The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-01-14

hunger is staring them in the face
Dear money is filling our prisons with
criminal and driving scores of girls to
houses of prostitution. ! Do we hear
our representative men raising their
voices against the financial system
that is blighting our fairest hopes9 Do
our ministers of the gospel cry out
against the bribe takers who fill the
hall of Congress, the executive and
judicial departments9 I have known
but one, and he was driven from his
charge. Men who receive big sala-
ries. in whatever position they occupy,
are as dumb as oysters on the subject.
When the laborer fails to receive a just
reccompense for his work-whether
he labors with his muscles or his brain
in any of the necessary ~avOcations Of
life. therei is something radically wrong
A farmer who is compelled to sell his
crops for less than it cost him to make
them, must soon become bankrupt.
So with every other calling dependent
on his prosperity. The country
preacher is now reduced to straits
unknown to the cloth a few years ago.
Any of the country congregations will
substantiate this fact. A few city
churches will maintain their former
financial status, but the indications
all point to a speedy cutting down of
their incomes. Prac icing, physicians
do not collect, on an average, one third
of their fees. I have seen many car
pents who get from so cents to 81 per
day, and are frequently out of work.
Yet those who control the aft airs of
state say times are prosperous!
"All the people cannot be fooled all
the time" We may be standing nearer
the brink of a volcano than some
imagine. The defendants Of R3volu-
tionary sires have the same blood
coUrsing through their veins that re-
sisted British tyranny more than a
century ago, and they are not indlff8r.
ent to a greater tyranny now being
fastened upon US by the same enemies
against whom our forefathers conten-
ded. The murmur of discomfort we
hear all I'VE the country, unless ap
peased by justice to those who labor
and create the wealth, will make them
selves felt in righting their wrongs,
or submit to a slavery O CALLING
than Anglo Saxons have endured for
three centuries.
When the money system is turned
over to the National banks, as recon-
mended By President Cleveland, we
know the days of the Republic are
numbered. Will intelligent men who
see these facts every day still hold
their peace, and say slv the party,
when the country is in sore distress7
Can they claim to be patriots who
place the success of party above the
welfare of country7 The patriots of
one hundred years ago did not act in
this manner.
Mr.. Echols, Comptroller, reports |
$50, 600, 600 less in circulation now than
last year, and the population increas- !
must of necessity make money /
dearer and reduce the price of labor
and its production.
II the United Congress will not re
the distress Of the people, the
states must exercise the right of self
preservation in financial matters. Our
people must have work at remunera-
tive prices if we would maintain the
position we have occupied for the last
hundred years. We cannot afford to
wait until all hope is lost and despair
mas paraly zed our energies.-DR. J. B.
ALEXANDER, in Peoples Paper, Char