The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-11-05
ADDRESS OF J. B. sTuRD1vANT
Before Auburn Alliance October 9, 1889.

MN. AND OhEIdhEn -
You have honored me by electing
me to fill one of the most important
Offices in our order. And when it is
remembered that lam yet young you
will not think it strange when | say
l feel embarrassed in taking so much
responsibility upon myself. And
when | remember that [ am sur
rounded by SO much intelligence and
that | am Lecturer of such an hon
orable set of gentlemen my embarres-
ment is only increased. [ have one
great consolation; I believe I am
surrounded by friends, and should I
at any time make a mistake you all
will pardon me and be generous
enough to give me credit for intend
ing right. Then brethren with your
assistance I will endeavor to fill the
Office in which you have placed me to
your satisfaction and with credit to
myself.
When l stand before the farmers
of this land, [ feel l am before the
class of people upon whose sholders
rest either the power of saving this
great nation from the ruin to which
she is now drifting or the everlasting
shame Of allowing the power they
possesses to be welded by others and
allow this country to be plunged in.
to anarchy to which she is so rapidly
fastening. And then brethren 1
would ask the question: Have we
thrown off some of the many chains
with which enemies are attemp.
ting to bind US; are the cords of
brotherly love drawing more closely
around us than twelve months ago.
Have we shown to the world that we
are free men and that we have rights
in this country that all must respect?
Have we looked carefully among our
selves to see that there are none
among us who are attempting to de.
stroy our order. Brethren, as a body
are we stronger than we were twelve
months ago? Let US frankly answer
these questions and with renewed
zeal and energy go forward to reach
the objective point for which our
order was founded. Let strife be
banished from among us, and let dis
cord and differences among the breth-
rem be forever buried, and let all pull
a long and steady pull, a determined
pail, a pull altogether to carry the
heavy load which rests upon the
shoulders Of the farmers to smooth
and solid roads.
In the history of all republics we
find that when the few are allied to-
gether and accumulate enormous for
tunes and use them to che injury of
the many that the government always
comes to ruin. In the history of Sparta
and Athens we have an illustration of
this. Sparta forbade her citizens to
accumulate large fortunes and use it
to the injury of any one, but she
taught her men to handle arms and
to love their country. So long as this
remained Sparta was invincible.
Athens allowed her citizens to accu-
mulate fortunes and use it to the in
jury of the poor, now see the differ
ence. They were founded about the
same time and Sparta stood one hun
dred years longer than Athens and
had Sparta never allowed the greed
for money to come among her officers
she would to-day be standing as firm
as the rock of Gibraltar. 1 think our
country is bordering on ruin from the
very same cause that destroyed
| Sparta and Athens.
Pardon me when l compare our
country to a large ship that was strong
ly built by our fo~refathers. She has
been a beautiful ship, but from hav-
ing passed through so many storms,
she is today very much worn; her
mainmast has fallen and her sails have
all come to decay, the engines have
failed to propel this mighty boat and
she is leaking at every pore. Her
crew is composed of farmers, lawyers
doctors, merchants and laborers.
A mighty wind is blowing and the
waves are rolling high. Aboard of the
old ship all are fastening to everlasting
destruction. No hand to save. Yes,
Independence to-day calls to the sleep
ing farmer crew, and his voice can be
heard Over the whole world when he
says: Farmers, to your post, you and
you alone can save this mighty ships.
Trow off trust and combines from
you, pitch overheard your enemies,
awake to sense of duty, buckle on the
ballotbox honesty and justice and raise
the main sail of determination. Pour
on the oil of equal rights on the en-,
gines, throw trusts, combines mean
guano and mean whiskey in the fur
mace for fuel, make Independence
your captain and sail out to Rore
Lsmooth and placid seas.
To you, Mr.. President, whom this
lodge has wisely chosen for it's leader,
l tender you my hearty support and
also to the noble corps of officers