The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-16
AN ADDRESS.
ISSUED By 7 he z ditors During The Meet
ing of Reform Press Association q
Memphis,

dress during the meeting, and it was
accepted by the body. 1t has the old
time ring about it, and we reproduce
it in full:
The National Reform Press Associa
ton, at it's seventh annual session, as
sembled in Memphis, Tennessee, Feb
ruary % "a, 1892, sends greeting to all
co workers throughout the country
and tffars the following for your con
sideration:
Elections being but Incidents in the
lite Of the Peoples party, this associa-
ton appeals to the Populists to con
tinue to battle steadfastly for our
principles until each end all are en-
acted into law, and the people given
justice and an equal opportunity to en-
joy the blessings of good government
We congratulate the people of the
United States upon the fact that Pop
uIlst education is bearing fruit, aud
that even now opponents in many
states are making efforts to enact some
OF our principles into law. Our efforts
are directed toward the common good.
We are ready to accept just laws from
any source, but we warn the people
against pretended reforms, mere COM
promise measures for deceptive Pur-
poses.
The failure of the leaders of the
Democratic party to carry out their
promises, by which they secured the
endorsement of their candidate for
president, places the responsibility for
the defeat Of promised reforms upon
the organized Democracy, and serves
as a warning that no reliance should
be placed in old party pledges.
We realize that to achieve practical
reform we must hav the assistance of
every man who loves his country and
defends the right. We invite all patri-
otto citizens to join us in an effort to
rescue the people from the abyss Of
bankruptcy and ruin in which We are
now struggling, and We pledge our
selves to adhere to the principles of
our party platform. We s~trenuously
oppose all fusion or entangling ALI.
ance with any other political party,
and we declare to the boys in the
trenches" who are looking to US for
new hope and encouragement, and to
the whole country, that he will never
turl cur flag nor fight under the ban
ner of either Of the two old political
parties. Let all good men unite under
the Peoples party banner and fight the
giant evils which now endanger the
republic. Prosperity having disap-
peared, the danger is that peace, or
der and even civilization may follow
in it's wake.
We call special attention to the fact
that the great railroad corporations of
the country have been freely and
openly used during political campaigns
by the money power of two continents
as n of the most powerful and effect
i've agencies for defeating promised
financial reform. This active and per
nicious conduct on the part of private
corporations owning a public function,
which is such a powerful and neces
sary agency Of commerce, and exercis
ing it for the purpose of influencing
elections and for thwarting the will of
the people, reveals a new danger
which threatens the very existence of
popular government. Therefore the
public ownership and operation of the
transportation lines of the country, as
demanded by the Peoples party, is not
only necessary to ecu lower and
more equitable transportation rates,
greater and better facilities of trans
portation, to protect the public againss
the oppression and discrimination now
too often used against persons and 10
calities, and to better the condition of
railway employees, but it is absolutely
essential to enable the people to secure
financial reform and to preserve popu
lar government.
We urge the necessity for a vigorous
prosecution of the educational work
suggested in the Omaha and st. Louis
PLATFORMS, anu d UlsCussLOn
of the question of direct Legislation as
contemplated in the initiative and ref
erendum, and the imperative mandate.
We believe the truest expression of the
will of the people will be secured by
the adoption of these methods in our
party management.
Werenew the recommendation unan
imously made one year ago by this as
sociation that the nOn-interest bond
plan be made a subject for general dis
cussion.
The nrnnnaitinn to redeem one kind