The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-06-02
AN APPEAL TO THE BROTHER
HOOD,

We are in the thrOes of the greatest
revolution this country has ever wit
messed; the issue of which is to control
the d~estinies of this nation. A svs-
tenn of fraudulent national Legislation
has been persistantly pursued, for the
last twenty-five years, in the interest
of corporations and capitalists, and
without any reference to the welfare
of the masses, which has reduced the
farmers and laborers Of our country
to a condition of semi-starvatiOn. and
which has rendered them utterly TN
able to pay debts, increased fOur-fod
in amount, by the governments man.
ipulatiOnOf it's own currency.
To all this the people, through ig-
nOrance and carelessness, have sub
mitted patiently, trusting ito the
mercy of political tricksters and dema-
gOgues; until, becoming betterinfOrme
through the discussion of economic
questions, induced by our Organ1zauOn
they have concluded that patience
ceases longer to be a virtue.
Appeal after appeal has been made
to national legislature for relief.
only to be utterly ignored, or if noticed
at all, to be met with the cry, ''uncon.
StitutiOn0L, iGnprGctjc0bLe, unUdUiSabIe.
class legislation, ETC., ETC." Now, when
we remember that none Of our de-
mands are really inconsistent, that we
are so seriously oppressed and that re-
lief is so absolutely needful, we are
forced to enquire if u Legislators
really regard our demands as uncOn-
stitutional, etc. Why is not some f-
fort made to devise some constitutional
plan that will afford the needed relief?
We are cOgniZant of no such effort.
Can it be possible that a majority of
our national legislators are either
knaves or fools? 1t would really seem
that, being aware of the oppressive
burden which is being borne by the
people, they either have not the intel
ligence to formulate a constitutional
plan of relief, or they have been in
duced' by some fool means, to legislate
CuncOnStitutiOnally in the interest Of
capitalists and Corporations. Either
horn of the dilemma would suggest the
Importance of a change in our repre-
sentatives, from class Legislators, to
such as will, at the least, extend to the
people the courtesy of a fair discussion
of their demands in open session; to
such as will not resolve themselves
into a tribunal for deciding the cOnStl-
nationality Of questions of Legislation,
but will leave such matters to the Su
preme Court of the United States
where they properly belong. The
troubles which affict our people, indlS-
putably, proceed from class legisla-
ton. There Ire laws on our statute
books, enacted by class Legislators,
which T repulsive to us and antagOn-
istic to the general welfare, and which
must be repealed before relief can
come, and this must be done by legis-
latlon. In order to do this, shall we
continue to elect nOn-sympathizerS
with the peoples movement to con
t1nue to mlsrepresent US and rivet our
mannacleS more securely? Nay, would
it not be wiser to select only such men
to represent us as are IN hearty SYM
pathy with the people and whose ID
terests are identified with the interes!
of the masses? To accomplish this We
must be united. There is no time t@
~diSSenSiOn and differences in our ranks
for a subsidized press to gloat over
Our enemies know full we'll that viii
out a division our triumph is assured,
Every effort will be made to sidetrach
and defeat us. But with a vigorous
prosecution of our new lecture system,
matured by our National Legislative
Council and promulgated by our M ID
tlOnal President, our people will I po
fully informed and prepared for I nc
coming conflict While it is no walk
over, with devotion to the principles u
OF our order, victory is assured regaru
less OF the glOating of a subsidized pres
and the strenuous efforts of rallrOau
corporations, capitalists and mOnoPo
lists to create division in our rains
Remember united we stand. Inc
outlook grows more and more encou-
aging. E. A. THORNE'