The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-11-05
A MATTER OF STATE PRIDE.

The Globe says: "Colonel Folks
Atlanta speech seems to have opened
the eyes of at least one of the Globes
esteemed contemporaries, who grasps
the first opportunity to talk about the
Farmer in. Politics" IT.. *
Yes, but not with the purpose that
Colonel Polk seems to have in view
which appears to be to convert the
Farmers Alliance" into a political
organization. The farmers dominate
the Democratic party of the South
and it would be suicidal in them to
disorganize the party they have built
up, maintain and control, merely to
take another start.
The above is from the esteemed
contemporary in question, the Raleigh
| News and Observer, and which journal
seems to have overlooked its some
what labored article last Saturday, in
which the writer strived to show that
HE was the champion of the farmer in
politics.
In examining the recent issues of
our Raleigh contemporary, other in
teresting facts r developed. For
some reason or other, of course it
must have been a good one, that paper
studiously. refrained from noticing
the compliment paid to the State of
North Carolina and especially to that
large proportion of our population,
the farming class, by the invitation
which was extended to a North Caro-
linian to deliver an address at the
same exposition, that, but a few days
previous had been electrified by the
e~loquence Of the distinguished chief
executive of the great State of New
York
While the really extraordinary
honor which was conferred upon Col.
L.. L.. Polk was being commented on
by nearly every paper in the State,
and freely discussed by her citizens
from Murphy to Manteo, our highly
esteemed contemporary at Raleigh
refrained from even the barest men
ton of the matter. Now in our rapid
scanning Of his columns it is possible
that we do our friend an injustice,
and if such mention was made of this
compliment to the State and to one of
her leading citizens, we will cheer
fully exclaim, Peccavi
Immediately after the invitation is
accepted and the speech is delivered
the eye-opening process alluded to in
our innocent paragraph begins, and
the News and Observer pronounces it
ga good speech :" in its issue of Fri
day. The day following reference is
made to it in a haf-column article to
prove, as near as we car gather, that
the editor had originated or advanced
as early as 1882 the ideas promulgated
by the Farmers Alliance apostle, and
that he "was glad to see that his
views were now being generally
adopted, and that they were even pre-
sented by Col. Polk in Atlanta"
" Better late than never"
Perceiving these editorial incon-
gruities in the columns of our esteemed
contemporary in reference to a matter
that touches the State pride of every
North C~arolinian, after dropping mar
row prejudices that might obtain for
an Individual or his cause, the Globe
printed the paragraph which drew
forth the recent comment of the News
and Observer.
We look at this matter purely as a
North Carolinian proud of his State
and appreciative of the applause which
NAV be matad ont To ono of her citi-
zens by the people of another common
wealth.
We are not going to get into a con-
troversy with our good friend at Raj