The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-30
THAT "RE-UNIoN OF THIRDITEs
AND GIDEONS."
A Correspondent Says 1t Was a False
Report.
0 l. SPRINGS, N. Z.

communication from here WHICH, "H0
renorter claims to be a fair representa-
ton of the Alliance meeting mere May
18th He a first, there was a Olg
party demonstration here TO day.
T as an A~llianceman, ard Il VINO
hoard and saw all that passed on that
dav at said meeting, wish to say above
nv real signature that the charge IS
utterly false. The meeting was strictly
an Alliance meeting, President Butler
had an appointment to speak here' SO
did Lecturer Thompson. Mr.. Butter
did not come; Mr.. Thompson did, and
was not lonely for lack of company.
Early in the morning the people began
to.arrive and continued until the crowd
at Speaking was estimated at five hun
dred. All political parties were repre-
sented. The speech was an Alliance
speech, of which the true men Of this
section are proud.
Mr.. Thompson showed very clearly
the condition of our country-men
toned some evils, and suggested some
remedies in a loyal, forciole, and patri-
otto manner. The people listened very
attentively to a plain, practical patri-
otto talk for two hours.
Mr.. Reporter says again: 1t was a
regular reunion and re organization Of
the J party for the next campaign"
and he mentions several gentlemen
who were present as "Gideons."
Is Mr.. Reporter" SO far behind the
times that he does rot know that the
court" attested the innocence of Mr..
Wilson zone of whom Reporter"
names) concerning charges which had
been preferred against him and posit-
lively refused to grant him a trial. Mr..
Reporter is a wise man, no doubt of
that, but yet if he was present, as he
certainly represents, he failed to show
his manhood. Mr.. Thompson cordially
invited anyone to ask him eny ques-
ton or refute the argument he pro
duced. Yet Reporter remained
SILENT as dumb as an oyster" Then
hasn't the manhood to sign his name
to bis report" that people may see
who this champion OF truth is. He
may not have a name; his mother may
have considered him unworthy Of Il
name, and even disinheri:ed him Of the
name Of his father. Listen! His
speech, in the judgment of the re
porter was that Of q J party dema
gogue." Mr.. Thompson spoke unbiased
by any political utilization. When he
referred to politics it was statesman
like. He sought to rekindIe no political
prejudice, but sought By honest argu-
ment to induce men t. stand by the
Alliance banner-maiLtain its prin-
ciples that we may be able 10 rescue
our government, save our people from
industrial slavery, preserve and
transmit to posterity the inheritance
of free principles and tie possession of
democratic institutions.
Hear the honorable Reporter"
again: 1t was misleading, full Of de
ception, calculated to create a spirit Of
anarchy and the suppression of the
freedom of speech and opinion"
hereby challenge said Reporter
to substantiate the very grave charges
he has made and Justify his accusation
by a reproduction Of hr. Thompson's
speech, which was misleading, full Of
deception, etc. Also to show plainly
and concIusively Why he has the right
to brand that meeting as a reunion Of
''Thirdites and Gideons."
Come forth, Mr.. Reporter" bring
your arguments and let me world
know who you are iii you are really
anybody worthy Of moments notice.
Said report" is a misrepresentation
of the people present and the speech
made. Now, Reporter" if you fail
to come with your evidence and repro
duction, 1 shall claim that by your
failure you thereby confess that you
have simply lied inopen daylight, with.
out u or provocation. We are
proud that we still have such men as
Butler and Thompson to carry our
banner, though Bell and others have
tried to trample it down and have be-
trayed the trust reposed in them by
the people of North Carolina.
Mr.. Thompson mentioned very mild
~ the action of the recent legislature
towards the Alliance. Reporter, was
he not j%ustifable? You advocate the
freedom of speech and opinion too.
This meeting showed evident signs
of this determination on the part OF
the people. Oh, there's the rub! The
day has come when the people have
learned that they have the right to
speak, and hence propose to exercise
that right in their own interest and