The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-10-31
No. SO
AN ESSAY
By Lady Member of Aulander Farmers.
Alliance.

Alliance.
Are we free, and do we exercise our
constitutional rights9 Written in let
ters of political corruption we see the
emphatic answer NO. Over one hun
dred years ago the boys of '76 shoul,
dered their muskets and marched to
the beat of the drum and fought for
their country; and through their cour-
age, their bravery and their manhood,
mingled with the severest punishment
and suffering they could endure, they,
trusting in the God of Battles to sus-
tain them, and knowing their rights
dared maintain them, won for them.
selves and for their country indepen-
dence- freedom from the CALLING yoke
Of England's tyrannical and despotic
government. We reflect over these
days in glowing admiration and admire
the manhood of those old heroes. The
memory of those good old days still
cluster around US, for then we became
free from England just little over a
quarter of a century ago, there was an
other fight for the freedom of portion
Of our people; and when we recognize
the fact that so many of our fireside
lost their lives in behalf of their rights,
or what they believed to be their
rights, we shed tears. When we rec
ognize the fact that they endured the
most severe hardships, the terrible risk
OF life, and how we were put in con-
slant dread of having our homes taken
from US, we look back upon those days
In honor and disgust. The victory was
won and part of the American civil
zation becamo no longer slaves but
freemen But to day the fight for
freedom has only begun and the full
filment of the Word of God is begin
ming, While America was freed from
the clutches of England, and while. the
negro race was freed from it's servitude,
still the citizens of the United States
are to-day deeper in slavery than was
the negro race. We are slaves of the
moneyed aristocrats who look with
scorn and disdain upon those from
whom they received their power, their
wealth, yea, their very existence. The
fight for liberty has only begun. The
great masses of the people are begin
ming to realize the Importance of speedy
operations whereby our freedom may
be unalienably secured and whereby
we may exercise the constitutional
rights that all true citizens should ex-
ercised.
While part have been made partly
free, the whole has been enslaved and
to day we are existing under the most
| tyrannical master the world has ever
known-the money power. 1t has not
only taken our liberty from us and
made us slaves to their bribed represen-
tatives, but it has put us back in the
dark ages, and is to day using Congress
as the instrument it it's hands for the
destruction of our property and our
lives. appeal to the laboring men of
this country to come to full realiza-
ton of the present condition, how the
capitalist makes his bargain and sells
his SO, 900 voters as so many cattle, the
Mormon President controlling his co.
O0O votes, the liquor traffic and the
Romish Pope each their hundreds of
thousands. The right of suffrageis de-
MED us by this and even here in our
own State and county we are told to
stand back and rest in peace until
moneyed god, their king, Fisher Gro
YER, bats his hook.
Laboring men, do you care for the
comforts of your wives and children7
Do you care to play the part of the
slave any longer9 Then do your duty
and use your minds your means, sacri-
fco your time and if needs be your
lives in the security of your freedom
and your rights. This policy which
makes few rich out of the production
of the many is not only unjust and
criminal, but it is fatal to national
prosperity and national life.
We thank God that we still live and
look into the future with renewed hope
and vigor. We can see the hosts of
labor rallying to the support of the
reform press which is well equipped
with the ammunItions Of war. May
we persevere until every man, woman
and child has a home across the
threshold of which no tax gatherer or
master can or dare to cross.
Let our motto be, we must be free
and we will be free.
Yours for reform,
I MRS. Ct. W. LAssITER.