The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-05-24
ESSAY READ BEFORE BETHEL
ALLIANCE, NO. 7o3.

6SG statesmen, SNOW me the laWF or
a country and will show you the CON
ditiOn of it's people," So we are led
to the conclusion that the laws Of our
country are not in accordance with
justice and equity, for there is nothing
in the condition of the masses that de
notes prosperity, but rather a tendency
to poverty and decentralization. No
period of our history has been marked
with such general depression and dis
satisfaction. Wherever we turn is dis
content. labor idle or working for a
very low price, tramps filling our high
ways and starvation staring in the face
of desolate homes. These fO-erunners
of revolution spring up on every hand
On the other side we see mountains of
wealth heap up the products of half
reQuited labor. All over the land the
wall of distress comes!up from poverty
stricken homes, crushing out the man
hood and wOmanhOod of human kind,
blighting the beauty of youth and de
strOying the faith in a living God in q
land of plenty, where the willing hand
Of industry has created abundant
wealth. Why should that hand be
paralyzed for the want of the very
wealth it has produced? Why should
comfortable homes and food and raj
ment be denied to those who have pro-
duced these things? These are Ques
tions that must soon be answered be
fore the tribunal of a long suffering
but much-enduring people. In view
OF the fact and the responsibility that
rests upon us as American citizens, |
earnestly ask shall we lay aside our
prejudices and consider few Of the
circumstances that have brought about
this trouble? Most of us can remember
when there was but very few million
aires; but that time has passed and
now we have more milliOnaires and
more tramps than any nation on the
globe There is 10 doubt but that the
unequal distribution of the products of
labor is the great cause Of all this social
and political trouble.
After the close of the war we labor
ing people were a prosperous people.
We saw within our reach home of
plenty for ourselves and families and
for old age. The bright future before
us inspired industry, economy and so
briefly; but to day what is the outlook
for us2 We see only before US labor
aud toll, debts and oppression; hope
dies out in our bOsoms, dependency
takes possession of our hearts.
Now l will proceed to give my opin
ion about how to get out of this trouble.
It is evident that the country has got
to have some reform from these
troubles, and that st cnce. Ny plan
is tO take the Ocala and st, Louis plat
forms and stand on them until the last
river is crossed AS you all know, I
have not been a member of this Order
very long, but have endorsed it's prin-
ciples for ma Y years. l thank God
have never belonged to either one of
the two old parties; | never believed
we would get any relief from them, nor
do l believe it now without a change
| have voted for friends on both sides
and have received appointment from
both parties. have belonged to the
prohibition party believed it to be
right, and I believe it to be right now.
I have as much interest in it to-day as
ever did, and long to see the time
when the suffering women and little
children shall be delivered from the
curse of drunkenness and from a
drunkard's home and q drunkard' e
hell. But that don't meet the case just
now; while there are a great many dear
women and children suffering from the
curse of whiskey, we are all suffering
from the curse of robbers endorsed by
this system of government that has
been forced upon us by our law makers.
I want to be understood that belong
to the party that endorses our demands,
and if the Democratic party should see
proper to come back to these jackson
and Jefferson Democratic principles
and take sides with the people instead
of the money devil, and endorse our
InA 7 n
dallying around the corner, but come
ST. aight out. Then | will be Demo
crat, but if they refuse to do so, then |
am for the party that will adopt our
platform, call it what you please, first.
twenty third or fifteenth party. ]
don care what you name the baby, he
is a good healthy fellow, and think he
will live long time.
To my mind the record Of the Ameri-
can Congress from 1862 until the pres
ent time is a record of the blackest and
most heartIess crime. By contracting
the finances Of the country they have
been able to form trusts and syndicates
which has reduced the people to wage
slavery more heartless than any slavery
has ever been i'll America. The people
having slept until this machinery was
perfected, have awakened from their
dreams to find their liberties fettered
and themselves in the hands of mOnop-
olies, who have crushed out not only
their liberty, but the life itself; and
when we remember that the represen-
tatives of these monopolies set in our
Congress hall and practically control
the y. S. Senate who does not tremble
for the want of safety of our Republic.
The resultof this legislation has already
been felt, and fears may justly be en-
tertained that we have gone too far to
have our liberties retrieved. The peo-
pie are aroused, but tn money devil is
on the lookout. They arm themselves
and have asked an appropriation to
establish a military force Let US not
be deceived; this cry for military force
is not to defend ourselves from aforeign
foe; the enemy is here among us; they
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