The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-04-07
BRO EDWARDS VIEWS.

! / am ECt IL JuC LGDtb u "1lLEIS al
ticles to newspapers for publication,
| but I think the times demand hat al
| the people who think at all of the poll
| tical situation should speak out, so that
| the SO called leaders may know the
sentiment Of the people at large. Ia
| your issue of the SD inst / find an
article written by your Concord, N @,
correspondent, Mr.. G, Ell. Kestler,
which struck me so torcibly and coin
cides 50 completely with my views
that I cannot refrain from writing and
saying, "Hurrah.' Mr.. Kestler you
are on the right road. O. ahead!
I too, am for complete co operation
between the Populi5ts and Republi-
cans in the State, but am altogether
opposed to any co operation OF the
Populists with the Democratic party.
We fused with the Republicans to q
considerable extent at the last cleo
ton; we found that ttey stuck to their
pledges with US and did ell they prom
Used to do. Nov if we should turn
over and fuse with the Demcc ats,
neither party would have any conf
dence in US, and we would have but
little in ourselves.
The day before I received the last
issue of THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, l
was talking with a Democrat and be
was telling me that Messrs. r. 3.
PEBBLES, Ell. Chambers Smith, Senator
Butler and Maj Guthrie had had q
meeting, end it had been decided by
| them that the POpulis-s and Democrats
we're to form O fusion, and the Offices
! should be divided between the two
parties, the Democrats taking the
Governor, the Populists the United
| States Senator, and the other State and
| county Offices to be divided between
! them. Well that looks very nice to
the Democrats, but it don't look go to
| the Populists Of this county and now
I wish to inform the gentlemen above
named that tue Popullsts Of this
| (Northamptop) county are not for sale,
! and we do not propose to be bargaincd
off without our consent. I did not
! believe the story told me by my friend
! Che DEMOCRACY until I saw it stated in
/ THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER that these
! gentlemen had in truth had o meeting,
and had a consul over the Poiiti.
| cal situation, but still we don't know
what was done. However, I think we
''privates" who have to bear the heat
and burden of the day should speak
] out and let the leaders know where ne
stand.
cannot believe that Sen6tor Butler
and MI Guthrie would enter into any
such arrangement, knowing the trick
! cry OF the leaders Of the Democratic
party as they dc. 1 know Mr. r D,
! PEBBLES; he Is q resident Of this c2un-
ty, and he is considered the shcewdest
/ D5mCcratic politician in the county,
and I cannot b8}iave that his object in
attending that meeting If such meet
ing has been held was to promote the
interests Of the PopuIist party, for |
believe his hearts desire and prayer to
| God Gf he ever prays) for the Populi5t
party, is that it may die, never to be
| ~resurTected.
Now I am writing this, not because I
want an office (such a thing has never
entered my head, but it is intended for
the good of the Populist party, the
party l love, because I think its prin
iciples are pure, and if we stick to our
principles we are bound to succeed in
the end.
or course l am in favor Of the free
and unlimited coinage of both gold and
| silver st the ratio Of IL to 1, indepen-
dent Of any and all other nations, but I
don't think our existence as a party
should be risked on that one issue, be.
sides, if we should fuse with the Dem
Ocrats On any issue it would cause dis
trust and dissatisfaction with the rank
and file OF CIR party, and would cause
desertions by the hundreds, and very
soon be the death of the party.
What! talk of cooperation with the
Democratic party when they have ridi-
culed us, abused US and in8ulted US in
every way imaginable?
No! They have, by their abuse, put
a sting politically in the breast of the
Peoples party, which Will remain there
until there Is a thorough renovation
of the so called Democratic party.
| am writing this letter without con
sultatiOn with any of my party, but
l know the Populists OF this county
and | am sure thac l write the sanCi-
ments Of nine tenths Of them.
8. K EDWARDS.