The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-09
THE s~UB-TREAsURY BILL.
Dr.. BealIs Reply to Omitted Action
LENo1R, N. c., Aug, go.

LENOIR, IN. w. NuSJ w.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Your correspondent,
" United Action" in The PROGRESSIVE
FARMER of August 18th, starts out as
if he was really a seeker after truth
He saws, "he would like to ask his
brothers of Caldwell county some
questions for information" But be-.
fore he writes half a dozen sentences
he reveals the fact that his real object
is not to get Information" but to
ridicule, criticize and find fault with
the action of the Caldwell County AL
lance in rejecting the "Sub- Treasury
BILL" and for putting forth a plan
which they believed to be more prac
ticable, more conservative, and broad
enough for all classes, who suffer
equally with the farmer, and from the
same cause, to stand upon and fight a
common cause.
If you will give me space, Mr..
Editor, and | feel sure your u>tesy
will not deny me-" [ will answer, as
briefly as possible, all the brothers
questions and give him all the "infor-
nation he asks for,
The truth never loses anything by
a fair and free discussion.
Many of our most intelligent and
conservative brethren cannot sub
scribe to the Sub Treasury" scheme,
and as [ have not seen in any ALI
ance paper a fair presentation of OBJ
jections to it as we see them, L am
glad of this opportunity to let our
brethren in North Carolina know
them through your widely-circulated
journal.
l will write first Of the Sub
Treasury bill " and then of the "Cald,
we'll plan" When the National Ali
auce first formulated it's demands and
tie Sub Treasury scheme ana sent
them down to the Sub Alliances for
approval or rejection, in our innocence,
as freemen; we thought we haU a
right to discuss them and Judge of
their fitness to promote u prosper
ity. But, judging from the tone and
logic OF OH brothers letter, We missed
the true idea, which was this: To
ratify the infallible edict of a great
central power without questioning.
AS a free born American citizen |
pro3es5 against the idea that of any
body's doctrine l shall approve what
l believe to be wrong. The National
Alliance demanded that the United
States government should purchase
and control the railroads and telegraphs
of the country. How many Alliances
in North Carolina approved that de-
mand ? Idoubt if asingle one did, and
if they did it was without thinking of
the enormous cost, the ~corrup.ing
tendencies, and without seeing the
tremendous centralizing power sought
to be placed iii the hands of the gen,
eral government.
Now, SIR, if that demand can be re,
pudiated by a single Alliance and it
still be considered loyal to our order,
in the name of common justice and
common sense l ask why should we
be compelled to adopt the Sub Treas
Wry bill as a test of loyalty, when to
many of US it seems as obi ctionable,
~impracticable and ce~ntralizing as the
other ? Oh! but, says your CORES
pendent, "united action is our only
hope" Unity Of action in a good
is right and desirable, but if
any action is shown to be injurious in
its tendencies and results or even
doubtful, then to demand that all in
or out of the order shall still stand by
it, is the height of folly. Such a course
can result only in disaster to our
order. Better a thousand times &C
knowledge Jul error, repudiate it and
begin a new course. This principle
is as sound in economics and politics
as in morals.
Now, what are some of the reasons
that caused our County Alliance, and
many Sub-Alliances, to reject the Sab
Treasury bill? First, because it VIC.
lates that principle of our order which
demands equal rights for all and special
prGVgIegeS to none.
Our State Alliance has again and
again demanded class legislation, but
this bill is the very essence of class
legislation, demanding for the farmers
special privileges which are denied to
all other classes. And worse, still; it
gives special privileges to the prosper
Gus farmers which are denied to the
farmers and laborers who never have
a surplus; and besides all this it de.
MES any privilege to that large class
of order-the mechanics. Not a
farmer west of Statesville, and not a
great number east of it, no; a single
mechanic throughout the State would
get a single dollar of that 6as
money"
Our order again and again has de-
nounced trusts and combinations to
raise the price of the necessaries of
life. This bill puts it in the power of
the rich farmers and those who buy
the warehouse certificates to force the
No. $50. A---A