The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-05-15
NO. IA.

ssThe short and simple annals OF the
poor" are great studies to the student
of economy. There are 50 many false
phases to them that it takes a keen In
sight to detect the false from the true.
It takes q great manhood to step down
and fight for the lowly In the world
They keep the n~oiseless tenor OF their
way" suffering in silence. No trumpet
tells to the world the sorrows OF the
poor. MANS inhumanity to man
makes countless millions mourn" OF
which history has no record and phil
anthropy no tears and poesy no song.
We tramps see lots of things which if
written, would make the very rocks
weep. Several years since l was asked
to make a speech at an Alliance meet
and as I wanted to cast honor on the
race of tramps, I consented as follows:
JOE JACKsoN's GRAFTON.
Mr. President, Gentlemen Of the
Formers Alliance, Ladies and Gen
Hemen:-It gives me great pleasure,
indeed, to come to day for the first
time before an Alliance audience and
I consider it a great honor to act in this
capacity. I shall attempt to-day to
bind no howery wreaths of rhetoric or
wander over any fragrant fields of
fancy or poesy; but I wish to speak in
q plain a few thoughts and
facts in regard to a cause we all hold
dear. Many may ask why leone from
the city to plead a cause seemingly
contrary to my own best interests. I'll
admit that I endanger my business
prospects, I cast aside the influence of
a number of moneyed corporations, /
make many of my best friends angry
at this course, and for my good-for
policY's pretty sake-I would speak
not q word upon this occasion; but,
gentlemen, there is a reason above
policy, above personal interests, which
causes me to do this, and that reason
ia I believe this is the right way and I
care not for the consequences. Come
veal, come woe, / will advocate what I
consider the best and the mostrighteous
way. Hook out over an audience Of
farmers and farmers daughters and,
sirs, there is a magic in these names.
From the farm many Of our best presi-
deRts have come in days gone by, and
many must still come from there.
Abraham Lincoln was once a Kentucky
farmer boy, Andrew Johnston, born
In Raleigh, N. O., rose from the farm
house to the presidency of a great ma
ton, and Andrew is the gentleman
that couldn't read till after he was
married, Good moral here) Hayes,
Grant, Arthur, Garfield, Cleveland and
Harrison were all farmer boys. Is not
this a grand inspiration to my audi
encel Now the point I have been study
ing is the principles involved in this
Alliance movement from an unbiased
standpoint, and the more I know of
them the more convinced am l of their
justice, their beauty and their practica-
billy.
Founded on truth, reared on equity
and principle, they stand forth amid a
number of false systems the coming
victor of them all Why do I believe
in these principles9 Well, 1 think we
need a little free silver in our business
just now and, of course, everybody
ought to own his own railroad, and
thereby ave his travelling expenses.
daughter And then railroads save
soles, you know. For years and years
you good farmers have been thinking
of some plan by which the agricultural
interests could be advanced. Various
means were tried, n Of which was
the Grange, but not till the year 1887
dawned upon beautiful Southland
did you strike a chord that will never
die, whose melody will be ever sweet
aslonga as time lasts, that keynote of re-
form, the Farmers Alliance. LCheers.)
And tits useless to tell this intelligent
audience that this ceuse-humanity's
cause-has a glorious destiny before it.
Some men will vote for anything just
so long as it sails under certain colors,
no matter whether the principles are
right or wrong. They are like a good,
old praying brother who held morning
prayers regularly. On one beautiful
morning he got down the old family
Bible, as usual, to read. The boys a
little before had pasted two of the leaves
together, by accident, of course-boys
do everything by accident. And he
began, And Jacob married a wife who
vas Che turned over the leaves) 40
cubits long and 40 cubits wide and 10
~furlongs in height" He stopped and