The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-16

NROA
including farmers, of Al per cent, f.,
the protection or enriching of man,
facturers, thereby accumulatino ~
immense surplus in treasury, and a.
citing a reckless expenditure Of 49,
peoples money; also enabling tbole
protected corporations to form tr,1o9e
and rob the people.
In our own State there is an
ment who favor further protect;on
these corporations and other cIsa.Ooo
of capitalists, by offering, if thew w;M
move their plants OF build new onn1
in our State, to exempt them frona
taxation, and give them a Iihorai
chartered right to plumber our peonIo
unrestricted by State supervisinn
Will any man say that it is not narti
nent for the Alliance to discuss an
determine whether such a policy will
benefit the country, especially farmers
and seek to educate it's members 70
speeding their true interests in tho
matter?
Surely this is one of the great M,
poses of the Alliance, but then bero
we would draw the line and have tho
Alliance stop. Having educated its
members upon any question of gov,
ernmental economy in a non-partjsar
spirit, it will not have transcribed tba
limits of the Constitution, and it moU
then safely trust the members, ind.
vidually, to do their duty as citizens
and from their own party connac'
| tons.
In Mississippi the overshading ones.
ton is white supremacy. Without
this all is lost. But as Gen. Lee hos
said, "That question is already sot,
tied, and all we have to do with It now
is to keep it settled" In order to do
this 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, prescribe
and exclude other classes. Besides an
overwhelming majority of the DOM.
nant party are farmers and nearly all
members of the Alliance are Demo.
Gratis. 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
it 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 int,
CRATE any more than we can. We 20
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
Edesired 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
Der 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
man who sympathized in the remoteS1
degree with such a policy? Then
think that any poor farmer who votes
to tax himself for the benefit OF rlcl
corporations ought to be elected "
the lunatic asylum.
Brethren, let US study all questions
that pertain to our interest in the AN.
ance, but let us keep the Alliance 0O'
of party politics.
Fraternally,
II SrIpcOS.