The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-05-27
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE AL
LANCE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.

want to talk with you just as [
would if | were at your Preside. l
know how hard it is for you to get
out of the old rats you have been &C
custoned to move in, and [ know the
pressure that will be brought on you
to keep you in the path you have
been moving in for a quarter of a
century. However, this does not re
lieve me of the duty 1 owe you as a
brother, and whether you take the
advice l give or not [ shall do my
duty by giving it.
There is now to be laid the founda-
ton Of al important campaign. It
remains for you to say whether we,
the people, shall be masters of the
situation, or whether you will, as in
the past, allow politicians to mislead
you. You are complaining of the
load you have to carry, Of your ex-
cessive taxation, of the fact that your
wishes are not represented in Con-
gress. You have elected leaders and
you expect Of them great relief.
What a they do but devise the
means? 1t is for you to decide
whether the means will be used or
not. OF what avail is it to have the
most skillful surgeon or the best doc
tor money will employ if you will not
allow the surgeon to cut away the
fungus growth that is destroying you;
Or what avail is the physician if you
do not take his remedies?
We do not come to you and ask to
be nominated for Office, but we do
ask that you nominate good men and
true that have always been identified
with you. You do not know as I do
how representatives ridicule you and
laugh at your distress. Only today
in this Office we were told that petit
tions do not amount to anything; that
the people-the hayseeders--wilI sign
petitions for anything. You desire
relief and yet some of you will cast
your influence and doubtless your
votes for men who are not of you nor
interested in you, save to get your
votes. Let the Office seek the man.
When a candidate comes to you,
bowling and smiling, telling you how
much interest he has in your welfare,
how he will work for your good, first
ascertain if he has always done so. If
he has opposed the peoples will or
their needs and wants in or before
the legislature, do not trust him. If
his money is invested so that his
pocket interests are not with you, do
not trust him. Too many of you are
anxious for your county to have the
Representative. Of what value is
that to you? Will you get an appro-
priation from Congress that will ben.
eft you n dollar by your country
man getting the position? You must
remember that no relief can come un-
til the laws are changed, and you
must get men in Congress who will
forget party long enough to look for
the peoples good. If am interested
in banks or railroads l will naturally
lean that way. so that your only hope
is to elect men to Congress who are
Of yOu.
Do you imagine that you want a
great speaker ? This is all nonsense.
Not a half dozen speeches during one
Congress are made that are not read
as a %schoolboy reads his lesson in
school. What you need is men of
good judgment, of firm convictions of
right, INC that cannot be swayed by
those that are, opposing your interests.
You have been trained to think that
all the good that can come to the
country will come from the party you
have voted with. I tell you, and |
defy any man, let him be of what
party he may to disprove it, that both
parties so far as monetary matters are
concerned, stand on the same plat,
form.
When We elected Cleveland we ex,
pected relief. His policy was precise.
ly like his predecessor, only that he
failed to purchase bonds, and for
more than a year permitted the sur,
plus to accumulate in the Treasury.
The Republicans elected Harrison and
the same financial policy is continued.
Some of you will question this. Let
me quote from a speech delivered by
Grover Cleveland in Boston, at a
banquet. In addressing bankers,
brokers, merchants and spectators
he said: When l see about me this
gathering of business men and mer.
chants find it impossible to rid my.
self of the impressive thought that
here is represented that factor in civil.
lied life which measures the progress
of a people, which constitutes the
chief care of every enlightened gov.
eminent, and which gives to a country
the privilege of recognized member.
ship in the community of nations"
To this doctrine Old Fogy does not
subscribe. We have editors and pub.
lie men who bow down and worship