The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-12-22
GRAND PICNIC AND ALLIANCE
RALLY AT SPEEDWELL,
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
Mr. EDIrOR:-PIease allow me space
in your valuable paper to chronicle the
grand Alliance rally and pic mic at
Speedwell church in this county. The
pic mic was given in honor Of the Ali
ance Lecturers, Rev. p. H. Massey,
District Lecturer, and Rev. w. II.
SchOoifield, County Lecturer. Bros.
Massey and Scheduled were to speak
at WOolen's shop on that day, bu the
good brothers and sisters changed the
appointments to Speedwell and there
celebrated the event by giving a grand
dinner and by e. general turnout of the
lords and ladies of the surrounding
country. A stand for the speakers
was erected somewhat on the prlmi-
tive style on the west end of the church
and the large audience formed q semi
circle around the stand, some seated
and some standing. Bro SchOOIfeld
was the first speaker. Among other
things he said, "sOme Of you who per
hapS don't understand the true cOndi
ton of the country may think that the
Farmers Alliance is of little cOnse-
quence, but l tell you my friends as
sure as yOnder sun saines IN the
heavens, 1t Is the only wall between
the poor labOring classes and slavery,
and If 1t crumble5 and goes to pieces
there is nothing that Will save the civil
and religious liberties of u people
except to again deluge this fair land
in tears and blood He said that the
farmers composed fOrty-eight per cent.
of the entire population and could have
everything in their own power if they
wOuldOnly unite and exercise their pow
CT. but it was impossible to accomplish
anything as long az the farmers pulled
Dick and pulled devil and pulled III
every direction. He compared the re-
IatiOn the farmers and negroes sustain
to the two old parties to the old man
who sold his SOn-ln-laW half interest in
a COW. The old man took all OF the
milk and claimed that he sold his on
in-IaW the front end of the COW. He
made his ~SOn-n-Iaw feed and water the
cow, claiming that his mil laws end
of the COW did the eating and drinking
and his end gave the milk. Now that
is the way with the old politicians.
They have sold the poor farmers and
negroes half interest in the two old
parties, but have kept the end that
gives the milk for themselves and have
let the farmers and negroes have the
end they have to feed and water Now
what we want Is to nave the law SO
divided that we can get some Of the
milk as we'll as the other fellow; and
If we don't get the COW divided so we
can get some of the milk, then there Is
nothing left for us to do out to get us a
Gov of our own.
After Rev. Scheduled finished speak
ing he introduced Rev. Mr.. Massey.
We can t here give his speech in full,
but will say from that day to this Mr..
nasSey'S famous speech has been the
talk of the nelghborhOOd, Your cor
respondent met the Chaplain Of our
County Alliance two weeks after the
news. Nothing" he said, "Only the
people have not got done talking
about Rev. Mr.. MaSsey'S great Speech
Bro. Massey sad the plutOcrats say
the cause OF our trouble Is l~azIness. ex-
t~raVagdnc6 and OVerprOductiOn-laZl-
ness Ill The spring, extravaganza In the
summer and OV0rprOduCtlOn IN the
fall. Did anybody ever hear such q
medley OfcOntradIctlOus? OverprOduc-
ton OF cotton, when II every pound of
cotton raised in America vas WOVel into
cloth 1T would not make a dress apiece
for every WOman Ii child IN the
United States. OverprOduCtiOn of
wheat, and if every grain of wheat
raised in the United 5 ateS was ground
into -four 1t would only make a pint
apiece per day tor every man, Uma
aud chIId-sIX biscuits per day. Just
think Of it, the people actually kill
Ing themselves eating SIX biscuits per
day, when there are plenty of lellows
who can eat sig biscuits for breakfast
and then be hungry all day. He COM
pared the trusts and corporations to an
Oh coon going up and down the farm
sf coruheid ~devOuring his corn. The
FARMER cats up his COO dogs and puts
I4eln On Tie trail They soon run the
ca IeIloW 10 a tree; the farmer knows
10 Is Iu're tor his dogs EGVer told a he,
JUN ofoer TO better satisfy himself
Ih+C Ihe coon IS there and there Is no
l5tahe ne takes his light and shines
n cJpn'S eyes, then he knows for car.
tam ne mas freed tine coon. The Farm
efS Alliance has freed the old coon, the
tTuStSahd corporations that are deVOlIr-
rug the substance Of the poor farmers.
They have Shlnpd bis ewes and know
he Is there. The Democratic nart1y
one along and says to the Farmers,
Alliance, let Us cut the 0 o down for
you. Well, says the Alliance Won NAV
cut hm down but you must use tho
Alliance axe. 1t Isl brand new one inst
from the factory. No says the Demo.
cratic party, we will cut him down for
you, but must use the old tariff aye