The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-05-20

large denomination that only capital
lists were able to carry them, while
to the debt-ridden people vas added
the interest of these very bonds which
could only exist by the destruction of
the greenbacks and fractional currency
upon which the people paid no interest.
Next, the protective tariff, about
which L will have but little to say, is
kept up for the protection of certain
classes to the detriment of the masses.
forcing the farmers to pay two prices
for what they buy, while they are
compelled to sell their produce in
competition with the free trade mar
kets of the world, making it UNEQUAL
and unjust and a curse to the country.
These are facts which show you that
the leyislatiOn of the country is con-
trolled by the money kings in their be.
half and against the toiling masses.
There are nov twenty-five thousand
men who own one-half of all the wealth
in this country, and unless they are
stopped in their greed for gain, which
seems to have nc limit, the time will
come when they will W it all and
the toillng masses will fill paupers'
graves and leave as a heritage to
their children to be hewers of wood
and drawers of water for the money
kings.
We have borne it long enough.
(By what right are they greater folks
than we p On what grounds do they
deserve it? How can they saw or
prove that they are better than we, if
1t be not that they by unjust legisla-
ton make us gain for them by our
toll what they spend in their pride ?
They are clothed in the finest clothes
while the laborers of this country are
covered with rags. Their tables are
supplied with the finest wines and
daintiest dishes that the country can
afford, while the laborers have the
plainest diet and nothing but
water to drink. They have their
leisure and fine mansions of stone
and mortar, furnished with the
richest tapestry, and more money
than they a spend, while the farm
ers have their plain houses, poorly
furnished with pain, labor, and debt,
the rain and the wind in the fields as
their portion. And yet it is of us
and our toll that these men hold their
estates. 1t is the farmer who feeds
and clothes the nations of this world.
and yet he has no protection. We
do not ask or wish to crush any class
to the dust and we are determined
not to be crushed. All we ask is an
equal chance in life with the rest of
mankind, by having our laws built
upon the foundation rock of equal
rights to all and of special privileges
to none. This can be accomplished
only by organization. The agricultu.
raj classes contain 50 per cent. of the
entire population of the United States
and by organization and in no other
way can we control Legislation in this
country. It is true the Alliance IS
not a political organization, but we
must go into politics before we can
get the needed relief. And every ALI.
ance and every man in every Alliance
has a duty to perform in working out
this great revolution that is destined
to be accomplished by the Alliance
and Industrial Union, provided all do
their duty. While this little band Of
men here forming this Alliance, when
compared to the population of the
United States is but as one drop Of
water to the mighty ocean, yet we
form one link in this grand chain that
is being formed by the farmers Of this
country, and it is our duty not to let
our link break but make it stronger
day by day, and also help to strength,
en- the links next to us. 1t is our
duty to attend the Alliance meetings.
1t will be beneficial to us socially,
morally, Intellectually and ~pecuniarily.
There are many farmers who do
not read, and many who are too poor
to buy anything to read. 1t is lgnor-
ance on the part of the masses mot
knowing where the trouble lies) that
has reduced them to poverty and here
in the Alliance is the place to educate
them as to their own wretchedness
and the sumptuous estates OF their
masters. When this is done we Will
shape the destiny Of this country and
leave as a heritage to u children the
freedom of free men and a country IN
which they can enjoy peace, prosperity
and happiness.