The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-25

who dares to crush this inoff7nsive
creature. Did not this symbol repre-
sent the temper and purpose of Ameri-
cans then? And does it not represent
the purpose of true patriots OF to day.
Didn't Sam Adams shake the rattles
well9 And when the British heel came
down, didn't Americas serpent do her
work grandly2
The grand old flag of to day, for
which / IN contending and which
still Fl pats over many hearts that beat
with the same patriotic blood of liberty
and freedom from English dictation
and rule, still carries the thirteen
stripes with forty-fve stars IN place of
the former thirteen. And to day we
are privileged to bring to your re-
membarance this honored flag Of our
Republic with it's thirteen stripes rep
resenting the thirteen colonies first
formed, and with its forty-fve stars
representing the forty five States in
this grand old UnIon. 1t carries upon
It's folds the history Of more than a
full century of national freedom and
liberty.
But ambush! How chilly the blood
runs through my veins when | learn
that this noble fl eg is again traiIed il
the dust by some Of the American
citizens. British rule and British power
are again debating to the rulers of
America, and many are listening with
an a of acq1iescence.
But O, how glad l am to tell this au-
dience that this is still the flag of the
Alliance, the flag of the Reformers,
the flag of the majority Of the ~ciJizens
of these United States, and it is my
flag.
We, the Alliance and Reformers, are
not c~Ontendlng for a new fl 4g or a di
vision of these forty five United States,
but we are clamoring for the liberties
that our ancestors bought for US with
price of their blood.
HOW, 0! how can any true patriot
walk owe the graves of our heroic
fathers and then bow again IN submits
sion to the sceptres of British rule and
worship the English god OF monometal-
ism2
AS a true Methodist will cling to the
doctrine of Wesley, or a true German
Reformer will follow the faith Of wing
Inns, or as a true Lutheran will believe
the teaching of Luther, so every true
and loyal citizen of America should
cling to the flag of our country and
contend for the liberties of which it is
the emblem; for these liberties have
been much contracted and our finau
Cial system has been much impaired.
Oh, give us back again the financial
system adopted by our battle stained
and sabre-scared fathers of 1898. The
free coinage Of silver is what our flag
claims and for what we contend.
Around this flag the Alliance and the
noble citizensof America will rally, be
cause it is the flag of their country and
they have learned to love it; for it is
the banner Of free coinage and not
the cross or lion Of the English single
gold standard.
am n to contend for the Ameri.
can flag, American laws and Ameri-
can money for American citizens.
The rattlesnake is now giving the
signal that the American people will
no longer allow their flag to be dis
graced and dragged in the dust by the
conspirators of the English gold stand
ard, or trampled upon and destroyed
by their enemies who rally around the
the standard OF London.
Everywhere, throughout this broad
land Of ours, we fad "a congress of PEG
pie in session, Discussing ways and
means to resist further encroachments
upon their fl sg, their rights and Iiber
ties, and to maintain justice to all.
Never before, in the history of this
country, were the people so aroused to
the necessity Of renewed energy to
maintain liberty justice and law; and
demand the restoration of the financial
policy which has blessed them and
made them 50 happy and prosperous
in former times.
l believe it Is the duty of every citi
zen Of these United States to make
himself familiar with the liberties to
L 49, ~---