The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-07

Van Wrinkle" nap. We are still alive
and able to move it may be with the
gait of a tortoise, but you know it beat
the hare in the fable. We do not claim
to be in the advance guard in this
reform movement, the first to scale the
enemies batteries, but we do claim to
be advancing. Some Of Our more pro
gressive brethren may be ahead of us
in the great onward march, but we are
getting ready for the battle. We are
marshaling our forces for the fray, and
though we may not be in the lead yet
when the time comes for the final
charge, when the armies of combined
labor shall have driven their enemies
to the wall, when the supreme crisis
has come, and when the call is made
for men, we expect to answer the call.
We do not intend to sit down and
fold our hands in careless ease while
our brethren are battling for the eman-
cipati0n of the IabOring classes of
country. No, no; we must drill u
troops for the coming storm. We
must educate our people in the princi-
pies Of right and justice. We must
inspire them with confidence in each
other and in our common cause. We
must organize more thoroughly, get
closer together, secure a better under
standing among ourselves, get better
acquainted with each other and thus
enter more in sympathy with
to do, quietly, just as many other
sister Alliances are doing all over this
broad land. This is the leaven that is
at work from seaside to mountain top,
from the icebound regions of the North
to the sunlit shores Of the South, from
the broad prairies of the West and on
to the towering peaks of the ''land Of
the sky" everywhere its blessed infiu-
ence is at work ~leavening the whole
lump. We realize the fact that the
great need of the hour is education.
Then let our watchwOrd be educate,
EDUCATE, EDUCATE. Let leaders
go forth to and fro throughout the
length and breadth of the land, preach
ing the gospel of reform in every com
munity. Let us strive to send the
proper literature to every labOrer's
home and thus bring every n under
the silent influence of the printed page.
Let us each strive to add fuel to
the flame that throws light upon u
situation and helps us to see things as
they are. Let us add a breath to the
gathering tempest that is destined soon
to sweep over this land like a mighty
cyclone and level to the ground every
thing that stands between us and free
dom. Let us read that we may learn
what is our duty. Let us talk reform
that we may instruct those about US.
Let us preach it that we may confirm
the strong, reclaim the erring and
help the faltering ones. Let us pray
for Divine guidance, so that we may
be enabled to stear our vessel through
the shoals and breakers Of political
corruption unframed. And above all,
let us act. There is no time to fold Our
arms in carelessness. If we wish to be
free, in the language Of the immortel
Patrick Henry, 1--WE must fight; we
should present an unbrOken front to
the enemy and march hand to hand,
shoulder to shoulder, in one solid
phalanx and never think of giving up
the fight until we have reached the
coveted goal. Nothing less should
satisfy; nothing less will satisfy us.
We have at last awakened from our
long sleep only to feel the tightening
coils of the deadly serpent oppression
gathering about us. We see the great
danger, we realize the awful situation,
but it will take a herculean effort to
free ourselves from the monsters grasp
and throw off his relentless tolls. Have
we the power to do this? I answer
emphatically yes. But the great ques
ton, the one that most vitality affects
us is, will we do it? Echo answers will
we do 1t?
Yours ~fraternally,
j. L. LANE,
Lecturer Sub-AUiancn No 5q3