The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-03-03

Populist electoral votes to st. Louis.
Are they not better than none7 They
would elect one-half of the State, Con.
gre ssional, county and judicial tickets.
Are they not better than nOne9 Can
we not help our principles better when
on such a footirg than to see Demo
Gratis monarch of all they survey p
l appeal to the good sense of the true
POpulists to rally unitedly around our
glorious flag, and let us make it a flag
Of victory. Let no half breeds sit in
our convention from now on, and lis
ten not to the voice of the non parti
san charmers, for their music is the
music of sirens. Be true to your
guns, good people. The question is:
Shall the t~raitorous D-mOcrats again
disgrace our fair State, or shall the
brave, true patriots rule fOrever2'
This is the issue, and it depends on US
POpulis.s to settle it. And | beg you
who love this reform movement, who
appreciate the good it has done and
can do, and the harm it can prevent,
to come over and help US. | am ask
ing for no office, but 1 am pleading
for what l think is for the good of our
party and the State. Sir5, you'll re-
member these words in the years yet
to come if you allow a few men to dis
rupt party, but it will be too late
then. The tide is now upon US. It's
fi)od will bear US on to fortune or de
feat. D0n't you know, comrades, that
the Democrats are working to prevent
US fusing this year, Why will some
men play right into their hands, and
when they r injuring US more than
the enemy could hope to do. l am
not afraid of the Democrats. We can
beat them. But l am afraid Of the
policy that some Populists are mon
keying with. The people are too tired
Of ring rule to sanction it at this late
day. Their boot licking days are over.
| am a POpulist. l was born a POpu-
list and | want to be buried in a Pop
ulist coffin and l want a POpuiist choir
to sing the last requiem and 1 hope
some sweet day, bye and bye, to be a
Populist angel in a world that is fairer
than this. l am proud to boast of my
party's greatness-great in principles,
great in noblenes3 of its voters, great
in all that tends to elevate mankind
and establishes the brotherhood of
~ ~ oTv1ru ny hove lnuo NV VNorfu
l have spent the best years of my life
working for it, because l have faith in
what the People party can do. have
written books on books in its defense
and submitted to insult after insult
for it's good, and l cannot-I will not
give 1t up without a struggle. To day
we see it in splendid condition, III
marching order-ready and eager for
the fray-with victory almost in sight,
and surely a few men-me paid to
stand by it-should not by n stroke,
| obiiterate cur party identity, destroy
our hope of good, blast all future pros
poets and make a past duties and
sacrifices only a name and nothing
more! The ideal dream of my young
manhood has been and IS to have a
party that was indeed and in truth a
PEOPLES party-a party of, by and
for the people. And when just on the
eve Of success, here comes some men,
and honorable men they are, who are
trying to lead US away into another
feld-lead US like dumb driven cattle
Indeed it is too bad. O, the many
banners we have borne over rugged,
dangerous paths with their names
~emblazoned thereon! O, sirs, it is hard
to believe that they have have for
s4ken, that the men we trusted so
firmly have proven false. And so
~ feel like one
Wh0 trrads alone
Some la lQuet hal deserted,
Nh.s- lights are fled,
Whose garianIS d: adj,
Ard al but he departed."
L dare do all that becomes a man,
who does more is none" Ana this is