The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-11-04
WHOSE INTERESTS SHALL BE
OF FIRST CONSIDERA TON,
THE TRADERS OR
PRODUCER'S7

Nh EDIroR:--It is very much In
accord with my nature to hurrah for
the under dog in a fight, and from
what has recently been said and writ
tan, it is quite evident That the trader
is the under dog in this discussion,
and l think unjustly so, to some ex-
tent.
| am of the opinion that the inter
ests of the traders and producers are
entitled to equal consideration; that
each is necessary to promote the vel
fare of the other, and that they are al
most inseparably connected.
Who is it that has caused this fair
land Of our to be checkered over with
the iron rails upon which steam is
drawing millions of tons of freight
daily ? And who is it that has caused
not only the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans but nearly all their tributaries
to be dotted over with the "white
sails of commerce." and echoing the
sounds of steam as it propells huge
vessels carrying freight which is
beyond computation or c~omprehen
sion ? Evidently this is not all the
work of the producer. Who is 1t
that has caused to grow up those
mighty cities, emporiums of trade and
commerce, which are the pride OF civ
ilization 2 And who is it that has
caused to be built all over this coun-
try the beautiful towns and villages,
where religion, education and refine.
ment seem to have almost obtained
perfection ? No one will deny but
that the trader has aided in all this.
Then why condemn those who have
accomplished so much, or at least
have contributed to it's accomplish
ment ? 1t is not the trader that we
should make war upon, but the extor
ZIONIST and monopolist.
We cannot condemn traders vita,
out condemning the Alliance, for they
are traders upon the most gigantic
scale | have even read of. 1t is the
largest trades union in the known
world. The Alliance has united men
together for the purpose of teaching
traders how to trade. They are simply
getting up a healthy competition in
trade, and saying to those who have
heretofore monopolized the business,
that you have grown corpulent and
oppressive; that we are freemen and
will not submit to the " iron heel of
oppression any longer, and you
must trade more fairly or we IL not
patronize you. in short that you are
only the allies Of the producers and
not their masters; that you bave at
tempted to put all the profits in your
" pockets and not give the pro
Queer his due proportion. Then we
say we will dissolve this copartner
ship and do our own trading, for you
have grown too fat, consequently the
producer too poor. But we further
say that whenever you are willing to
deal fairly and be content with legiti
ma profits. You may have a share
of the trade, but until then you must
get out Of the way or be trampled
IN 1er foot by the mighty host of pro
duce1s and neaO traders who are on
the march of progress and justice.
Right here | am pleased to say that
a great many of the old traders are
falling into rank and begging for
mercy and well they may, for the
"hand writing is upon the WALL" and
as a class they are 10 blind to their
own interest.
All this does not imply the breaking
up of trade but the regulating Of it in
a legitimate way. In this matter we
ask for no concessions and demand no
rights that are not guaranteed in the
Constitution of Our country, to wit:
The enjoyment of the fruits of our
own LABOR and the pursuits of happi
ness" Then in the defence of our
rights let US be careful not to become
oppressors.
| for one do not condemn traders
nor wish to exterminate them. Nor
do l want to see the whole of trade
turned through the channel of the AL
lance; for [ am opposed 10 monopo-
lies, as they invariably become corrupt
and oppressive. Then let our motto
truly be, Gin things essential, unity;
and in all things, charity"
a. Co., !