The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-03

age OF their convictions. Between the
self installed leaders OF the two old
parties the voters have but little choice.
So, on election days, oftentimes their
only holiday, they sell their votes for a
cigar, q drink Of liquor, q sack OF
-four, q one or q five dollar bill, with
perchRnce, q pat on the shoulder with
''that'sa good fellow"and a promise Of
some little place Dr. position in the fu
ture. The one-old party candidate is thus
jostled eff the track; the other walks
triumphantIy forward bearing away
the price of ''the loaves and fishes"
The voters barter their sovereign right
TO the ballot at the primary caucus
Congress, their representatives for
greater spoils, barter the rights and
the privileges of q once free and happy
people. Thus they sell at times, in q
single day what the great masses can
but ill-redeem in a century-perhaps,
never.
Is there no hope, no remedy for this
all existing condition Oh affairs in
AmericaR Yea, verify. And the hope,
the remedy, is already in our midst.
The Alliance, scattered all Owe the az
ricultural portion Of our lsud has done
and continues to do a grand and noble
work in industrial reform. It comes
as An educator Of the people and hence
as their emancipation. Intelligence
cannot be enslaved. Il cannot be held
in subsection. LIST the great masses
gather into these schools Of agricul
tural and politicaI reform. Let them
once learn, concisely, Of the true causes
that oppose the people and how soon
will the voters reach out in united
power at the ballot box and unloose the
legalized shackles that bind them in q
seemingly hopeless servitude.
The labor question is a broad one,
and our battle field is the United States
of America. Labor and capial, which
shall be the counterpart Of each other
are at direct antipodes. It is q battle
of brains and ballots against legali7ed
tyranny and usuFpation. And brains
and ballots will win, ultimately. Mil
lions of noble earnest souls standing as
q unit at the ballot box in defence of a
principle is q mighty avalanche that
when they Vi srrRyed no money pow.
er in the universe can stay or with
stand.
The Great Teacher was crucifled in
defence Of a principle, Bruno was put
TO death. The great and the good Of
every age have drunk of the gall and
vinegar Of bitter prosecutions, have
won their crowns of thorns, have been
vlllifed and put to death in defense of
q principle. The noblest of human
souls aud their noble, unself1sh efforts
are, 20 day. as never before. being
branded by false, evil, intriguing
tongues and pens. There is no better
omen for the g'Owth OF their NOBLE
cause. It hurts somebody when ths
foundation walls OF Old shylock's cas-
tie are being thus literally punctured
with port holes. Through them will
beam, n day, the sunshine OF abso
lutte truth.
Build up Alliance organizations into
~stupendous proportions. Gather into
them the very best reform literature
Of the country. Make nt them your
schools and lyceums. Educate your
members upon the vital questions Of
the hour. The country must get out
of debt. National banks must be abol
ished. The government must issue,
regulate and control it's money and
not delegate the right to corporations.
The government must loan money to
the people at a low rate of interest.
Ali the public utilities must be taken
out OF the hands of corporate monopo
~ and be given to the people. Men
and women must have fewer hours for
work and more for recreation study
and improvement. Labor must with
q united voice make a demand. Then
they must get what they demand. The
first demand Of the united people must
be for the iniative and referendum and
the imperative mandate. No matter
about the other planks in the platform.
Demand this one plank and get it.
Then make another demand and get
it, and another, and another, until they
demand and get and hold all the rights
belonging to them. Millions of noble
souls n coming up like pilgrims to
the shrine of the holy temple to the
healing and the saving of this great
nation.
And speed the day when the green
grass covers from mortal vision the