The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-05-05
YORKSHIRE, N. Y, April 25, 1891.

1OnN0E11hL, ~ A.S APP" ~OS
The State Council of the Farmers
Alliance was organized at Hornells-
vile on the 22d inst, and New York
swung into line to join her sister States
in the fight against p%lutocratic oppres-
sion.
A detailed account of the. proceed
ings of the convention would not
especially interest the readers of your
paper in other States, so will simply
gives general idea of the work per-
formed. You must remember that
we live in New York State, the great
est c~enter~of wealth in the known
world; the greatest field of political
corruption on this hemisphere, so one
can scarcely measure the effect of this
great movement on the thoughts of the
coming two years.
Nearly all the delegates were on the
ground the day before the convention
was called to order; and all one could
hear in the corridor of the hotel was,
"When is President Polk coming?"
"Has he come yet?" "Have you seen
him?2 do you know himG" ETC., we're
the queries heard on every hand. Re
member we are Northern farmers,
mainly tinctured with a prejudice
against the South, and to actually see
an ex-rebel was a bit of experience to
be looked forward to with interest,
President Polk came, and we beheld a
man not very tall or portly, but a dis
tinguished bearing, a dignified, earnest
manner, a face set in resolute lines,
and Illuminated by dark, handsome
eyes, in fact a counterpart of what I
always dreamed made up a typical
SOutherner.
His reception was cordial, but under
meath it all there was a constraint that
could not wear away in a minute, are
acre not quite OUe the The con
ventiOn opened with Lecturer Willetts
in the chair, and the morning was
given up to routine work. In the
afternoon Mr.. Polk talked for a time
on the growth and outlook of the ALI
ance, and when he was done the qUoq
aUds nearer OUer. But the treat of the
session was reserved until evening
when an open meeting was held, and
addressed by the man who, more than
any other, has built the greatest move
ment OF modern times. To give a
synopsis of the lecture would be i'm
possible, and do the subject Justice.
Mr. pOIt% 70 on nro@O-R a-l 40-~o-1oJ
many heights; he is a student of the
social problems that confront us, and
In his hands they became clear to all;
he has touched the depths of human.
suffering, has felt the sorrows of our
struggling race, has seen the glaring
contrast that the world presents of OBJ
pulence and poverty, and they have
disciplined his nature, made it broad
and deep as the boundless sea, ever
ready to swell with pity or lash with.
fury, as the worlds mighty wrongs
sweep over him. But pulsing through
every quality is an overwhelming con-
viction of the truth. and this is the
power that sways his hearers. and
makes the man.
Brilliancy without soul conviction is
a worthless charm. High-sounding
words unset to the music of truth will
die on the air; but that power which
comes of experience and a determine
ton to right the wrongs of the world
will live on and On in the lives of men.
The audience were swayed to laughter
and to tears, and when the Poyal
SOutherner closed there was, one batch
of Northern farmers to whom the a
1U0S OUer.
The second day of the convention
was given up to business, and the fol-
lowing officers were unanimously
chosen for the ensuing year:
President, Harvey Arnold, of Wy.
oming county.
Vice President, Chas. Moore, of Steu-
ben county.