The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-04
WHERE DOES He STAND NOW.

1t is a matter of regret that men so
often forget to defend the interests of
the masses when, through the sufrages
of their countrymen, they have been
placed in office. The allurements Of
Office blind their eyes and stop their
ears to the clamoring of the people, at
a time when their influence is greatest
at a time when they could do much
towards righting existing wrongs.
Below we give a few extracts from a
patriotic speech delivered by Governor
Elias Carr, at Asheville in 1890, while
he was president of the State Alliance.
In speaking of the National meeting
held in ST. Louis, in 1889, he said:
''The most important meeting ever
held in this country has been the as
sembling of the farmer and labor Or
CARNATIONS in December last, the neces
sity for which was foreshadowed by
that eminent statesman and jurist. the
late Judge David Davis, when he said,
as long ago as 1866: The rapid growth
of the corporate power and the malign
influence which it exerts by combina-
ton on the National and State legisla-
latures is a we~lI-grounded Of
alarm. A struggle is pending in the
near future between this overgrown
power, with it's vast r~amifcations all
over the Union and a hard grip on
much of the political machiery on the
one hand, and the people in an unor
ganized condition on the other, for the
control of the government. 1t will be
watched by every patriot with intense
anxiety Never more prophetic words
fell from the lips of man! The people,
though slow to admit it, had at last
been convinced, and three millions of
people sent their representatives there
to form~an alliance against this mon
strous iniquity. The unanimity with
which the demands set forth by that
body were adopted, and the universal
endorsement by all the States and Ter
~ritories after mature elaboration and
discussion should, and l believe will,
convince our legislators of our honesty
of purpose and determination to accom-
plish our ends. This meeting, national
in character as in name, was a magnif-
cent success in obliterating the old lines
OF observation-disclosures matter devoutly to be
wished for, and of first Importance in
securing the necessary national legisla
ton"
It should be remembered that the
national demands, the distinguishing
feature of the Alliance, made at that
meeting were almost the same as those
adopted at ST. Louis last February, in
Guiding the Sub-Treasury scheme, gov
eminent ownership of railroads, free
coinage of silver, etc.
In speaking of the financial condition
of the country, he said:
"While some of the demands set
forth have been granted, the most i'm
portant, the relief of the financial dis
tress of the farmers has been ignored.
The Iabors of the past are as nothing if
we expect to accomplish this end. This
government the last thirty years has
been the interest of a victorious war
party. The wal feeling has predomi-
mated in every national election. The
men who did the fighting have no voice
in government. Who are the men in
power to dayG Those that were enrich
ed by the war and its consequent legis'
lation. The ill gotten millions of these
legislators has been the power behind
the throne. The evidence of this is
found in the history of the laws. the
history of the bonds, the history of the
national banks and the history of the
characterization of silver. But a
stronger evidence yet is the present
condition of the working classes, who, |
as a rule the world over, are patient
and peaeeable .-Rufal Reformer, Boil
ing Springs, N. c.