The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-10-08

the mlun1ghC sun, ana stay GnoL0 I'LL
you behold the rising and setting
thereof. You need to go higher,
even if you have to be blown up"
Farmer.-"Nold on a bit, will you?
You r leaving me in the a |
don't exactly understand YOU"
Phil.-"I mean this. You plod
along your weary way soldering on
your checked shirt, and your arms
dangling by your side. If l ask you
whether or not the Dutch have taken
Holland you raise your head just a
little and say 'Damagfno." If l tell
you that Ben Harrison has bounced
Corporal Tanner for knocking the
bottom out of the U. S. Treasury or
that baby Mckee rides his grandpa's
knee, you say to me in a don't-care,
dreamy way, 'Damyfno.' You need
stirring; you need to be fired into
with red hot shot; you need to be
reused up, jolted out of the rut, run
off the rails on to the cross-ties, and
down an embankment. You need to
be jerked up off the earth by some
mighty hand and popped like a whip
till your very toes are 'frazzled.'"
Farmer.-"The treatment you sug-
gest seems rather rough, but there
may be a blessing in it."
Phil" Yes, there is a blessing in
it. with all his faults l love him
STILL and l would in all loving kind
ness put him on the rack Of torture
awhile, if I could thereby arouse him
to a full consciousness of his power,
and a realization of the dangers that
threaten him"
Farmer" What do you think is
the most important step to deliver the
farmer from the bondage of lies under
which he has lived so long, that he
almost loves the chain he drags."
Phil.-"He must be educated first
till he sees clearly the absolute neces
sity of organization; he must then be
organized al thoroughly as a brigade
of German troops, then disciplined,
vigorously drilled for united action.
The Farmers and Laborers' Union of
America, thoroughly educated, organ
lied and disciplined, may become a
political force as irresistible as the
rising tide"
Farmer" Where and how do you
think this educational work ought to
be done ?"
Phil.-"In what are called by Ali
ance men the Sub-Alliances. Every
Surveillance hall ought to be made
the most pleasant and attractive place
in the neighborhood. 1t ought
to be provided with such a library
and such newspapers as would en-
able the members to investigate and
discuss every question in which
American citizens are interested. The
Alliance ought to spend $40, 600
every year in the education of it's
members"
Farmer" What do you think
ought to be the first lesson impressed
upon the mind of every man in the
Alliance 2"
Phil.-"U nquestionably the duties
and responsibilities Of American
citizenship. No man can be a worthy
citizen of this Republic, nor ought
he be permitted to exercise the rights
or enjoy the privileges thereof, who
knows nothing of the relation he sus-
tains to the government. For want
of knowledge the people perish This
Republic cannot escape the consequent
ces of ignorance. Ignorance is dark
ness, and darkness is the fruitful
womb of every form Of evil"
Farmer.-"Our Government seems
to have gotten out of the reach of the
people-the people seem to have lost
their influence and with it their in
terest in the government. It seems
to have gone away into captivity-it
seems dead to all sympathy with the
people, and the only living connec-
ton kept up with the people is in the
exaction of tribute from them"
Phil.-"You are right. This gov.
eminent has been captured by sharp.
ers and scoundrels, and is run by
them with a view to the impoverish.
ment of the people first and their en-.
slavement afterwards. Thus it has
ever been. The wall from Ireland
to-day is but the wall of slaves, who
were first robbed. Permit me just
here to read some extracts which
think pertinent and very suggestive
at this particular time. Will you
hear them?"
Farmer.-1 will with pleasure
hear and consider anything you have
to offer"
Phil.-"About the middle of this
century, Sir John Lubbock, an emf
nent Englishman, wrote as follows
viz: There is likely to be an effort
made by the capital class to faster
upon the world a rule through theil
wealth, and by means of reduced
wages, place the masses upon afooting