The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-09-24
DIR. PATTERSON ACCEPTS THE
NOMINATION FOR THE LEG
ISLATURE.

| STATURE.
Correspondence to THE COMMONWEALTH
AUREL1AN SPRINGS, N. G. Sept. 49,
| To aU Uhom 1t may concern
| About nine or ten years ago the
farmers and wealth producers general
lv, feeling the burden of governmental
abuses too grievous to be borne, form
ed themselves into society, the main
object of which was the correction Of
these abuses. They named the society
the Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union.
Many of the most Intelligent and in
| huential citizens of the land united
with it, and It's rapid gain in members
and influence was unprecedented. 1t
impaired information to its adherents,
! which was indispensable to the 1ntelll-
gent voter. It always advocated the
! free coinage of silver. 1t fought and
annihilated trusts, established q rail-
road commission for this State, orIgl-
mated the demand for the income tax
proposed the ownership of the tele-
graph and telephone system by the
government as in the case Of the mail
service, and Insisted upon an elevated
tone OF morality and good citizenship.
It was an institution which the lament
ed Z. B. Vance pronounced noble
one and consisting OF a noble set of
men,
Its phenomenal growth excited it's
leaders we'll nigh to intoxication, so
that they oyer-est1mated its strength
and clothing 1t with the paraphernalia
of a political party, gave it the name
OF the Third party, and endeavorlng to
force it upon line with the two old
political parties, nominated federal Off
GERS and entered the contest.
The writer WITH some others believed
that the strength Of the party was over
estimated and that this latter action
was premature and ill-advIsed, and be-
fore entering the political arena, time
should be allowed tor the people to be-
come better acquainted with its aims
and objects, also to study its political
strength.
But the idea Of postponement was
secuted, and the writer was cited to the
alleged mistake Of Beauregard after the
first battle of Manassas in not hurrving
on to capture the city of Washington.
The experiment of putting out can
dldates was tried and resulted in failure,
the party being signally defeated.
Much the larger number of the in
huential members withdrew and des-
pite the assertion of some of it's pres
ent adherents that it's members are
again on the increase, it must be appa-
rent to the observant eye that it has
been captured by the office seekers, and
as a general thing carried over, horse
loot and dragons, to the very party |
Which was mainly instrumental in per-
Detratlng the abominable wrongs I'M
der which they suffer. In no locality |
does it seem to be standing on its own !
bottom and endeavoring to maintain
Its existence, but RS general thing is
selling Itself to aid band of men who
being creditors of the government have
enslaved it and are pursu-
ing a course which If successful will re-
iUce It's duDes to a state Of profound
serfdom and dependence.
The undersig ned believes that as a
political party it has "gone where the
twineth."
''Gone gllmmerlng thro' the dreams
Of things that were,
A school, boys tale, the wonder Of
an hour"
Holding these views that the subject
OF financial reform is above all odds the
question of the greatest Importance,
the undersigned will cooperate with
the friends of free silver and with those
who approve the above principles OF
the Farmers Alliance.
The thought OF becoming a candi-
late for political office had not entered
his head, until informed by neighbor
that he had been nominated for the
Legislature by the friends Of free silver
He returns thanks for the undeserved
honor and if elected promises to do
what he can for the promotion of the
above mentioned principles.
r. A. PATTERSON
(Roomoke Neavs please copy.)