The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-10-07

our Federal government was founded
and which it, under control of tho
money power for thirty years, has al
most destroyed.
Ono GOOD IN NAsARETH.
Seeing, as your organization did,
that the fountain of our woes is in
our financial system, the Alliance set
to work to provide a remedy. You
have not maintained that it is perfect,
much less panaces. AS soon as it
was born, it was set upon by the
press and politicians. It's paternity
was enough for them to know.
Farmers what do they know of Fl
nance 2"
"What is he to Hecuba, or Hecuba
to him ?"
"No good can come out of Nazsr
eth" 1t was kicked from Dan to
Beersheba. 1t was presented to Con.
gress. 1t could not fnd a godfather
Take it away 1t is unconstisution,
al; it is undemocrAtic; it is paternal
ism; it is class legislation; 1t will
break up existing political partieo p
And the majority, who, with the
minority buried your illegitimate in
committee room, turned again to
business, which vas to perfect" the
tariff bill, to force one class (your-
selves, millions in number) to work
to support another class IA few thou
san l IN number); to reform the worst
form of paternalism ever devised by
man to rob his brethren; to re- enact
probably the most unconstitutional
statute thas was ever passed by Con
gress.
Your numerical strength was not
then known. 1t was soon found out,
and the next movement made against
you was to divide your forces, To
effect that result four methods were
adopted. One was 10 keep up the as
sauit on the Sub Treasury plan, the
second was to attack the characters
and good names of the officers you
had chosen to lead you in your great
struggle; the third was to decry and
abuse you as disorganizers, and the
fourth was to organize and put out in
dependent candidates to beat the regu-
lar nominees who represent the views
of the Alliance.
THE WAY OF GREAT REFORMS
All leaders in great reforms have
gone through "greas tribulations, "
and you are not and will not be an
exception. Old ruts worn deep are
hard to get out of. Customs are
strengthened by age. Tyrants grew
bold and defiant by long reigns. The
men who live by Office abhor change,
lest they be exchanged. Those who
lack faith in a successful result are
timid; they halt between two opinions,
and at the first sign of division or
weakness, join your enemies Some
fatter with much fair speech" per,
suade you of their earnest support,
and, in the hour of trial, desert you.
Your greatest danger is in internal
dissention and division. If you stand
together, your national strength is
great enough to restore and maintain
justice to all. At first, thought your
requirement for membership too re
stricted. On reflection, l consider it
wise. You are not politicians. You
are not Office seekers. Your rule is,
therefore, wise, because it excludes
from your bodies those who might
and would join to get control for per
sonal promotion or to create dissention
in the interest of your enemy. Con-
sisting, as your order does, of farmers,
of one distinct producing class; being
the principal taxpayer1 and burden,
bearers, there is no temptation to any
of your members to prove traitors or
desert to the enemy. And the very
limited secrecy in your movement IS
but proper safeguard against spies
or enemies who would avail them
selves of their knowledge of your pro
ceedings, were they conducted on the
house top, to SOW dissention among
you.
You have been denounced for op,
posing some men who have been and
are candidates for Office. This, too,
is an unjust complaint. You are not
seeking Offices They are yours to be
stow. say yours, because the farm
ers are largely the majority, probably
i've to one in Georgia. You are asked
for Office. You have opinions; you
have plan which you believe will
not only benefit the majority, your.
selves, but the minority, also, as
much.
And when the office seeker says he
can not and will not agree with you,
nor attempt TO serve you as you wish,
ne has no more right to complain at
your refusal than he would were he to
ask you to give him your walking
stick for him to club you with. OF