The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-06-30
THE STORM IS COMING.

ton is undoubtedly abroad, and the
success that it may here and there
achieve is likely to be contagious. It
will be well for the politicians to put
their houses in order. By wisdom they
may break the force Of the storm, but
the storm is in the air.
No halfway dubious course will shell
ter the political parties from this popu-
lar uprising. They have a cause-a
good cause; they have issues which
cannot be laid aside or overshadowed
by any other iss,..e available &c, the
parties. They cannot make the tariff
interesting enough, being so stale and
thread-h re, to distract attention from
the new issues. 80 it would be well
for the politicians, says the Post, 4" to
pu5 their houses in order"
At this writing we hnow of only one
State which can easily divert this
furious deluge, and that is the State of
North Carolina. We are informed by
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER that the
Democratic Party of that State has
adopted the st. Louis platform or all
the essential demands of the f. A. and
l. u, and this places it on the side of
the people and not antagonistic there
to- This will give it ease and quietude.
The next step to be taken in order
that there may be no misgiving in
respect to it's sincerity on the part of
| Republicans or Democrats belonging to
| 1cf fo7s tho Do77On
cratic journals Of the State to come out
unqualifedly in favor of all those de-
mands urged by this movement if they
can conscientiously and honestly do
so. If there be some who cannot, let
them so state and take issues on the
other side of these questions. Some
may wish farther time to investigate
them. That is we'll Let all be fully
persuaded in their own minds. All
this talk that North Carolina is not go
ing into a third party, that the farmers
have too much sense to go into third
party, will do but little good to pre-
vent this outcome, unless the Demo
cratic journals preach up to the stand
ard the farmer says the Democratic
convention has adopted.
The Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union will be perfectly willing, we
think, for the Democratic party or
the Republican party to retain it's
organization intact and to hold on to
their experienced statesmen, if either
will come boldly and unreservedly for
ward and endorse in some tangible
shape the dem ands of the new move
ment and show the sincerity of their
endorsement by promising to act them
out through their representatives in
Washington, regardless of caucus
action. If the Democratic press or
Republican press will unite on this
course, it will save the State from
mighty political disruption next year.
We do not think the Republican party
or press stands in an attitude to do
this, but since the State Democratic
Convention has already endorsed all
essential particulars Of this reform, it
would be very natural for the Demo
cratic press to make this tangible en-
dorsement to satisfy doubling public
mind. This is the path of wisdom and
safety.
That the Democratic party has done
the State much good, will not be de-
MED. But it has done no more than it's
duty; therefore the obligations of the
people to thep party are all paid. Thepeo-
pie are no longer in debt to any party.
If there comes along new duties to be
performed at the behests of the people,
the Democratic party will be untrue
to it's name, if it does not at once, and
without hesitation shoulder those
duties. They should not wait to hear
from the magnates of the East. Cleve-
land pandered to the woolen factories
of the East and the gold bugs thereof
and lost. The first question to be
asked is, is it just, is it right, is it best
for the general welfare? If found so,
put a peg down and dance around it.
Let not thequestion of success or defeat
bias your minds; for these, in just
cause, are all in the hands of higher
Providence. Look ito party power
nor to human wisdom for safety. The
onward tide of a popular upheaval is
moving with steady, but tremendous
force.
We would be glad to see your State
unruff1ed and as calm as a lake in sun
shine when this storm is sweeping into
political eddies and churning into foam
and fury the politics of other States.
I2rr q rricn and rn1n1dnnt con1,.co non I,n