The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-28
THE ALLIANCE AND ITS MISSION
Educate THE MASSES.
PEACOCKS, n. G..

y
dent has been forced to give answer as
the best he could time and again, and
realizing the fact that much and even
deep solicitude in this respect exists
among all classes of men, [ concluded
to give a general answer through our
paper. Now as to the true objects,
aims and purposes, it is fact clearly
set forth in it's Constitution and decl ir-
alton of principles,
1st. To labor for the education of the
agricultural classes in the science of
economical government in a strictly
nOn-partisan spirit
Now propose in this letter to show
the mission of the Alliance so far as
this first article reaches, and no further
at present. First clause: ''To labor
for the education of the agricultural
classes Does or can any man or wO-
man object to education? Who is it
that doesn't keenly realize with a heart
sickeRing regret, the fact that he
knows too little by far of matters
essential to his common business, and
even the little which he sometimes had
hoped he knew, when brought to the
test, proved to be very imperfect. |
say most men realize this fact, unless
he be a bigoted simpletOn, who has not
brain enough to see how big fool he
is, Some men are. like drunkards, be-
cause they stagger themselves, they
imagine they are standing or walking
steadily while every other person is
staggering, hence how important that
the masses be educated. What a bless
ing it would be if all our people were
so we'll informed that they could,
knowingly and thoroughly take hold
Of any business; were so educated that
when they go to the ballOt-bOX they
could cast their vote for, and in favor
of, the candidates who advocated the
best and wisest and most liberal form
of legislation. Such voters as these are
patriots; they vote from principle; !;
they understand why they vote and
for what they vote, hence they choose
the man to be their leader whom they
regard the best calculated to advocate
their measures; they love their plat
form because they understand it, and
love the men and women of their
party because they know them to be
brethren and sisters from principle,
and as such they are those in whom
they can cOnfide. Education is what
we need; education in everything but
especially in the governmental affairs
of our nation, But some will object to
the political education Of the agricul-
tUral and mechanical GLASSES and say
they had better study things connected
with their business and let politics
alone-leave them to lawyers and pro
fessional politicians, Oh yes, and the
people Of the United States have been
so doing for many years, and what is
the result? Why ignorance, extrava-
gance and ruin is the consequence.
Why? Simply because the masses of
the people had unbounded confidence
in their leaders, and why? Simply be-
cause this ignorance has grown upon
the people in proportion as they have
failed to watch their leaders and to
hold them to account for their acts.
How could one expect any set of peO-
pie to become an enlightened and in
telligent constituents when the greatest
part of the speeches of men who come
before the people for office consisted
mostly Of witty jokes and smutty
yarns, and the candidate who had the
best stock Of jokes on hand and could
amuse the audience best and then wind
up by fastening his impressions indeI-
libly with plenty of popskull whisl1ey,
| say, such a man generally has
counted the highest vote at the com
pairing Of the polls. How many voters
to-day among the agricultural and me-
chanical classes of the people can give
an intelligent reason for being either
Democrat or Republican? How many
of the men who have held office in the
ranks of, and have been entrusted
with the interest of their people, can
or would be willing if they could, to
give fair honest, plain statement Of
what they have done while in office ?
All! sir, many of them would have
about such a paroxysm as Belshazzar
had when he saw the handwritingup
the wall, Yes, sir, they would GER
tainly realize the fact that they would
be weighed in the balance and found
wanting,
Now, dear friends and brethren, I
am writing facts, and you can't deny