The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-21
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
.,s,.red by President MewbOrne Before
Deh the State Alliance.

LUZ Alliance is here. And while dele
5@ and officers bring with them
S1" and congratulations, one for
"tber, anticipated harmony and a
H"L.ofering to the Almighty for
reservation of life, and the prom
outlook of a bounteous harvest,
Hw9 as husbandmen find ourselves
Wv, q financial burden almost too
u.ievous to be borne.
Alter having CO operated so hopeful
18th the Lord of Heaven, He gra-
E!.r.lv giving sunshine and showers
~ We through Him the labor, it is
..Soad sad to know that by a ruthless
Thor monetary system the greater
~ If this vast wealth must passfrom
!. into the hands of corporate greed,
shout sufficient remuneration to in
n us-only in name-the precious
S.or of the American Constitution
Mibarty and the pursuits of happi-
pes."
UEeO'S humanity TO man
Makes countless thousands mourn"
And surely if during the administra-
4on of our past Presidents, notably
.Soao of Presidents Alexander and
rorr. it was ascertained that we were
1heaten with rods" it is but a calling
.nth to day that we r whipped
18th scorpiOns."
# by diligent inquiry in sundry SUI
rrane councils it was found that Ger
tain and divers oppressors for a quarter
ds century had gradually and clan
5atnely, through legislation, obtained
the power of oppression, and the CAL
lance demands the remedy, how
much more do we now Q and feel the
iron heel of these same men who are
gmboldened by a long lease of power
set at open defiance and fagrantly
ignore the disorganized people.
In full view of the march of this
downward procession to inevitable
ruin, many of the members of the
Farmers Alliance, which vas insti-
hed for resistance to this downward
course, have grown faint hearted,
hung their harps on the willow" and
will no more sing of their beloved
Jerusalem because of the fact that to-
day they are in a strange land. But,
my brethren, l am glad to say to you
that there are yet twenty thousand of
as good, true, noble and patriotic sons
as North Carolina ever had who, like
Daniel, the grand hero of the Bible,
have set their faces toward the temple
and, in spite of the threats of their ad-
versaries, are praying and battling for
the deliverance of the people. They
yet believe that their demands" en-
acted into laws is their only salvation
and that the perpetuity of their gov
eminent is dependent upon that free
dom and happiness which they only
can give while there is nothing in our
law that dictates to any member how
be shall vote or with what party to
affiliate. Yet they believe that it is
their prerogative and their duty to
vote for those who hold to their de
mands" and will enact them into law.
Let US ever strive to wre3t Jul gov
eminent from the hands of the oppres-
Nrs and give it back to the people to
whom it belongs.
History remote and near has proven
that the ills which befall a nation fall
heavier on the laboring anu producing
classes than upon any others and it
matters not how glorious may have
been the equality in the start, by cruel
and unequal laws the tendency all
along stewards vassalage and in many
instances an ultimate and sad reality.
Aenlnthis condition either in tendency
@reallty have not power, on account
WpoVerty, or influence on account Of
me subsection that circumstances re
qulre Of the vassal to his lords. These
1ngs having weakened the many,
lave made strong the few, and when a
~nehcent government gives them the
privilege, and the Farmers Alliance
we education to vote, yet they are
SOW to exercise their franchise to the
sR'ent Of driving the ''money-changers
uon the temple" who are the sole
@uSe' n way or another, of all their
Il these things are so, then reforma
T"n on this line must be slow. While
would not ask you to change your
pU%It0n or relax your hold from the
SOalnlng of your rights, due you from
!Our government, l do insist that you
~an organized body, here and now,
4aNe dlligent inquiry and ascertain if
"B not DOSsih1e for Won Of uo11roo1uoc