The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-10-27

bow of promise to the wealth producers
everywhere, for it proposes to enamel
pate industry from the domination and
spOliatiOn Of the money lender. De
pend upon it, it is our citadel and house
of refuge, we must not surrender 1t.
The best hope Of u children lies IN
the promise of a more equitable system
of distribution. 1t cannot be realized
without a revolution in the status OF
this great distributing instrument. In
dustry must be empowered to create
the medium of exchange at the place
and time where it Is needed. Each IN
dustrial center ought to be a money
center to the extent of its w needs.
There is no more reason for this whole
nation being dependent on New York
for the use Of this Indispensable tool Of
commerce., than that all the spades and
plows should belong on Manhattan
island and be let for hire to the highest
bidder.
Fortunately the Sub Treasury is so
simple. lust and reasonable that it CON
mends itself to all who examine 1t with
an honest purpose.
There are differences of opinion as
to details. But the principle that in
dustry should furnish its products as
security for necessary money and DO
tain that money direct from the gov
eminent has not been and cannot be
defeated.
The plan is in no wise sectional nor
tinctured with favor to any class, 1t Is
as broad as the industries Of the peO-
pie. The question Is, shall the money
system stand upon the property of the
people or upon the debts IF the people?
Stand upon the same economic law I'M
DERIVING the labor saving machine, and
bear as lightly as possible or shall 1t
continue to be an instrument OF
monopoly bearing as heavily as pos
sible!
Shall the people in harmony with
true democracy wv and control the
medium of exchange, or shall a hand
full of ]plutocrats at the money center
own and control it, and through it
dominate the government itself!
Brethren. in the issue Joined be
tween industry and monopoly let us
be vigilant and brave, looking upward
aud forward There will be a contest
soon, the most memorable in the annals
Of mankind. The contest is to detorm-
inc whether public instrumCntaIitieS,
the taxing, the transportation, the
money systems, shall continue to be
poisoned with monopoly, continue to
enfOld the industries Of the people like
giant anacOndaS. or whether they shall
take their proper places as simple
distributing agencies side by side with
industry on the common platform of
republican institutions, the platform Of
equal rights to all, special privileges to
none.
l., tITr .rhltnL+ wa n NOT hnJNn to
succeed until the people thoroughly
understand the matter in issue and
realize the necessity fora reimbursement.
The average citizen IL partisan. His
condition Is one of profound apathy on
these economic questions, Too often
he Is a mere tool IN the hands Of party
papers and party bosses. He must be
instructed, he must be visited in his
home. He must be awakened to q
sense Of his duty. Let us make such
an earnest call to duty that the pillow
MAJ will stop in the field, ~themechanic
lay down his hammer to listen and
learn of these matters that cannot be
neglected except at the peril of free
government itself.
Who are the enemies of the Alliance?
Their name Is legion; their power inn
mpnSE; the party newspaper almost
without exception; the great dailieS of
the money centerS. The press has
come to be for the most part a bust
ness enterprise, run for money or pc
Iitical plumber. It's influence IS for
sale. 1t manufactures public senti
ment on contract. Thoroughly Venal
and mercenary, it would strangle the
Alliance for the money to be had of
the plutocrat and the corporation.
Money lOauing institutions without
exception are our enemies. The bust
ness exploiter and gambler. the party
leader and chronic office-hOlder, would
all rejoice at our fall and finally the
great mass of the people of all occupa-
tiOnS who refuse or neglect to think for
themselves but drift along in the cur
rent of party politics.
The education and conversion of this
great class is the only hope of the Ali
ance. All the others must be met in
the open field and fought to a finish.
1t is idle to waste time parleying with
the forces that emanate from the great
parties. They must be defeated at the
ballot-bOX. They will listen to nothing
else.
Our task is a great one but it is a
simple one. 1t consists in laying before
the people the justice of our demands,
the need CT united harmonious action.
The common people are honest and
conscientious, but they are blinded by
the smoke of sham party battles and
kept in ignorance of the economic con-
ditiOns under which they live.
1t is our task to preach the gospel of
the Farmers Alliance, and it is u
business here today to ascertain
present status, to counsel together, to
devise ways and means for carrying
forward the work. 1t will require the
earnest Eeffort of all the brethren; it
will require a sacrifice Of both time
and money to build up our organiza-
ton until it will be such force as will
command the attention and cOmneI the