The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-11
FOR EFORM

Correspondence or the progressive FARMER.
AUBURN, n. G.
I write this article and if you see
proper to publish it you can do so,
and if not you can lay it aside.
Now, what l want to say is this, in
regard the present condition of things S.
1t is time for us who profess to be Pop
ulists to begin to open our eyes in re-
gard to politics. Though | want every.
body to understand that l AM no poll
ticiaD, whatever. But l think it is
time for every voter in North Carolina,
both white and colored, and also in the
United States to begin to consider this
matter and see what is the difference
between a man who comes out plainly
aad declares himself in favor of a gold
standard and who is nominated on
a free silver plank taken from another
party's platform by a geld standard
party, who have been advocating free
silver for 10, these many y%earsand yet,
have been doing everything in their
power with the co operation of another
party, just as much opposed to free sill,
yer as It was. to help them out. / say
what is the d If ference between the two9
You had just as we'll vote for the devil
himself as to vote for his agent, they
are both working to accomplish the
same end.
Now, brother Allianceman and
PopuIist and anybody who tavors re,
form, can we eff ord to endorse the q
tions Of either Of the old parties, who
have done everything they possibly
could to break down the Alliance and
to uprOot and demolish the third party
as they called it, by calling it all sorts
of ugly names and calling those who
belong to i, old black negroes and old
low down Republicans, and every
thing else but gentlemen. l don't see
for my life how such people can have
the courage to come up to one of these
old shrinking Popullsts and ask him to
support one of this same gang, who a
few years ago wouldn't scarcely speak
to an old Pop. Yes, l do see what is
the matter, they have found out that
they can't change the principles Of the
old Pops, and they are more than glad
to get their help now, for they see
where they can use every one of them
to a good advantage for themselves if
not for the Pops. l would be almost
afraid to vote for one of my neighbors
whom I see almost every day for any
office, if one or both the old parties en-
dorsed him, for l should expect | was
voting for q goldbug Or a straddlebug
or a some other kind Of a bug that
doesn't hum the tune of Home Sweet
Home. Now, what l expect to adhere
to from now on is principle and not
party. l want men to fill offices who
have some respect for humanity, and
who are looking forward to a time and
place where they a do the greatest
amount of good to the largest number
of people and not spend all their time
in trying to secure every dollar they
can regardless OF pledge or promise.
Now, MI. Editor, if the Democrats
are so much in favor of a free silver
standard why is it that they want to
make the election of officers and let us
do the endorsing3 Why not let US do
the choosing and they do the endorsing?
I tell you gentlemen, there is a trick
behind the curtain somewhere. We
should watch as we'll al pray. I don't
suppose any of us have been praying
as much as we should have done. but
I hope we will put our trust in God for
reform and not depend so much on our
own strength. I hate to hear a man
get down on his knees and ask God to
give us God fearing, God-loving and