The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1891-05-13
MIR. BEN TEKRELLiN AsHE-
WILLIE.
He Speaks at IN Court Hou-c-
From the Citixen.

He Speaks az th' Court House
From the Citizen.
There was a very good gath
ering of farmers and others in |
the court house Wednesday, of |
last week, TO hear Ben. Terrell, |
the alliance orator of Texas,
talk on the alliance.
The meeting was called to or
der by Gen. X. b. Vance and j.
IS. Bell, state senator from Clay |
county, was called to the chair. |
lie introduced the speaker.
Mr.. Terrell said he wanted to |
talk in a way that would not |
provoke prejudice and wanted |
the audience to hear with minds |
from all prejudice. He was, he |
said, a believer in the alliance
and was not able to see any way |
|out of the present difficulties
except by education, express
ing himself as opposed to agita-
tious or prejudices, and stating
that ths only way to discuss the |
alliance is TO present its de-
mands. He denied that the
farmers want to break up the
merchants, but said what they |
want is a free competitive mar
ket He could not conceive of |
am interest that would be hurt |
by benefitting the farmer.
POLITICS.
As to politics, he said that
the farmer is more interested in
the country than any other class
and has a right to discuss mat
tiers in which he is interested. |
He said that the cry that the |
alliance will break up the par
ties is a foolish one, and it is a
poor admission for a party to
say that when the farmer be |
comes intelligent enough TO see
his condition it viii hurt the
party.
s.It is. continued Mr. Terrell, |
"a well understood fact that the |
amount of money and produce
on hand controls the price of |
produce and the farmer should |
educate the people on them and |
let them then vote conscienti- |
ously and intelligentIy.
"Here is an organization that |
has nothing to do with partisan |
politics. Each man may vote |
for himself and the only object |
is TO educate him SO as to vote |
intelligently II your party is |
for the right government for all,
then education of the masses
will help it, but if the party is |
afraid Of eduction, | am aop-
posed 10 the party.
LAND OWNERSHIP.
"The first demand we made is |
in regard 70 the ownership of |
land. We want the govern
ment 10 prohibit corporations
from owning land except what
is necessary 70 transact their
business. Heretofore the labor
ing men have been divided by |
party lines and the money pow
or has ruled, but we intend that
il shall be different. We donot
want 10 discuss party politics,
but TO do what Is best for the
home. The Alliance is not a.
fraid Of any party. The only |
way you can get the farmers
vote in 1892 is to convince us
that your measures are the best
for the farmers and for all
classes.
"The next demand Is in re-
gard 70 taxation. Don'tyou be-
lieve that all property should be
taxed! We want equal and
Just taxation, and on y what is
necessary for the government.
II you are not in favor of this
well not vote for you in '92. /
would not care for a party that
says il is in favor Of us and then
won't prove il, any more than
for q girl that would tell me she
loved me and then not let me
kiss her. We will not seek for
any party, but for the right.
TRANSPORTATION.
II now come 20 another ques-
tion. The control Of transpor-
ltation, so as 10 free IL from op-
lpression. The railroads are pub
lie highways and there should
be no discrimination in rates.
This is q great evil and has got
10 stop. The transportation
lines Of this country should not
have any more than a good di-
vidend on their capital. The
next demand il in regard to
money. II is natural for the
farmer, in making demands on
this question, 20 make them
radical. He proposes TO make
money the servant and not the
master He wants the govern
lment, when II makes a dollar 70
...al4.. Il sssn.& - =. lallaa eel ...ss