The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-12-20
HONORS TO COL. POLK.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATION.
AL ALLIANCE AT HOME.

| AL ALLIANCE AT HOME.
The Wake County Alliance and Citi.
zens of Raleigh Do Him Honor---A
Great Occasion.
| The CHRONICLE announced last week thai
Col. L. L. POLK had been elected Presi
dent of the National Farmers Alliance and
Laborers' Union. He reached Raleigh
Friday morning, and at half past ten es
corted by delegation on horseback from
Oak Ridge Alliance, of which Col. POLK is
a member, and by carriages containing
acting Governor HOLT and other State
officers; MAYOR THOMPSON and other city
officers; prominent lawyers, farmers and
business men from Vance, Wake, John
ston, Granville and other counties, tc
Metropolitan Hall W where he was received
with great cordiality by many friends. A
brass band gave "Hail to the Chief" The
exercises at the Hall consisted of addresses
by number of gentlemen and warm re-
sponse for the compliment from Col. POLK
The first speaker was Mr.. A. q. GREEN,
President of the Wake County Alliance.
Short addresses were then made by the
| following gentlemen: Mr.. D. P. MEACHAM,
Mr.. E. @. BEDDINGFIELD, Hon. THOs. NJ.
HOLT, Col. w. II. S. BURGwYN, Mr.. JNO.
G. L. TONNOFFskI, MAI S. N. FINGER, A.
D. JONES, ESQ, Mr.. N. B. BRoUGHToN,
MAYOR THOMPSON and Rev. @. DURHAM,
who read a set of resolutions adopted by
the students of Wake Forest College. 1t
was high compliment to PRESIDENT Polk
from his friends and neighbors, and one
that would have been gratifying to any
! man.
BANQUET TO COL. POLK.
| Upon hearing of the election of Col. L.
L. Polk. of Raleigh, as President of the
National Farmers and Laborers Union,
the citizens of Raleigh determined to show
their appreciation of the high honor that
had been conferred upon their townsman
by rendering him a banquet upon his re-
turn. Lawyers, doctors, merchants, State,
county and city officers, farmers, editors
and others were glad to show him mark
of esteem. The banquet was given in the
spacious dining room of the Yai borough
House on Friday night last. The compa-
ny gathered at nine o'clock and from that
hour until shortly after twelve the dining
room was the scene of one of the most en-
joyable gatherings known to the city OF
Raleigh. Its walls resounded with the
eloquent speeches of distinguished citi
zens. The company was a distinguished
one, composed of the acting Governor and
State officers, Justices of the Supreme
Court, county and city officers, prominent
diyines, successful farmers, popular law
yers, wide-awake business men, Presidents
and Professors of Universities and Cole
ges, editors and others. The supper was
enjoyable and served in the best style at
the Marlborough House. DIR. T. E. SKIN
NER asked a blessing, and after the com
pany had done full justice to the bill OF
fare, the speaking began. Mr.. JosEPHUs
DAn1ELs presided and after few words OF
welcome to the honored guest of the even
| ing, proposed toast to "Our Honored
Guest" He then called as the first toast
of the evening, 1.-The New Revolution" to
which response was made by Col. L. L.
POLK. He spoke in his best vein, winning
repeated and long continued applause
The speech was as follows:
Col. PoIk's Speech.
Mr. CHAIRMAN: History is ever repeat
ing itself. The march of human progress
is strewn with the wrecks of empires
kingdoms, systems, thrones and govern
ments Many of them went down in VIC
lence and blood. But the declaration in
the sentiment to which l am called to re-
spond-''The New Revolution"-is but the
echo of the mighty fiat which has been put
forth by 3, 900, 900 liberty loving, law abid
ing American freemen. The approach Of
this New Revolution has not been heralded
by the flare of fambeau, the beat of drum
and hundreds of thousands of patriots who
are enlisting in its ranks are marshaline
under no ensign of strife, of hate, of blood
or of carnage. But they align themselves
under banner on whose snow white folds
are imprinted in characters of heavenly
hue, the God given motto: ''Peace or
earth, good will to men," and the battle
cry of this mighty host from one end o
the land to the other, is: Equal rights tt
all and special privileges to none." [Grea
applause.
In C0o raplO Q0VeiOpmouG OIL our AMER
can civilization, demoralizing forces have
been evolved which seriously threaten K
paralyze our industries, to impoverish oul
wealth producers, to subvert our free in
stitutions and to destroy our republican
form of government. To meet these for
ces and neutralize or subdue them, is al
undertaking as formidable, as patriotic
and as heroic, as its accomplishment shall
be grand and glorious. With that quies
cent submission characteristic of thu
American farmer in times of peace, h'
pursued the even tenor of his way, sowing
for the harvest and hoping for the reward
of his labor. How anxiously, but how il
vain did he look for its coming! Banking
and other moneyed interests, manufactur
ing in all its departments, railroads
schemes of speculation, villages, towns
and cities, all prospering and fourishiug
yet, despite his earnest, honest, mani,
and untiring efforts. he is being gradual.
. drawn into the chilling shades of helpless
and hopeless poverty.
Most naturally he began to Investigate
the situation. And here are a few of tn
; alarming and appalling facts that con
, fronted him:
1. That from 1870 to 1880, while farm
, of 8 to 20 acres decreased IA to 80 per cent
those Of 900 acres or more increased ~
} per cent! And in this connection he find
. another no less alarmingly significant fac
that aliens and foreign syndicates owl