The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-29
No. so
SAVE OUR YOUNG MEN
From Perjury, Fraud, and Political Corruo-
tion--Give Us an Election Law
Too Honest in its Make
up to Allow a Politi-
cal Thief Any
Chance,

up to Allow Politi-
cal Thief Any
Chance.
| Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
Permit a veteran reformer to give a
few facts on the line of reform, for the
enlightenment of our voting popula-
tlon, our lawmakers and our church
members in the pulpit and in power;
and, also, for our young men and our
boys growing up to manhood. Let us
save them.
Prior to the late war, we had no bal
lot box stuffing, or robbing; no perjury
by counting one man in and another
out. As the votes were cast, so were
they counted. If we ever had a
preacher before the war who ignored
the teachings of Gods Word enough
to enable him to stand in the pulpit or
in company and say that 1.-The end
| justified the MEANS" never heard of
such an one. If there was ever a
church member of any denomination
who was guilty of any kind of dirty
work to carry an election. never
heard of such an one. True, we did
not have as many preachers and
church members then as now; ncr
was there so much religion then as
now, but there was more of the gen.
uine religion of the Son of God among
preachers and church members than
there is now, as see it and am forced
to believe. Now for the mud sill of
our political corruption:
During reconstruction after the late
war, the Republican officials, in many
places, had every thing their own way.
If the voters did not cast their votes
to meet their wishes they we're counted
to meet the demands of our corrupt
political tyrants. They knew no law
but the law to do what they wished to
do or to have DONE Here was the in
PRODUCTION of political corruption and
it was continued in practice by the
Republican leaders while they were in
power. AS the Democrats gained in
power, go as to control the elections,
rather than permit the Republicans
again to power, they adopted the same
corrupt methods of the Republicans.
For years and years these corrupt
methods were practiced to keep down
negro rule, as the democratic rings
declared. Now let us see where we
were at. In 1892, when it was Greek
against Greek, white man against
white man, with the political machine
in the hands Of these same old politi-
cal rings, did the machine grinders
leave off their corrupt methods and
give their white brothers an honest
showing9 Did theyG No such religion
as that; no show whatever of equal
rights under our laws, but, on the con-
trary, the registrars, prior to the cleo
tion, were ordered by their head State
boss to diefranchise every man whom
they could, who would not vote the
Democratic ticket. Yes, this must be
done by perjury, and it was done.
The election frauds of 1888, 1890 and
1892 were bad enough to disgrace q
half civilized people, much more dis
graceful were they to a high toned,
Christian people.
Now, we come to 1894. How was il
with this Christian people thenG ]
am unable to tell it all, for was only
ia the ''devil's political pen" a short
time, so / only know q part, and j
thank God for being so ignorant that Z
do not know it all. For once In my
life can say, in truth, that ignorance
is bliss. 1t is painful enough to look at
a man and believe that he is an un-
principled wretch, but to know that it
is 80, beyond truthful contradiction, Is
far more painful than any child Of
God should wish to experience.
have long since heard it said than ''an
: honest man is the noblest work Of
God" Whether this be strictly true
or not, I will not say, but to look upon
an honest man would be and should be
the locker on greater pleasure than
words can express. Permit me to ex-
press the belief that q political thief Is
the meanest and most hellish thief that
can be made by his majesty the devil.
Such thief is one of obstruction and
ruin, not only to nations, but to men,
women and children. He does not
even show mercy and love for the in
nocent, helpless and sweet, tender
babes upon the mothers breast; he
only strives for hellish victory, re-
gardless of the great wrong he is doing.
A chicken thief is an angel when COM
pared to q political thief in position
to do a great injury to people.
In NV neHt I will show that i e1a