The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-11-24

given and forgotten to defeat the peO-
ple-or revived and perpetuated to
divide the people. InsidiOus and IN
flamatory appeals to all the baser
passions will be substituted for calm
deliberation and reason. Centralized
capital, allied to corporate power, will
sit enthrOned in high places and Will
assume to control conventions, to pre-
scribe the policy of parties, to subsidize
the press and to dictate legislation,
State and National. ~Subterfuge, start
egg, deception, fraud, intimidation
and bribery will be invoked to thwart
the will of the people and to suppress
their Just demand for financial relief.
The two great political parties which
have grappled in terrible conflict for
twenty-five years have sounded q truce
and will doubtless mutually agree, that
as in the past, the great question of
financial reform" shall continue to
be regarded a neutral ground" be-
tween them.
In this crisis, what is our duty as an
organization? Every consideration Of
justice, of manhood, of consistency and
of honor, requires that all true mem
bers of the Order shall stand firmly
and uncomprOmisingly by u princi-
pies, and especially should the vitality
important and righteous demand for
reform in our financialsystem befOTced
to the front as the great and paramount
issue before the American people.
Let us firmly demand of all aspirants
for our suffrages and of all parties, an
uneQuivOcal definition of their position
on the great principles we espouse and
have promulgated. Let us be deceived
no lODCop OF TIC HnNu hoTooftaT that
those entrusted with our confidence
will not betray it, but will prove
worthy, by honest, faithful endeavor,
to protect and promote u interests
and the general welfare of the whole
people. Let us continue and enlarge
the grand and glorious work so aus
piciOusly and SO successfully inaugu-
rated in educating the masses in the
true principles of economical govern
ment, and in the rights, duties, and
responsibility of American citizenship.
BefOreyOur body will have assembled
again a general election, with all the
attendant excitement, strife, and
bitterness, will have occurred. But
whatever it's character, let this grand
organization win and enjoy the glorious
triumph Of firmness over weakness, of
fidelity over treacherY, of patriotism
over partisan zeal, of dignifed indie
pendence over slavish s~ubserviency,
of principles over policy, and thus
eXalt, adorn, and dignity public and
political morals.
OUR ORGANIZATION, ITS PROGRESS AND
CONDITION.
Notwithstanding the oft repeated as
sertiOn of it's enemies that organ
I-1 49, 10 ~, - OTTO 70 ~ TnTo%nOrV-H +IN1
and decline, yet ithass steadily enlarged
the area of it's jurisdiction, and since
its organization there has been no time
when it was in finer spirit, more united,
or in more thorough and harmonious
accord on Our principles and purposes
than it is to day. Perhaps no more
striking or conclusive proof of this can
be found than in the readiness, eager
ness and delight with which the detfec
ton of a single subordinate body out
of about forty thousand, or the deser-
ton of a single member out Of millions,
is heralded and extolled by the parti-
san press of the country.
We have added to our call since your
last annual meeting the States of Ohio,
New York, Iowa, Wisconsin, Delaware,
Oregon, Washington and New Jersey,
and others still would have been added
but for our inability to supply or
ganizers.
The greatly increased number of
reform papers, and the volume of
general Alliance literature, which have
been distributed, and the efforts tomeet,
in some measure, the earnest and in
creasing demandsfO for information, seem
only to have stimulated and augmented
that demand, until it assumed proper
lions far in excess of our ability to
supply it with the means at our com
mand.
have visited during the year eleven
State meetings, and made thirteen ad-
ditional official visits delivering on each
visit from one to six addresses in each
State, and involving a travelled dis
lance of about thirty thousand miles.
Upon the invitation of the two Orders
in the State of Arkansas, | visited their
joint meeting, and witnessed their har-
mOniOus and most %fraternal cOn5Olida-
ton. The courtesy of an official invi-
tatatOn was rendered me by the open
Alliance of Wisconsin, and as the result
of their deliberations, that great State
is here with us today, through duly
constituted and accredited delegates.
| beg to submit at another time during
your Sc sion, in more elaborate form
and for the information of your body,
the details of the work of my office
during the year.
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
It gives me pleasure to testify to the
fidelity and efficiency of the officers of
the different departments at your ma
tional headquarters, Especially am
indebted to the ready cooperation and
wise counsel of your National Execu-
tive Board, for valuable aid in the
discharge of laborious and difficult
duties, and to the prompt and faithful
service, which at all times has been
rendered by your National Secretary.
No higher cOmmendatiOn of the service