The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-08-18
FUN WITH THE ENEMY.
His Gymnastics Amuse the Farmer and
Laborer.

sociation, New York.
The gymnastic performances of the
partisan Democratic and Republican
press are more wonderful and attrac-
tive at this time than anything that
has ever happened from the days of
the OIympian games down to date. On
one day these papers will "authOrita-
lively" and sOberly say that the par
tiCular party it represents will stand
firmly and sOlidly together, and that
the "patriOtism" of the members will
not allow them to be divided and STAN
peded from the road which they have
travelled for thirty years. The next
day the same papers will say that there
are grave disturbances in the country
which threaten to disrupt and disinte-
CRATE their party" and send their
"time hOnOred" Cbut dead issues and
theories to the rear. And then, oh,
what a plea they send up for men to
stand together and meet the onset Of
the coming foe
Another day these papers will fawn
upon the great organization known as
the Farmers Alliance, and say it's
members are the sturdy nobility of he
land: that they are tried and truemen,
and that they will not be led away
from their old affiliations by new issues
and new measures. The very next
day these same papers will squirt
streams Of abuse and SANDER and Wilt
ficatiOn on the Alliance and denOunce
the organization as a villainOus com
pound of cranks, socialists, prohibition
lists and anarchists. and its officers as
a set of dGmaGOgueS and INSCRIPTIONS
schemers who have no object in view
save that Of the disruption of their
"partE, and, OF course, the consequent
ruin Of the country.
Still another day these papers Will
seriously estimate the strength of the
Alliance, will wisely (9 forecast its
political action, and will assert that
h Alliance movement must be taken
into all calculations Of q political ma
ture, and its force and strength cannot
be ignored. The very next day these
same papers will print an interview
with some Alliance traitor and rene
gade, Or viii print a flaming head over
an announcement that some Sub-Alli-
anCe has repudiated Alliance principles.
TheStuTdy WOrklngman and the patient
and loyal farmer look on at the9eauticS
for a while in UndIsguised amazement,
then they surrender uncOnditiOmally
to the ridiculous and homogeneous
hurry burIy thus presented and laugh
long and loud.
It Will be recognized without QuCS-
ton that all legislation for the past
thirty Years has come through either
the Democratic or Republican party.
Some Alliance and reform speakers
have boldly charged that both parties
have been affected, influenced and dis
eaSeG by the "ravageS of the money
power. This phrase was used by
President Polk in q speech recently de
Iivered in Washington. The speech
did not please the indianapolis Journal,
which Is the acknowledged organ of
the present administration, and as a
mark Of its displeasure it called Presi-
dent Polk a "hOwling demagogue. -
and quoting the phrase, "ravages Of
the money power, treated it contempt
uOuSly by eXclaiming whatever that
is" Well, it is too big a thing to tell
all about at n time, but a few illus
tratiOns may serve to show something
of its size and shape.
In 1873 there was a railroad quarrel
in New York State, and some of the
ravages were exposed. Mr.. J. Gould
was on the stand as q witness, and
when being asked questions with refer
enCe to the appointment of q commit
tee to investigate the management of
the Erie Railroad, said: | do not
know how much | paid toward helping
friendly men. We had four States to
look after, and we had to suit our
politics to circumstances. In a Demo
cratic district | was a Democrat; in a
Republican district | was a Republican,
and in a doubtful district l was doubt
full; but in every district and at all
tlmeSI have always been an Erie man."
Mr. Gould OIl0l +IO II
when asked q question, THAT it would
Gus instances as it would to recall to
mind the numerous freight cars sent
over the Erie Road from day to day"
In New Jersey q railroad bill, known
as Senate Bill 167, was passed in the
interests Of railroads that wanted to
secure the entire water front of Jersey
City. The measure was a fragrant out
rage and the Governor vetoed it. The
Senate passed it Y the veto, but the
house hesitated, and then the 'ravages
Of the money power" began. The
story was told by Hon. J. II. Shinn,
who could not be bribed. \ man
named CrOmer called on Mr.. Shinnand
offered him $500 to vote for the bill.
Shinn refused, and, knowing that mis-
chief was going on, went to one of his
colleagues and told him of the affair.
They agreed that if any offers
were made they would accept them
and have the whole affair exposed in
the House. Shinn was subsequently
offered 81, 900 for his vote, and said AL
right" Five hundred dollars of the
money was to be paid at dinner time
and five hundred after the bill passed,
At dinner a man came to Shinn and
handed him a package in which there
were five 500 bills. Shinn exposed the
bribery. An investigation was had,
the whole affair proven, ond it is now
a matter Of record.
L 49, nnAA lonn lAnnn. EinnnA q .tI.A 70 CO.