The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-26

| Struggle. Kindred mOnOpOlies are Or
ganizing into associations of monopo-
lies with one central head. They see
that the people are learning to stand
together and that the people may,
therefore, succeed. They see that the
reforms demanded by the people, if
successful, will force them to discon-
tinue their game of speculation and
wholesale preying upon the masses
They are growing arrogant as well as
more vigilant and subtle.
And still at this critical hour, when
liberty, justice and even a republican
form of government are hanging in the
balance, and it seems that nothing can
save the people but united effort On
their part to regain their government,
and re-establish the principles of Jeffer
son and jackson, the hired press and
the servile politicians howl that 1.-THE
Alliance has gone into politics" They
would have the people to devote their
whole time to making more wheat,
corn, cotton and tobacco, while they
want you to have confidence in them
to run the government, to make money
scarcer, to make products cheaper,
make debts bigger, and lay a larger
tribute and heavier burden upon the
masses for the benefit of the monopo
lies and the bondholders. I wish to
say to you that the supreme duty of
this organization to day, in my opin-
ion, is to throw its whole power and
influence to correct the evils that have
grown up in our government; to re-
establish the principles of justice so as
to make it possible for the great, origi-
nal purposes of the organization. to be
carried out, to bless and elevate man.
kind; and in my opinion the question
of questions to be considered, and first
forced to just conclusion, is financial
reform.
But let me beseech you in striving to
accomplish this high and all important
duty not to give up your organization
and tie your faith to a political party.
It is true that all political reforms
must be gotten through political par,
ties. But we must keep up our organ
ization in order to have influence with
political parties. Political parties are
a necessity, but our organization is a
greater necessity. Professional poll
ticians too often control them; and
politicians act more from a sense of
selfishness and fear than from a sense
of justice and right Therefore let the
organization hold itself independent of
all political parties, and be ever ready
to help to defeat or to elect asparty &C
cording to the principles that it holds
and acts upon. By such independent
action only can we purify politics, and
be able to preserve our country and
our liberties.
The partisan-the political tool
serves his party, right or wrong. The
highest type of patriot is non-par
tisan; he supports any party that
futhers the principles of honest govern
ment; he fights any party that serves
monopoly and class interest to the det-
riment of the people; he cares nothing
for the name of the label of the party,
but whatever party his conscience, en-
lightened by a correct knowledge of
facts, shows him he should support for
that one election, he supports with all
the zeal and ability that his Maker has
blessed him with. This conceive to
be the duty of all true Alliancemen
with reference to politics.
When the political evils from which
we are suffering are corrected, and
it if this organization goes down, then
let the Alliance give it's chief attention
to it's original purpose. But also re-
member that it will be necessary for us
to keep well informed on political
questions, and take keen and active
interest in the actions Of all political
parties, less the enemy of the people
should then corrupt our government
again.
Our victory 80 far has come through
education. Let us spread reform itera-
ture. We have done much, but we
can, should do more.
feel like congratulating the ALI
anee on its success in political retorma-
tion so far. For we have succeeded In
two very important points-tw points
that make genuine reform certainty
in the near fu ,ure.
First. We have succeeded in getting
the real issue, finance, before the peo-
pie, and the issue is clearly defined.
Second. We have succeeded in plac-