The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-05-31
THE GREAT REFORM MOVEMENT
The Autocrats are Quaking in Theil
Boots.

is in a boil. This year of grace, 1892,
will mark o new era in the annals of
the ages. The great unrest of the
masses portend the upheaval of the
social, financial and political strata.
the result of which no eye but that of
God can penetrate. The au~tocratic
thrones of Europe r quaking to their
centres, emanating from the fact of a
p~auperlzed yeOmanry, and the pluto
cratic lords of America NAV make
note that middle age ideas are becom-
ing obsolete with the Masses: that the
divine right of kings to rule and Cd
press, or combined wealth of p~lutocracv
to crush out the life blood of the
laborer, has in fact and sentiment
about reached it's terminal. Hence it
behOOves all classes to study we'll and
carefully the existing lamentable con-
dition of affairs is painfully apparent
it is a sacred duty they owe to them
selves, to their wives and children and
to their coming pOsterity. All their
wisdom, patriotism, patience, fOrtitude,
courage and forbearance must be
brought into full and lively exercise,
for up IN the result of this crucial period
of our history hangs pendant the veal
of millions and fate of a republican
government. The last decade has 80
thoroughly aroused the wage earners
as to their exposed cOnditiOn-the i'm
positions that have been fastened
upon them-sO thOrou ghly enlightened
as to a path of escape from their IN
happy environments that they will no
longer listen to the assertion of pluto
cratic claims unQue%tiOued, or WELD an
iOta to It's mandates.
In the outset we 7 confronted with
three factions or parties, conflicting in
nature and divergent in principle,
each easaying to prove the success of
the other. The most direful results
will eusue and chaos u riot with sen
timent.
Now in this raging sea of political
chaos, this maelstrOm of surging ele-
ments, what is the duty of the patriotic
observer Of events and custodian of his
cOuntry's welfare? 1t is to compare
carefully and by careful analysis 81 Sc
ly Scrutinize the merits and dement's
OF conflicting parties and upon reach
ing a fixed conclusion to at once act
with all the vim of his mental and
moral manhood, aggressively, fear
lessly in the Interest of the masses and
the we'll being of the suffering major
ity, leaving results to the great arblter
of men and nations. AS In the multi
tude of COunsellOrs rests safety, | will
give my convictions for what they are
worth, invoking a free and fair discus
sion by all classes, for often by agita-
ton and discussion error is winnOwed
from the truth. 1t should at least be
placed in such position as to admit of
no dubious Or twOfOld construction and
all honorable men should have this
motto emblazOned on their escucheOns:
%EsSsntials, u~nity---non-ess entail, liberty;
In all things, charity"
Whilst | have stated that there will
be three OF four parties in the field,
there will be in fact or virtually but
tUO-the labor element and the cor
mOrant money power, and in my Opin
ion upon the suCCess of the former de-
ponds the prosperity, harmony and
p~erpetuity of our great commonwealth.
The l~nltlatOry movement Of this grand
phalanX Of labor unions sprang from
no revolutionary or sOcialistic instinct
or any motive adverse to human rights
and interests, but from the dreadful
necessity of self preservation that
ruling motor Of our every nature. The
shylOcks, being so ravenOus in their
p~rOpensltleS and eXacting in their de-
mands, opened the eyes of the multi
tudes to the fact that theirs was an I'm
extremes" cOnditlon-a condition which
at once demanded q combination of
forces active research, Herculean eff
fort and aggressive movement. Hav-
ing proposed all kind of compromise
with their quOndam friends without
fruitage, hencefOrth their battle cry is
OnWGrd-freedOm from entangling al
liances or ~fusiOns, uncompromising for
the right and God it's defender.
This great Third party (for it is in
evitable that there shall be One) the care
full forethought and embodiment of the
determined free will and desire of the
masses, so resistless in it's impulses
that even It's leaders could not arrest
It's progress, is the only hope of the ma
ton, for In its platform of principles
are so nearly and clearly embodied the
Inherent rights of the masses as are set
forth II the declaration of indepen-
dence of our fathers that it has not
been lnaptly called the Second Declar-
alton of independence. That it's policy
and principles will be attacked and
followed with all the inventive ran
cour, malice and phrohetic malediction
Oh us aSSalIanCS Is clearly apparent-lt
has been the attachee Of all great move
ments OF the past-that it's great arch
enemy. the money power, with the
lever OF Archlmides though so power
fuI and unscrupulOUs in it's mode of
warfare, will be a foe hard to combat.
Yet we quail not, looking to the God of
Gideon for defence of our rights In
the initiation of the movement of the
combined labor unions had thew been
more emphatic and positive in their
opposition to compromise or fusion
with existing parties they would have
been far in advance of the position
they nov occupy and have doubtless
lost much vantage ground and respect
of their quasi adherents. The weaker
kneed of the unions have long thought
a third party both feasible and desir-
able. out Ouailino Under tho E.oun;nn