The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-12

now just behind the curtain, and in
full glow Of the coming sunset. b.
hind me are shadows on the track;
before me lies the dark valley and the
river. When / mingle with it's dark
waters I want to cast n lingering
look upon a country whose govern.
ment is of the people, for the people,
and by the people,"
President Folks life in Washington
was n of constant labor, during
which time he was constantly misrep-
resented and misquoted. The charge
was brought that when visiting and
addressing the muItitudes, who greeted
him during his tour through the Yves
tern States, that he apologizedf0P hav-
ing been in the Confederate army;
saying he had joined it to betray the
cause. This charge caused him much
trouble, but he bided his time.
Brother President, those who wit
messed that never to-be-forgotben scene
when the Supreme Council in q body
left It's hall to pay a fraternal visit to
the Farmers Mutual Benefit Associa-
ton, then assembled in council in the
city hall at Indianapolis. President
Polk arose, and standing in the pres
ence of representatives from nearly
all the States, asked if he had In his
speeches or conversation used the LAM
guage or expressed the sentiment st
tributed to him. Words would fan
me to describe that scene of indignant
denial, and few men ever received
such an ovation.
There were other difficulties he had
to contend with. Compelled by law
to reside in Washington, his salary
was not more than sufficient to pro
vide him with the necessities of life,
had it been paid when due. His efforts
to economic seriously affected his
health, and fastened the trouble which
caused his death. Could he have been
spared to us, / believe that under his
matchless leadership, his power to
organize and direct the agricultural
! and industrial forces of this nation,
we to day would be in g position--to
! demand of our lawmakers the enact
ment into law of such financial and
other measures of relief as would in
sure peace, plenty, and contentment
to cur impoverished and discontinued
people.
Now, as never before, do the de-
mands of the hour call for men of In
tegrity and unwavering devotion to
the principles for which he fought
and died. Those of us who survive
him must choose fearless leaders. pos
sessed of moral heroism, if we expect
to successfully contend with central.
ized capital, allied to corporate power,
now enthroned in high places, appar-
emily indifferent to the demands of the
people.
Let me beg of you, my brethren, as
we stand here to day around the cor
ner- stone of the monument, to be
erected to his memory, TO be true to
those demands drafted at St. Louis, re.
affirmed at Ocala, ard again endorsed
by a rising vote at Indianapolis, in
November, 1891. To do this we must
cherish and adopt as our own his last
official appeal at Indianapolis, whenhe
exclaimed: I'm the appalling presence
OF such an issue, buried and forgotten
forever, be the prejudices, animosities
and arrangements of that unfortunate
war and with hands and hearts united;
with one purpose to inspire us-a pur-
pose as broad as our country and as
high as the demands of humanity and
justice, invoking the b-euedietions Of
Heaven on our patriotic endeavor, led
and guided by the spirit of Justice, 'as
a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar
of fire by night we would restore the
ark of u covenant, fashioned and be.
queathed to us by our fathers, TO the
holy of holes, in our temple of liberty"
THE DEATH OF l. l. POLK.
OR. A.. s. Houohton IN the Arena.t
A noble man is missing from the front ranks IN
A voice is flushed which never spoke except for
His valiant TO m no more shall lead our forces
His f'Tcef1l face in slumber sleeps-our chief
Yet W6ilee We mourn, as mortal must. for him
Wen face the Work he left to do. and trust
He i've, though lost to mortal sight; he acts,
though naught we see;
to make men free.
Then doubt not, ye who loved him here, the
purpose from on high,
Such souls as his immortal are-they were net
His name our sRibbOleth shall be, his zeal our
Among the natl ms hOnOred dead his tomb
And on the shaft Tbtob mark. The .no4 80 -.