Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-02-13

grey, VIII llNe W ooe Iuio OouhIiy y III 'h'
hands of foreign capitalists.
But, my friends, if we will lay aside
partisan prejudice and endeavor to ed
ucate every nook and corner among
our country people to a realization OF
these facts we may hope for glory out
of our old Land yet!
/ come now to another point that
should especially impress itself upon
us this year when finances are at such
a low ebb, and doubt not but that
your merchants have already advised
you in this line, they never dreaming
what would become of large per cent.
of the mercantile world were you to
abide strictly by their advice. Yet
with all good will to the merchant and
furnisher of our supplies it is the only
way now that we, as home owners, have
to save ourselves, that is, to raise our
home supplies for man and beast, make
ourselves Independent of any man or
set of men, so far as something to eat
is concerned. Prove by our actions
that we can live at home and board at
the same place.
Again it is thrust at us that we are
going into politics. Why should we
not? We are not the only agricultural
people who have been driven to the
wall. The Jews by forced oppression
and confscation, by unjust laws were
forced to abandon their natural avoca-
tion, husbandry, and take up mercan-
tile pursuits. So the farmers nova
days, by virtue of unjust and discrimi-
mating laws, have been forced into pol
itics.
1t is true agriculture has not been
specially legislated against, but other
pursuits have been SO amply protected,
while it has been left prey to gam
blers and spectators, that it is as
much injured by this indirect legisla-
tion as it would have been by direct
legislation.
Naturally the farmer has an aver
sion to politics, and if left to himself
and it was not necessary for self pro
lection, he would take but little inter
est in it, but would commit the town
men to control public affairs. This he
would do for two reasons.
First, Political conventions are gen
orally held in town some distance from
his home and he would prefer to be at
home looking after stock and crop.
Second, By virtue of his secluded
life and limited associations with peo-
pie, he is a reticent man, feels uncom-
Portable in large assemblies, is diff
dent about expressing himself before
large numbers, and has, as arule, made
the complement of delegates necessary
to hold a convention, while the town
members managed the affairs. This
condition he has been content to Occu
py until the time has come that his in
terests are abandoned by all parties:
all legislation that is taken up is for
the advancement of every other call
ing in business life, while his. position
attracts no attention, or if any at all,
in such small degrees and by such
limited number of representatives that
it goes no further than resolution or
possibly a passage Of a bill in one
house, only to meet it's death in the
other or at the hands of the chief ex-
ecutive.
Thus almost forSaken and abandon
ed, do we find the farmer, except by a
few friends who have been powerless
to render him assistance, on account of
that carefully select working MAORI
ty on the other side" Thus far his
cause has been hopeless through no
fault of his own, but has been due to
his allowing others to select his stand,
ard-bearers. Thus far, | say, the farm
er is not to blame; but from now on
he will be if he longer consents to be
but puppet, but a windlass whose
body must bear the pressure which
draws water for others alone; but a
warcharger whose back must bear 9TH
ers to eminence and greatness, while
he receives no reward at all. l repeat
that we, as farmers and laborers Wil
be to blame if we continue to occupy
these servile positions longer, while it
is in our power to draw out from this
state and ourselves become rulers The
farmer mast go into politics in the in
terest of family and home; he must
protect himself.
He can become the dominant factor
His calling has already the numbers.
He needs nothing but to give the mat
ter thought and attention. He must
study domestic and political economy;
history and morals; the last to give
him knowledge and conscience, the
first to acquaint himself with party
management and financial independ-
ence. He must be independent of the
money lender, must be a self -provider;
then with the knowledge we have call
ed attention to, acquired, his future
will be bright and he will be the leader
in public affairs and politics and if
dominated by this spirit and sentiment
official trust will be on high plane;
public office will be position of man
ly and honest confidence and alone
will be an insignia of honor.
viii the farmers act as they can?
We say they will. Respectfully,
w. NJ. KEITHLEY,
Pres. Copiah County Alliance.