The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-11-10
THE SITUATION.
rom a Lincoln County Allianceman.

America, with all thy faults
love thee still"
Indiana has revered the party OF
Abraham Lincoln as the preserver OF
the Union the advocate of freedom
and mercy; her leaders as the apostles
of heavens own flats. Georgia has
loved Jefferson and his progeny as the
friends of mother and sister; her lead
ers as the chieftains who valiantly
sought for her country, who led her on
hOtly contested battletields through
shot and shell who were with her IN
prosperity and adversely.
Who values such devotion. Who Is
more patriotic than he who loves and
possesses the glebe of his infant pratt
tling tongue? Let ThermOpyIB and
her LeOnldaS answer. The heroic
deeds of our fOrefathers at Lexington,
Valley Forge and Yorktown embiazOn
If the bronze that cannot perish, the
gratitude of son and sire, the yeOman's 5
love of country.
This fact stands indisputable in the
annals of nations: Rural populations
are most patriotic and most susceptible
to leadership. A few instances of the
gratitude of rural populations for their
old leaders, even when the people we're
not in full sympathy with them: Last
year an Old Confederate general turned
a Georgia Alliance legislature and
Governor Gordon was triumphantly
elected to the United States Senate.
With all that is sacred through the
glorious deeds of history, with the love
of venerated leaders, with that ac-
know edged susceptibility to leader
ship, with that tenacIty of Southern
tn
what mean these banded masses 0
laborers crying want! want want!
led by men hitherto more despicable
in the eyes of old leaders than was the
youthful Augustus Caesar in the sight
of Antony when Rome was his miniOn?
Are they fanatics, rabbles, cOncen-
tTated ignorance? Is not reading and
studying Inculcated? Give us more
such reasoning fanatics. Gentlemen,
you hear the voice, see the grim visage
of wronged humanity. 1t will not
down at your bidding. Go, speak to
Etna Cease your eruptlOns." Go,
tell the hungry: Be satisfied with your
condition. Are you wizard of the
situation, then may you persuade these
tOiling men that they have not com
mon grievances and common wrongs
Where is the farmers brightest son
to-day! In town, or perchance in the
wild West. Why IS this? Generally
no peCunIary induCement to remain on
the farm. But, is it because rural
populations are indOlent? Why, these
very rowing sons prosper whittier they
go.
Why, in this age of schools, are so
many bright boys CTOWnTng manhood
with comparative ignorance! Poverty I.
widespread blighting poverty! Is
there a reason for the uncultivated
mind of that Cincinnatus' daughter, a
diamond indeed in the rough, worthy
the polish incident to the fortune of
the millionaire belle? Alas! the re
turns of that fathers brawny arm. on
which she relies, often lily keep gaunt.
absolute want from his door Is this
an Overdrawn picture? Why then
these money kings sprlnging up in a
night! Why cyclOnic depression
sweeping the brood acres of prolific,
well-cultivated farms all over this
country! Echo answers in the stern
mien of these weary labOrers: Injus-
tice; gross, unbearable injustice.
What has united these chaotic,
hitherto repellant elements, from Hat
teras to California? What has effaced
war issues? What has blended the
blue and the gray in happiest harmony 2
Nee SSity, that which gave to Patrick
Henrys appeal in the House of Bur
geSseS its wild uncomfortable power
necessity, that which in Olden times
compelled the gods necessity gentle
men the first law of being.
What of the situation? Having no
essential objection to the Sub Treasury
6
and all other reform demands, South
ern Democrats wellnigh acquiesce with
us. The labor unions stand to-day ap
pealing for recognition of their peti
tiOns. Southern Democratic leaders
declare by their actions more cOgent
than speech, though almost of u.s.
Come let us follow Cleveland and
ammany Hall. We have the stranger.
Away with my conscience, your con
victiOns! Away with right and Justice !!
Away with widows sighs and orphans
tears! Hail dubious policy! King of
Night.
Nor do we see any dawning in the
Jupiter of Maine; no solace in the
grandson of TippecanOe.
Then, . ye yeOman, to your SuccOr! !
The war is on us. "5We must fight, I
repeat it, sir, we must fight" The in
telligent ballot, our weapon; our cause,
God, home and native land.
With the wolf without the the fox
within, with the early history of the
Republican party in her struggle for
recognition by the existing parties, a
history of SCOTS from foes and perfume
tory support from friends from Frank
lin to Fremont when stood forth, in
rugged organization, the much beloved
giant, is there no counsel to the people?
The common people must see the
rugged outlines of principles incarnate
if they would support them in down
right. whole-sOuledness. AbstractiOns
fascinate metaphysiceans, not the
common neOnle With these truths