People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-06-17

The Nation Suffers an Irreparable Loss
and the People Lose a Brave and De-
voted Leader.
On Saturday, June II, the wires were
laden with this distressing and painful
intelligence:
WASHINGTON, June 11.-President Polk Of
the Farmers Alliance, died at 1l:15 this morn
ing
Sic transit glOria muRdi
In the death of President Polk the
nation suffers an irreparable loss and
the people lose a brave and devoted
leader, the Moses of the peoples move
ment. 1t is hard to bear with resigna-
ton this dispensation of a divine provi-
dence. As of old the peoples cry to
God is: Raise us up another leader
like unto Moses"
President Polk was Christian states
man, patriot and born leader of men.
As dying legacy and an admonition
from the silent tomb, the following
from his paper is presented as the last
production from the pen of Col. Polk:
Hon. S. B. Alexander, President Executive
Board, n. C. State Alliance, Washington
DC:
Dear Sir and Brother: Having learned that
your executive board at its recent session in
Raleigh N. c. expressed dissatisfaction with
the attitude of the Progressive Farmer in its
last preceding issue towards the peoples party,
hereby tender the resignation of that paper
as the official organ of the state alliance of
North Carolina. While it will remain as true
and as loyal to the alliance organization and
its principles as it has ever been, it cannot and
Will not be circumscribed in its advocacy Of the
methods which only can bring relief to our suf-
fering people and which have been so over
whelmingly Endorsed by them.
In thus severing its official connection with
the state alliance it in no measure abates its
allegiance TO the principles of our order. and
will ever stand ready and willing to extend its
full and hearty cooperation 10 all the officers
and the brotherhood for promoting and main
tanning the principles which we have espoused.
Fraternally yours, LII POLK.
Editor Progressive Farmer.
The above letter is self-explanatorv
The Progressive Farmer was the first
to raise the alliance banner in North
Carolina. OF its devotion and LOYALTY
to the cause, its record must speak. 1t
has kept fully abreast with the great
educational movement which has taught
the people of the sources of the wrongs.
the evils and the outrageous oppression
which have brought them face to face
with bankruptcy and ruin.
1t has stood by the people in an honest
and persistent effort to obtain relief
and justice through the two dominant
political parties. 1t has seen these par
ties openly violate their pledges and
repeatedly betray the interests of the
people. 1t has utterly despaired of any
relief or any honest effort at relief
at the hands Of these parties. Fully
hine-tenths of the alliance people of
our state are solemnly impressed with
these same convictions, and their only
hope is to cast their fortunes with the
great industrial elements of the country
in the peoples party which is to hold
Its national convention at Omaha on
the 4th day of next July. The only con-
sistent, logical and manly course for
the Progressive Farmer is to 90 with
them and stand by them. 1t has been
publicly and boldly asserted from the
beginning of the alliance organization
that we must get relief through the
ballot box; that we must vote for such
men only as would honestly advocate
our principles, We have tried this
through both the old parties and have
signally failed, nor is there the least
hope or promise of relief at the hands
of either of them.
1t now remains for the people to as
sert their rights and do for themselves
what their forefathers did before them
Independent action, based upon the ed
ucatiOn gained in the alliance is now
the only hope and last resort of the
people OF this country. The Progress
sive Farmer will in the future as in the
past defend and promulgate the true
doctrine of the alliance, believing it TO
be the foundation upon which must be
built the citadel of all industrial re-
form. In taking this stand it is simply
putting into practice what the logical
result of the alliance propaganda leads
up to- This is the only honest and con-
sistent course to follow and it is taken
with the hope and belief that it will
meet the appreciation of the candid.
earnest people of North Carolina. as
ofothersections of this unhappy nation.
Progressive Farmer, June I.
Partalling as this message does of the
grave Importance of an dnte-mortem
statement, it is to be hoped that all al
liancemen will comprehend and Law TO
heart its full import. Especially is this
article commended to the earnest con-
sideration Of those alliance men who vet
fondly dream of reform within the
party" New wine must not be put in
old bottles. Advanced theories of gov
eminent need new party through
which to give their truths expression.
Brethren, close up the ranks
GEORGE c. WARD,
Editor Alliance Department A. n. Kel-
logg Newspaper Co.