The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-17
DOESN'T AGREE WITH US.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer


Some time ago you had IN editorial
in your paper entitled, "As We See
It." I have been thinking of that edi,
torial for two long weeks, and the more
I think the more panied I am that I or
anyone else ever saw it. Now I wish
to say that I have been a subscriber OF
your paper ever since Col. Polk first
started it. Col. Polk was a close and
warm friend of mine, and being so l
can take a great deal more interest in
the welfare of it than any other paper
/ aver took. I can further say that
you, Mr.. Editor, have Won so high a
place in my estimation and regard for
truth honesty, that amid the dark
hours of doubt, and when ] had al
most lost faith in mankind, and
thought all hope for the betterment Of
our condition was lost in the general
depravity of mankind-in all this you
have been my guiding star, my one
refuge. When I would see some new
SANDER or vile lie in print about any
of our Populist brethren in or out Of
the State, I would always wait in pa
thence for your statement Of the eff airs.
I felt sure I would get the truth then.
You a see why I have felt 80
grieved, for 1 don't believe one single
statement in that editorial, and I
know I but voice the Populists of my
section. Do you, Mr.. Eiitor, wish us
to believe that there is no honesty in
man, that all is lost, that there is moth
ing left but self shness, greed and gen
eral cussednessH II 80, continue on
that line and you will soon see where
you yourself will land We cannot
lose confidence in all of mankind with
out also losing confidence in you.
Now, l have tried to keep as close a
watch On our Mary Ann as my poor
ability and surroundings would admit,
and while he has made mistakes, they
surely have been of the head and not
Of the heart. You cannot make any
Populist believe that Butler in 1896
wished to inquire our party, neither
can you make US believe he wishes to
go into the Democratic party now, I'm.
less you first destroy all reason.
Please tell US what place Butler could
occupy in the midst of the leaders of
the Democratic party9 Don't you
know he could have no place among
them, with his record9 I know it, and
I know he has sense enough to know
it, too. I know there are q few. for
the sake Of some little petty Office,
who will and are DIGGING at his heels,
But you will first have to wipe out
his record before you can make any
number believe he wishes to betray
US into the hand of the Pailistines.
You seem to think that the leaders
of the Democratic party constitute the
party. In that you are mistaken.
They are no more the parry than you,
Butler and Simpson and other leaders
are the Populist party; and you must
not forfeit either that we as a party
havenota monopoly of all virtue. We
do claim though to be somewhat puri
fed, and is it not duty to go out
into the by-paths and hedges and bring
unto the fold such as are to be savedi
You know Butler has never proposed
to fOrsake one principle Of our party
in the proposition to fuse with the Dem
ocrats. But I will tell you what your
editorial has a tendency to do, and that
is to help A. B Andrews and the South
ern Railway TO scatter reform forces
and own North Carolina. Now we,
the rank and file of the Peoples party,
don't care where our help comes from
nor by what name it goes, 80 it will
help US to get our measures.
We nor Butler, do not propose to
unite any more with the Democrats
than with the Reform Republicans.
You seem to forget that point, too. II
this is not true, please refer me to the
proof.
We want reform and we must have
help or we will never get it, and fol-
you or any one else to say that we
can't find any true or honest in tit
ranks of the Democratic party, throws
dishonor and discredit on ourselves,
for the Peoples party of this State
sprang from the ranks of the Damo
cratic party, and if there were none
true in it, how in the name Of ell tina
is holy can we be true or have any
principles9
Now, Mr.. Eiitor, I feel that you no
take any offence at what 1 have writ
ten, because I think you are an honest
sincere man and wish to do what il
right, and the only reason 1 can Civ,
for your cours is that Betsy has beer