The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-02-04
{ THE NEW REVOLUTION.

ANCon LA9 49, AAAS OIL $ASSS
reforms, it began with the people.
We well remember that we were told,
persistently, that all the great inter
ests of the country were in a pros
porous condition and that there was
n o real necessity for organization
among the farmers-that they should
pursue the even tenor of their way
and all would be we'll. Many who
talked thus, knew better, but a large
majority of them had not investiga-
ted the situation and hence were not
concerned. Others again. such al
our merchants, for example, whose
intimate business relations with the
farmers and constant contact with
them made them feel that something
was wrong, but they did not stop to
diagnose the situation and search out
the evil causes. Among those who
had given the subject only a super
fetal investigation, thousands of
causes were assigned, for hard times
among the farmers, and in nearly all
cases they were ascribed directly to
farmers themselves. Meantime, the
causes were being revealed to the
farmers and were being brought to
light through their own personal ex-
periences and ever present conscious,
ness of their gradual, but sure de.
cline. So manifest and so prevalent
was this condition that the farmers in
Florida, Maine, Virginia, Nebraska,
Mississippi and Iowa, felt alike its
crushing weight and were alike anxi,
ously concerned as to the remedy.
Everywhere, from one end of the
country to the other, they saw that
while universal prosperity seemed to
smile on all other industries and in
t~erests, agriculture was rapidly de-,
clining. Thinking men, among them,
saw that individual effort, as a correc.
tive, would be worse than useless.
They felt and recognized the environ
ments which crippled the efforts and
systems of the farmers, to improve
and increase their crops. But no
sooner did they begin to investigate
the situation, than the true and under
lying causes began to reveal them
selves and they found that discrimi-
mating, oppressive and unjust legisla-
ton, State and National, was the
great overshadowing evil under
which they struggle and suffer. That
under the fostering hand of this
legislation ali manner of methods anG
schemes had grown up by and
through which the farmers were
robbed of the just and fair share of
the earnings and profits of their Ia
Dor. That in no way could they hope
to effect reform except through uni
ted and concerted action.
They formulated a plan for Forgani-
zing. They set to work to accom-
plish it. The history of the world
does not furnish a parallel to the
growth Of this organization. Nor
does the history of the world, in our
judgment, furnish it's equal in unself-
ish patriotism and devotion to prin.
ciple.
Bad and unprincipled men in all
the walks of life, have availed them
selves of the opportunities offered by
unjust laws, to Cypress and grind the
wealth producers, but this movement
of the farmers, is not directed so
much against these men, as against
the systems and conditions, which
places this power in their hands. The
Alliance desires to 90 to the root of
the matter and do away with those
conditions which places the farmer
and his earnings at the mercy of un-
s%crupulous, designing, selfish men.
If in the performance of this sacred
duty, they shall have to dethrone
self constituted masters-be it SO. If
they shall have to take a more active
and prominent part in politics, than
heretofore, they will not hesitate to
do it. If they shall have to inter
tere in the management and policy of
the political party to which they are
attached, to correct its evil tenden-
cies and practices and to secure JUS
tice, they will do it. They want and
they intend to secure if possible,
equal rights to all and special favors
to none" They feel that our govern
ment, in all its departments, is fast
getting too far away from the peo-
pie. They demand reform. They
do not intend to be inundated.
They are dreadfully in earnest. The
Alliance movement is grounded on
these great principles and purposes
and 1t as here to stag. The farmers
all over this great country are rally
ing to it's standard and before an.
other year shall have passed, it will
be the most powerful organization in
the world.
GIVE US CREDIT.