The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-01-21
EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS.
DeISUered Before Home AH5ance, No.
5I2, by j. Il CaldweH,
I,ecIHToT

44As GOAOGEN
fair and pleasant land o. our homes
and see the want and restitution
among the laboring classes calls for
an investigation Of the affairs OF our
country. There is something radi-
Cally wrong. This want and destitu-
ton does not exist on account of the
want of skill and energy of the labor
ing classes. No country under the
sun has produced such immense sup
plies of farm products as this country
has produced. No country has such
an immense supply on hand as this
country has. Our country is full to
overlooking with all the prime neces-
saries of life. Yet there is want, des,
titution and misery al over this
country. What is the cause of all
this misery and want? There is
something going On that should not
be tolerated.
Where does this fault lie2 Who is
to blame? Where does the response
bility rest? Is it ! 4 the lawsof our
country? Is il in the governing
classes, or is it on the part Of the
g~overned2
It is our duty to find where the
fault lies. If thai fault lies at our
own doors, it is our duty to correct
that evil. There is d great moral
wrong somewhere which calls for an
investigation at the hands of the PEG.
pie. This country belongs to the
people and not TO the government.
The government of this country is by
the people and for the people. There
is no governing class. There is no
power on earth higher than the will
of the people. The people are the
grand sovereigns of this country.
The officers are the servants of the
people to do the will of the people.
DO they do 1t? So long as the people
are ground into the dust they cannot
fill the place in their country's history
that is due to themselves and their
posterity. Monopoly after monopoly
are pressing the people down. Trust
on the top of trust, syndicate and
combine are crushing the life out of
the nation. 1t will be but a mere
matter of time as to when the last
spark of patriotism in the hearts of
the laboring classes will go out forever.
When this is done nothing remains
for the laboring classes but serfdOm
and slavery.
Fourteen millions of laborers taxed
$I.70 each annually for the direct
support of combines. How long can
the people stand sub a strain? Such
a pressure would long since have
crushed all the patriotism and life out
of any people except this nation.
The watchword Of trust, syndicate
and combine is give, give, take, take,
rob, rob, plumber and oppress! How
much longer will they dare to triae
with the people? The masses Of the
people demand a reform; the people
demand representation; the people de-
mand restitution. If there is no re-
form, no representation, no restitu-
iton thsre will be r~eVoZution. There is
one of two things they viii have,
they will have reform or there will be
revolution. The malls of the gods grind
sJoVZy but they grind e1ceed5mgly small.
This reform can be brought about by
the people, by their united efforts in
concentrated action.
This action may have to take the
course of revolution. It will have to
come sooner or later. 1t may be
bIoodless, it may De stainless; it may
be bright; it may be gallant and
noble. By united effort and united
action it can be accomplished by wis
dom It will be the brightest page
In our country's history.
There is 10 power on earth that can
accomplish this reform but the ALI.
ance. The Alliance stands with it's
doors open ready to do its part. Is
the membership ready to fill up the
space and leave no blank? AS an
association it is our duty to be ready
and begin U part OF the great work
of economical reform before us. And
how shall we begin To perform
this great work We viii have to begin
by education. This education will
have to begin at nome. To educate
the members Of the Alliance up to a
full standard Of membership ought to
be the first and greatest effort of the
Alliance. It should be the first and
highest duties OF Wayne County ALI.
ance to see that every one that com.
pose our great family should be taught
the ways and duties of Alliance mem.
bers. Having mingled with Alliance
members of Wayne and adjoining
counties, 1 find the greatest obstacle
to the success OF the Alliance is the
want of information among the mem
bership. There is not more than one
IN FIVE of the members that take an
Alliance paper or An agricultural pa
per of any kind. Is it any surprise
80 find our members not posted and
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