the ways and means for its
hCCulu uldClOu, Illo DSIilOCldCo ICL Ld1i-
ing to supply remedy.
The farmers and laborers being
most in number should awaken to the
alarming injury this boarding of in
ert money is causing and should rec
olect their remedy is at the ballot
box
The heart sickens as the farmer con
templates the gambling schemes of
the heartless speculator, as he deals in
cultures" The farmer does not sell
his corn, wheat, cotton or tobacco I'M
til he gathers them and it should be
made crime for others to do so.
Dealing in cultures" is defiance that
carries with it, both vengeance and
contempt for the farmer. 1t is sub
versive of all honest trade, and
blight upon production. There is not
a law, human or Divine that can de-
fend it. The profits are robbery and
the farmers are the victims; for it is
system that neither handles or produ
ces-yet prices the earnings of the
farmer. Among the operators are
the rich and the pious (?) therefore
theft because polite art while honest
industries suffer There should be a
law in every State to prevent it as
there is a law to prohibit the sale of
lottery tickets, which, in comparison,
is much less harmless. 1t should be
made a crime. The Supreme Court
of Georgia recently decided that a.
note given to cover margins in con-
tract for future delivery, was void be
cause it's consideration was fraudu
lent.
Among many other causes Of inju-
ry to the farmer is the manner in
which he sells his produce. Take
cotton for instance. The rings and
exchanges demand and exact that the
farmer shall buy his ties and bagging
from the protected millionaire monop-
olist, for which he pays nearly two
prices That he shall pack up his
cotton in large, loose bales SO that af-
ter it is rolled and sloshed in the mud
it may be easily picked and plumed
then to the compress, which costs
alone $5,OOO,OO0 per million, then
weighing after picking off the soiled
and deducting the bagging and ties;