The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-02-02
AN ESSAY
Read by Bro. ]. T. Kennedy, of Nc
Clammy on National Alliance Day.


It is good for us, brothers and sisters,
10 refer to the history of our country
st all times; and especially is it i'm
pOrtant for us who make it our duty
by oblIg atoms, SOlemnly taken, to work
vi fellOw-man, to do so in order that
we may be enabled, in the words of our
Constitution, to lead them to the
road of prosperity, provide a far re-
muneratlOn for their labor, and a just
and equitable exchange for their pro
ducts to develop a higher type of man
hood, morally, socially, mentally n
financially"
This country two hundred years ago
was known as the English colonies of
America, and belonged to England. 1t
was settled by our fOrefathers and their
ancestors, who came over, many of
them, to evade religious intolerance
and persecution, then rife In the old
country. They were permitted to make
laws for their own government not in
consistent with the laws of their mother
England. They had a hard time Of it
among the wild beast and Indians, but
they only stuck closer together, hard
ships and universities seeming to cement
them into one general band of brothers
and friends; and what a heroic example
for us who claim to be a unit to emu
late.
By their indomitab1e spirits, uncon-
Querable courage, nerve, untiring
energy and perseverance, they sue
Geeded as no people under similar cir
eumstances had ever done before, and
they grew to be a great favOrite with
the mother country, in so much that
she fostered and encouraged them in
every way she could; and among the
laws passed for their encouragement.
was that made a loan to each head
of a family, half as much money as
the lant he claimed was valued at.
This money was advanced to him in
notes or bills of exchange which circu-
lated as money. and with these helps
front the government they were enabled
70 hire labor and clear up more land.
buy stock. implements, etc, with
which to make other improvements;
and under this benign regime they
made still greater strides towards pros
perity, and Sir Edward Burk said of
them that this was no parallel to their
progress in the history Of the world.
This paternal system of government
loans on real estate was one of the
great helps in relieving the distresSeS
of our OutCast and miserable cOlOnist.
and converting them into a contented
and happy people, and | do not hest
tate to say that If some such kindness
was shown to the people of these United
States in this the hour of their need
that it would add more to the strength
of the nation than any other measure
that could be passed by Congress.
Now let us look a little further on in
eur history. The colonies up to a few
years prior to 1776, were COntented and
happy. The kind hand of the paternal
government was generously extended
for their protection, and not a man of
them would have stood idly by and
seen or heard her inSulted, but a change
has taken place.
The kind influence of friendly gov
eminent is no longer felt. The money
sharks have so manipulated as to get
control of it tt that extent as to pass
laws adverse to their interest and in an
evil hour to her and them. have with
drawn from them, their representative
money. No more bills of credit are to
be issued in paper, and that they shall
not be a legal tender in payment of
their obligations. Their taxes and
other debts are all to be paid In silver
hard money standard.) These laws
went into effect only a few years be
fore the revolution, and together with
the stamp act and other obnoxious
laws In regard to duties exacted from
them, made them very discontinued
The contraction of their circulating
medium paralyzed their industrial
energies, and distress was brought into
every interest, and every family felt
it. They became desperate. FOrbear-
ance ceased to be a virtue and human
nature arose and asserted her rights in
the great rebellion.
In 1775 a Congress of the distressed
colonies was called and met in the city
of Philadelphia and the year that fol
lowed. 1875, America declared her in.
dependence by a declaration which
gave to the world a new nation.
In this new nation was planted the
great tree of Liberty, the sweet and
fragrant fruits of which all the hungry
and distressed might freely partake,
and under its shade the wary and
prosecuted of all nations might lie
down and rest. In it also was raised
the Temple of Freedom, with fOunda
ton SO deep, and walls so high that it's
builders thought it could never be sub,
verified II overthrow. On it's portals
was written in plain large letters,
Truth, Equity, Justice and Economy.
This great structure they (our ances-
tors ~bgqueathed to us through much
suffering and privation, cemented with
their blood, and it still stands a monu-
ment to their wisdom, bravery and
patriotism. Shall we preserve it as
given to us. or not?
This noble old fabric Of Over 116
years has never been seriously threat
ened until about 80 years ago, when
some of the letters in the words on the
portals began to grow dim, and they
have constantly faded ever since, until
nov the words can with difficulty be
read, and when read, they seem to be
~nnnn.n~lnnn II IT, lnnn