The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-04-26
HUMBUGG1NG THE PEOPLE.


The Wilmington Star is certain that
the Alliance leaders are trying to hum
bug the people of North Carolina by
rushing them into a third party.
Humbuggery is common among poll
ticians. They have humbugged the
people of the United States for 25 years
by promising what they never do and
by putting in their platforms measures
that are never made into law. The Re-
publican party has been very shrewdly
managed. With the aid of the govern
ment patronage, by making a disgrace
full deal with bankers, manufacturers
and railroad kings; by buying friends,
in dealing out pension money, this
gigantic humbug has been able to keep
up a respectable appearance and hold
a good many honest voters in it's ranks.
But it never has had an issue. It has
made but few promises and done moth
ing for the masses.
Eight years ago the Democratic
party gained some headway-a Presi
dent was elected. They had a majority
of Congress. Instead of carrying out
their promises they set about to dodge
everything, hoping to carry another
election. But this was a failure. A
good many people who voted Demo
cratic the previous election saw that
the promises were not carried out.
Two years ago the Democratic party
practically swept the country, gaining
in the Senate and having an over
whelming majority in the House. Just
after the election the prospects for a
complete sweep of the country from
President down were brighter than
any party has had since the Republic
was established Alliancemen, non
Alliancemen-in fact everybody
thought they saw a way out. They
said, certainly the Democratic party
will not fail to keep it's pledges now.
The leaders see what is needed and
what will make the party successful"
What is the record? Absolutely nothing
done. The nine Third party Congress-
men have stood with the Democrats
on most measures. From ten to twenty
Republicans have been with them on
most matters of reform. Yet with a big
majority Q48) on a strict party vote
and the aid of outsiders they have only
managed to come to o. tie cote on a
very important and u st measure-free
silver coinage. In addition to this
enough Democrats have aided the Re
publicans in years gone by to foist on
US the national banking system, unjust
tariff laws, pensions, land steals, out
rageous OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
that has brought the country to the
verge of ruin. The present Democratic
House started out with enough appfo-
priatiOn bills to make it as obnoxious
as the famous "billion dollar Con-
gress." But we believe sentiment has
been expressed SO freely against it that
it has stopped. The Democratic lead
ers know that they had a chance this
last winter to prove that it is "a party
of the people" They know that if
they had kept their promises there
would have been no talk of a Third
party. In the place of all this they
defied the will of the masses.
What we have recounted against
both parties is not humbuggery. 1t is
internal TdScaIity. The time has come
when the people must take charge of
one or the other of the parties or form
a new one. As to which they do we
have no suggestions to make. But we
beg them to go slow, be conservative
and adopt the best policy they can to
accomplish the objects. Remember
that the name Of the party is inmate
rial. The policy that is best in one
locality may not do in another. But
every section must be changed for the
better. Above all things don't be led
off by men who are incapable. Be
sure you are right and then go ahead"