The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-11-20

position in the next contest7 No one
can certainly foresee but certainly by
no means what it would have been if
we had made a manly fight and main
tanned an unspotted reputation.
But let us look at the question very
briefly from an educational point of
view. Many of our voters cannot read
and but few of these who can, read
reform papers or literature. Many OF
them are longing, praying for infor
nation. The fields are white unto the
harvest. It seems to me criminal
folly in us to fail to embrace the gol-
den opportunity afforded by the COM
mendable custom of joint discussion to
educate the people in our principles.
Instead of this we have the candi-
dates of the two old parties indulging
for the most part in better PERSONAL
ties with educational features almost
entirely eliminated, even from the
point of view of the old parties and
entirely 80 if the contention of the
Populists is correct. Much of the dis
cussion so called being about on a par
with a vigorous school boys quarrel.
It is the thoughtful patriot who con-
siders the distressed condition of our
country. The momentous questions
that are pressing for solution. The
great wrongs that are crying to heaven
trumpet tongues for redress what a
spectacle this presents.
If these gentlemen were several times
as good as most ardent admirers claim
they are-going there as representa-
tives of the old parties that are under
the h2el~o of the money power-either
of them would be tied hand and foot
and of no. more value to the people
than a wooden god. AS neither one OF
them either in his party applications
or political opinions represents me l
will not vote for either. This deter
mination is emphasized in Mr.. Pear
sons case by his dishonest conduct In
tampering with the recent Congress-
ional Convention of the Peoples party. l
would not vote for any man who was
guilty of such conduct.
It seems so self evident to any
thoughtful man tn 1t such fusion as
we have in our District, would cut off
recruits from the Peoples party and
keep in the ranks Of the Democratic
party many who would have come to
us and thus injure the cause of reform
both in the State and Nation, to say
nothing of the inevitable division,
arrangement and apathy it would
inevitably u in our thin ranks it
seems like a grave reflection on the
intelligence of Mr.. Butler and Mr..
Pearson to suggest that reform was
the chief motive that Influenced them
in c~oncocting these schemes.
If the Hon. Marian Butler was the
best and wisest nan not only in the
State but in the nation we are required
to pay infinitely too high a price to
get him a seat in the U. s. Senate.
I give an extract from a private
letter from one of the closest friends
of my life. He does not reside in this
State and knows nothing definitely of
political conditions here. He is a man
of wide influence but never has taken
any active part in politics. I may add
that this last was true of myself until
within the last few years-since l have
become hopeful of reform.
Il am glad you are out of politics
and hope you will stay there. l do
not believe that any honest man or
patriotic citizen can succeed that is
get an Office at these times. The
demagogue is the q who now sue
ceeds. The honest man can do his
country great good by speaking for
the truth but he will not enjoy pro
motion. Truth is not rewarded. It is
an age in~which the people delight in
delusion and are therefore led by the
men who are willing to practice de-
ception. You may as you have done
continue to enjoy the applause of a
few good men but will not, I fear, en-
joy promotion"
If it is bad politics" as Mr. Butler
says to oppose MI. Pearson in our Dis
trict it must be wretched politics to
write this article, bui I hope 1 am
willing to die, politically or other
wise, for my principles I have
never been and hope 1 never
will be a politician" 1 can,
if not wanted elsewhere, fight in the
ranks as a private. This I shall Ger
tainly do, striking for the right, as 1
have the Iioht fear or favor