The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-02-02

of the Farmers Alliance.
The justice of these demands consti-
tute it's elements to strength, and so
long as we adhere strictly to the prln-
ciple of equal rights to all and special
privileges to none, 1t must and VIII
continue to grow until its broad and
expansive branches cover every portion
of this grand Republic.
How important then that we should
be on u constant watch. and see to
it that these conservative elements are
not side-tracked by the enemies of re-
form, and the vantage ground, and
position we now hold, be lost to U.S..
Let us not forget that eternal vigilance
is the price of liberty, and having
nothing but the good of our country at
heart, let us so shape our actions and
sentiments as to receive the plaudlts
and confidence of all who love truth,
justice and equity.
| shall not have time to go into q
discussion of the demands in full, but
will say a few words in egard to some
of them, and first | will take up that
part of the Sub Treasury plan relating
to the loaning of money to the farmers
on landed and other securities.
This is no new system just got up by
a wild and visionary set of men. The
first act of the kind that | recOllect was
passed by Parliament in the days when
Sir VIM. Pitt was Prime Minister, and
was prepared and introduced by him
in order, chiefly, for the benefit of
traders and manufacturers, n 1T pro-
vided for repositories where a merchant
a trader, or manufacturer could bring
their goods and store them and draw
Gf memory serves me right One-half
of their assessed value in bills of credit
or exchange; and this bill proved to be
a great blessing to the then depressed
condition of the country and an era of
great prosperity followed.
Again, in the days of the English
colonies of America, O bill was passed
to allow our ancestors to draw bills Of
credit and their business transactions
were all carried on through this plan,
the government kindly aiding In their
time of trouble; and an unparalleled
era of prosperity followed The pro
vision of this bill allowed the borrower
half the value of his real estate In bills
of government credit.
The Shylocks, (money changers)
after awhile got control and changed
this law and made gold and silver only
a legal tender for all debts, and the
consequence was a few years of unpre-
cedented depression in every depart
ment of business great dissatisfaction
with the government and King, and
finally led with other obnoxious meas
ures) to a declaration of their independ
enCe. Let us hope that our Declare
ton may be settled without blOOdShed.
We have had distress enough already.
What more? In the late wal the
government, unable 10 borrow none
with which to do the business of the
country. rGsOrted to the issue of its
own money, which answered all their
pressing necessities and an era OF pros
perity followed which all of lis recol
leCt; but this prosperity began to
dwindle away when the legislature
WAS changed SO as to contract the
volume of our circulating medium,
ana to-day we see values so depre
ciated that hardly one piece Of mort
gagged property in a hundred would
bring the price for which it was mort
gagged if a foreclosure Was forced. We
see oar farmers and other labOring
classes struggling under a crushing
weightOf interest and not unfrequently
usury. We see their products, the
labor Of their hands, cOrnered by that
privileged class who make profits from
the prices they pay and dividends from
their loans; thus taking from us who
produce everything all Our net earn
ings to uphold and support them IN
magnificent temples of splendOr and
extravaganza.
Let me ask You, my friends, i it is
not time for us as producers to act and
think differently from what we have
been doing. Shall we continue to re-
main hewers of wood and drawers of
water for, and pay unmerciful tribute
or interest to, the crafty and unscru-
pulOuS schemerS of the nation, who
sit in their chambers Of commerce or
commercial exchanges and price our
products before they are planted. If
| understand anything about the prin
Ciples of the Alliance, It's mission is to
endeavOr to relieve the producing or
working classes, and especially the
farmers, from mOneyed a~ristOcracy.
and to snatch them from the iron grip
Of the avariciOus and mercIless specu-
latOrs; and to do this it is necessary to
endorse the Land Loan and Sub-Treas-
ury plan until something better is pro
posed.
1t is useless to hope for relief from
congress as now Completed, but let
us stick to the work. The principles
r just and practical, and with plenty
of work, their influence must and will
be felt.
We have pledged ourselves to a re-
form in our social mental, and especially
our financial condition. Then. know
ing no North, South, East or West, let
us shake hands with all those whose
hQ0 TfS oVln frIIn +n tho ir+or.o1A - H.
country and are willing TO join in the
fight against the evils that are now
affecting not only the agricultural, but
all other producers of wealth in this
broad land; let US in a spirit of gener-
Osity and sympathy, say to all, come
and go with us in this battle and we
will hU q 11nitnd rrO1nn Of tho hn1lo4