The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-09
THE ALLIANCE FIRM AND UN-
SHAKEN.

W. 1hhLONS OI as 4OO-@N
lVI otto men as 1--we in this country
sincerely believe that upon the success
of. the principles of the Alliance de-
ponds the perpetuity of free govern,
ment. free Institutions and civil lib
erty. Believing this, they regard the
great Reform movement as of.inhnlte-
" more Importance to US and to u
posterity than the political advance
ment of any man. And in their ad-
herence to these principles they will
not hesitate to discard their most
valued personal or party friends, if
he place himself in antagonism to their
principles. The rue men who are In
this great movement are not men
worshippers. They believe no man is
as big as the people. They believe
that no man is a God. They believe
that no man is infallible. They know
that all men are liable to err. They
will call no. nan or set of men master.
They know that the issue in this great
contest with themselves and their
children is liberty or slavery. They
know that the most powerful and un-
scrupuIous foe is arrayed against
them. They are anxious, watchful,
jealous, vigiIant They discard senti-
ment and look at the sentiment with
alarm. They measure men by their
actions. They seek to know, above
all things, where men stand in this
struggle: Does he stand with us or
does he stand with the enemy ?"
There is no middle ground. He is
either for us or he is against us.
These are the sentiments and views
that impelled The PROGRESSIVE FARMER
to take issue promptly with Senator
Vance. This paper knew full well his
great influence and power with its
readers. It knew that they, with US,
had for him, in their affections and
hearts, a place that had never been
occupied by any other man in political
life. For a quarter of a century he
had been our political oracle and our
political idol. We loved him and so
did our people. We followed his lead
without question and in the utmost
confidence. His was a dangerous
eminence and a fearful responsibility
An error on his part was not only
dangerous, but it was largely a public
calamity The greater the influence
and power of a man, the greater and
more dangerous his errors. We real
ize and appreciate all this. We knew
full well the prestige of his name.
W. knew his great popularity with
the readers Of this paper and with the
Alliance of our State. We knew
what we must encounter when we
declared that he had m lde a mistake.
We knew that all the enemies of the
Alliance would seize the opportunity
to rush to his defence-mot so much to
defend ham as to use the influence Of has
name for the purpose Of carrying ont
their cherished hope and design-tO d.
Vide and to destroy the Alliance. We
knew that all manner of abuse, of
villiication and misrepresentation
would be heaped upon US. We
knew that politicians, spectators,
bankers, money-lenders, boot-licks,
demagogues, time servers and the
whole horde Of the enemies of the
Alliance would assail us. But we
knew our duty and we did not shrink
from it. Entertaining the views we
do as to the great issues upon which
we and the Alliance differ so widely
with Senator Vance, we would have
been false to ourselves and b tsely |
false to our beloved and noble order
if we had not met promptly and bold.
ly the dangerous error into which he
has fallen.
He is opposed to the Sub Treasury
bill.
He is opposed to the abolition of
banks.
He is opposed to government con-
troll of transportation.
He is opposed to congressional leg
against gambling in futures,
/" because" he says " Congress has no
power to pass such a law" but says
it should be regulated or suppressed
by the States, "a thing which, in
our judgment, is utterly and entirely
impracticable and will never be &C
complished.
In these views the Alliance differs
with the Senator, and the Alliance
will stand by it's convictions and by
interests of the farmers and laboring
of the country.
ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM
SEVERAL COLLEGES.
OUR information is to the effect