The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-27
TO THR VOTERS OF CASTOR,
CLEVELAND, RUTHERFORD
AND POLK COUNTIES;

In 1888 we organized the Farmers
Alliance IN this section Of the country.
We commenced a united effort to bet,
ter u condition. We commenced the
study OF the science Of government.
After months Of patient investigation
we formulated a set of demands to
which we have chung ever since.
The Democratic leaders in 1890, es-
sured us that our principles were good,
and if we would elect them, and place
the Democratic party in power, our
demands should be enacted into laws
We then thought ourselves good
Democrats. But when they he'd hoisted
themselves in, On our platform, and
we had given them ample time to show
their true coiors they turned upon US,
and all yer the State in 1892, they
forced the Democratic candidates to re-
pudiate the Farmers Alliance.
just then and there, to keep Alliance
principles alive, we organized the Pee
pies party.
Many of US were almost kicked out
Of the party of r fathers because we
insisted on the faithles8 Democrats
carrying out the promises they had
made to us in 1890.
The election Of 1892 showed US g con-
dition Of things, that had often been
suggested by Republicans but which
mad hardly given a thought to, pre-
vious to this time. That we had an
election law in this State framed es.
pecially to keep the Democratic party
in power regardless Of the votes Of the
people.
The powers of this election law were
used without mercy or pity, and Hall
fax county, which contains twice as
many Republican voters as it does
Democratic ones, was counted for tie
Democratic ticket by a very large ma.
jority, and Brunswick county which
gave q P0pulisC m8jority was counted
Democratic by q majority of the whole
Democratic vot3.
POpulists and Republicans equally
suffered under this election law which
overturned at one stroke our form OF
government.
Then we had to quit voting and lei
the Democratic machine govern for all
time, without further protest, or we
had TO join forces with the republicans
and preserve the integrity OF the bal
lot.
In 1894 We did this, and the result il
q fair election, and a chance to elect
our own officers in counties and town
ships for the first time in twenty
years.
Then it became necessary for Demo
Gratis to- resort t extraordinary tao
tics to ~reiustaGe themselves.
The shrewed lawyers with only Q
sprinkling Of farmers, met IN Raleigh,
and actually adopted the principles OF
the Populists, as they did III 1890
Then they went a long stride further,
and put out for President a man who
had been Missed by them at Greens
boro, a short time before, when he
criticised CIevelRnd's ruinous policy.
But they nominated the same old
crowd for State eff ers-the zane eel
Of lawyers and professional politicians
and men whose daily avocation it is tc
advocate any thing they are paid tt
advocate.
But the people we're not gulled, NJ
response to these loud professions o.
renewed loyalty to-our principles came
up from the plain farmers of the coun
try.
Instead of allowing themselves to bt
fooled again, the Republicans and Pop
ulists have again agreed to vote to
gether against this old gang of politi
cal pirates and to continue to do 50
until there is no danger of a party get
ting into power which will most as
suredly entrench itself so as to never
again be beaten if we allow it to con
troll the legislature and frame another
election law in this State.
A fair election law is the most i'm
portans issue in every part of the
United States at all times. Withou'
this nothing can be accomplished.
Don'C let a false cry of free silver de
lude you into giving up the vital prin
ciDle of citiz 9nship given to US by oul
last. "fusion Fred Douglas, third party
blatherskites' in the last legislature
Stick together against the machine
Don't scratch a single name on your
ticket. Trust the men who have gone
through the storm of vilificatlon. abuse
| and rotten eggs in defence OF your