The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-21

rency and we will be sure to receive a
better reward for our labor and skill.
The free coinage of silver and the Sub
Treasury plan are some of the means,
we are told, that will help us on to
prosperity. How are we to obtain
those means? By forming ourselves
into a solid alliance and demand OF our
Congressman that these laws shall be
enacted for our relief.
We have strong opposition to con-
| tend with The mOneyed power is
arraved against Ns. The lub0rmG
classes are beginning to assert their
rights. and are making their demands.
If we are to succeed, we must march
in solid phalanX against the cOntending
foe, and victory will surely perch upon
our banners.
The great Alliance movement has
already achieved a success that has far
surpassed the expectations Of its OppOs-
ers. have heard it said that farmers
never can accomplish much by form
ing themselves into an Alliance. Their
! OppOsers say that dissensiOns will arise
among them that will very much
cripple their efforts. They say that
we will all be too greedy after office,
and as all cannot be officers, the Ali
mce will burst up in confusion. Well,
believe we are not so anxious after
office as many have supposed us to be.
Some of US may become a little luke
warm, or Indifferent at times, but not
enough SO 80 disband our fast-increas-
ing organization. In fact we are be
ginning TO revOlutiOnize the country.
What does this Alliance movement
meanI has already been asked by the
/ press Of the country. Our answer Is:
! We have organized for self-prOtection
and don't you forget it. Our demands
| have been unheeded long enough. We
| need to send men to the legislative
| halls who are in sympathy with us,
and who are willing to spend their
time and talents in framing such laws
as Will be conducive to our welfare
/ We want men who are willing and
ready to stand up for Us, so that when
we petition to Congress to enact Ger
tain laws for our good, they VI take
the matter under favorable considera-
ton, and not treat US with Indifference
nor fling back in our faces "mconsti-
/ tutionaL" We HoYe the day IA not far
/ distant when it viii not be 1WcosstjjU-
| tior0I for the government to aid the
farmers.
It seems that in the past our govern
ment has been run in the interest of
the few-in the interest Of the moneyed
corporations. The people are now be
ginning to arise III their majesty and
say that this government must be ad-
ninistered in the interest Of the many.
We are told to keep out Of politics,
that it will ruin the Alliance. My
brethren. if we are to have nothing
20 do with politics, we might as well
disband at once. How shall we choose
and elect suitable men to represent us
in the legislative halls Of our country,
if we are to disregard politics entirely
Shall we leave the selection Of our law
makers to the Old political parties as
we have done in the past? If we do,
can we expect any radical change in
this sin-cursed government
In our past Congress we are told
there were three hundred lawyers and
thirteen farmers. Are there not brains
and intelligence enough among the
farmers Of this broad land of ours to
furnish more than thirteen men to
represent lis among its lawmakers? [
mean no disrespect to the lawyers, but
1 mean that we ought to have a better
representation among our own class of
people.
The farmers are beginning to study
as they never studied before. Let me
admOnish you, my brethren, to study
the great economic questions Of the
day carefully, so that when you march
to the ballOt-box you Will know how to
vote intelligently Take oar OUn papers
and study the great reform movements
that are now agitating this country of
ours. We should not let men of other
professions do all Of the thinking for
US. Learn to think and devise for
yourselves and be manly and indie
pendent. Let us not forget that the
laboring classes have a mighty power
in their ballots, if they will use them
intelIigcntly. But we should be right
first and always in our demands. Let
us not be selfish; give every man or
class of men, fair chance in the race
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