The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-08-16
G SUPREMACY.

Alliance by Mrs. Sarah e. Mitchell.
Mr President, Brethren and Sisters:
Perhaps some of GU may be think
ing that this subject is quite foreign
to the Alliance and may be wondering
Why so strange a topic should be chosen
on this occasion.
But il you will Just consider q few
moments, you will easily remember
when there was such a panic among
the people concerning this fearful and
wonderful bugbear, that the Alliance
lost many of its members.
Every one of you whose hair is whit
ening, knows that when the negroes
were first emancipated, and given the
franchise, that the Southern States
were overrun with men from the
North, or elsewhere, going among the
negroes and advising them to vote for
Republican party 1.-THE party that
freed you" they said-and warning
them that il the Democratic party re
manned in power the negroes would be
put back into slavery. This sounded
plausible to the ignorant colOred men,
and they we're quickly proselyted, and
that SO securely that they vote the
same ticket until the present time, al.
though they know that the Democratic
party has been in power in the South
ern States during all these years, and
no one has aver heard of anything like
''going back into slavery"
Now, these men were evidently
hired and sent on this mission; and 1t
is quite probable that some of the most
inf lential negroes may have received
brides. FJr we have not forgotten
that they started in life remarkably
well considering the circumstances.
Well, at the same time this other
cry of NEGRO eqIality," negro gu
premacy," negro domination" was
heard in the land.
All this was part of the deep-laid
plots and plans of ~plutocracy to ruin
this free government, in order that the
farmers and laborers, both white and
colored might be brought into indus
trial slavery.
It reminds me Of Aesop's fable of
the eagle, the cat, and the swine. Like
the Cat, the shylocks and money-sharks
set the white voters and the colored
voters to watching each other, 30
that their eyes might be blinded to the
real robbers, who were impoverishing
the masses, and enriching themselves.
How well they have succeeded you are
all able to bear witness.
After q time the Alliance was
formed end the trainers found that
unjust Legislation was bringing them
into poverty that characterization Of
silver, contraction of the currency,
and that various other determinations
had reduced the price of produce and
placed them at the mercy of others;
that they were unable TO pay their
debts and taxes; that their homes
were slipping away from them, and
that penury and ruin stared them in
the face.
So they set about to reform these
matters. Some thought, with Col.
Polk, that a new political party Was
necessary, while others thought not.
Then the war began in the Alliance.
And this same horrible old scare crow,
@'Negro Domination" was used until
all the more easily frightened left the
Alliance, declaring that the Alliance
had gone into politics, and gone into
the Third Party" and now we should
certainly have Negro supremacy"
Now, is there any truth in this un
earthly shriek9 Do the politicians who
do the bowling themselves believe that
there is any dangers
] will just refer you to n instance
as proof that they do not. 1 recollect
at one time some of the Office seekers
came around during the campaign
and bawIed and screamed themselves
hoarse with this terrible yell of NE
gro Domination" "White mans gov
ernment," etc, until I really began to
think that possibly there might be a
little peril in the far off coming years.
at least, 1 believe that they, them
selves, were honestly alarmed.
Tney were elected. Before the leg
Islature met some Northern syndic3tes
commenced carrying off the negroes
to ~colonize them, on lands in the West,
which had been purchased by these
ssyndicates. The legislature met and
passed a bill taxing any agent who
should carry one negro out OF the State
of North Carolina TEN THOUSAND DOL
LARS!
o.! consistency, consistency, most
assurediy thou art a jewell