The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-03-12
ESSAY,
In the Interest of Reform.
BY MRS. SARAH e. MITCHELL


Mr. President, Brethren and Sisters:
1t is a well l-known fact that this
country is in a adeplorable, critical, and
and fearful condition. And we have
some brave and noble men and women
who do not hesitate to speak before
any man, or all men, and tell of this
condition, the causes thereof, and the
terrible calamity impending.
They tell us that starvation and
nakedness stalks abroad in land of
plenty, mainly because through the
contraction of the currency, the money
sharks are enabled to manipulate the
price of all commodities, and thus rob
the laborer of his hard earned wages.
They also lay the blame on the pub
lie cservants of the people, for having
legisIated in favor of the few and
against the many, in favor of capital
and against labor, in favor of the usurer
and against both the producer and the
consumer.
And they likewise warn us that un-
less these laws are repealed, that this
republic is as certain to fall as the
sparks are to fly upward.
Brethren, this is true. Is this fair
picture of our grand country to days
suppose every one in this hall will an
sWer yes.
This being conceded, it naturally be-
comes the duty of every person who
loves his country, to use every endeavor
that lies in his power to avert so hor-
rible calamity. But there are many,
alas too many, who see these things
just as they are, but who are so COW
ardly that they dare not raise even
one warning note against those who
are responsible for this state of affairs.
Brethren, why is it, that the minis
ters of the gospel are so strangely
silent upon the issues now staring this
people in the facet They profess to be
called Of God, to stand upon the wall
Of Zion, and cry aloud and spare not,
and to make no uncertain sound. But
to warn the the people of all dangers
that threaten, and every enemy that
menaces, Yet here is this arch enemy,
the money power, that has, over and
often, in days gone by, overthrown the
most powerful republics thathave ever
been established on the face of this
earth, and has built for itself on the
ruins thereof a throne and sceptre.
say, this enemy is today in our
midst, bending every energy and try
ing all means to destroy this republic,
and to possess itself of the lands (Which
rightly belong to all Gods creatures
and to bring His servants into subjec,
tion unto itself,
AND SCARCELY A SINGLE JONAH TO WARN
Us OF OUR PERIL.
is Jonah still afraid of the Ninevhites9
Let him remember the whale.
Brethren, I am nearing fifty, and
have been church goer all my life,
and have been a member of the Mis-
sionary Baptist denomination thirty
years. 1t is quite probable that have
averaged hearing twenty sermons per
year. Twenty times fifty are even one
thousand. But to be on the safe side,
I will halve it and say hav eheard five
hundred sermons in my life. Yet in
all these sermons never, to my recol-
lection, did ever hear one of the fol
lowing texts preached from: 1.-THE
love of money is the root of all evil.
''The laborer is worthy of his hire"
''It is easier for camel to go through
the eye of needle, than for a rich
man to enter into the Kingdom of
God" ''Woe unto you, Scribes and
Pharisees, hypocritesI for ye devour
widows houses, and for a pretense
make long prayer" or "Woe unto you
also, ye lawyersl for ye load men with
burdens grievous to be borne, and ye
yourselves touch not the burdens with
one of your fingers" All of which is
very applicable to the present time.
Brethren, did any Of you ever hear
one of these texts expounded from the
pulpitG If SO, you have certainly been
more fortunate thanI.
Now, brethren and sisters. if the old
adage, Silence gives consent, =" is true,
then we are forced to the conclusion
that all those who see the condition of
+our country, and keep silence, are GER
tainly consenting with sinners.
But we should be thankful that the
Lord has given us some true and tried
men, who are bravely and faithfully
performing their duty, such as Butler,
Skinner, PETER, Stewart, Weaver and a
host of others. But you viii notice