The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-19
A LOT OF HOT SHOT
FIRED. INTO A TENDER SPOT BY
oNE WHO DORS NOT Like
FUSION ROT OR LOVR THR
PHI POT BITTER THAN
PRINCIPLE.


Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
Send it down the line that the recent
informal Populist conference in Raj
elgh did not endorse Democratic fusion.
1t did not endorse even the addresses
OF the three National Chairmen. It
simply endorsed the spirit" of their
addresses, which meant that the PoDu
lists in that conference desired to see
the great common people-the rank
and file of all parties-united under
n banner, and working for a common
cause-working for the triumph Of
Populism. But it was the overWhelm-
ing sentiment, distinctly manifested,
that such, q union could not take place
under the Democratic banner, and that
victory for Populism could never be
Won bysdallying with the Democratic
maCnlne; which party and which ma
chine with the assistance of Mr.. Bryan,
Chairman Jones, German, Bailey, Hill,
and Croker, offered Mr.. Olev land to
US three times and gave him to us
twice with as many faithful promises,
and as much assurance that reforms
would be given and wrongs righted, as
they offered US with Mr.. Bryan sea
soned with SeWell to please the goldbug
palate in 1895.
I believe 1 do the spirit of that con,
ference no injustice when l say the
overwhelming sentiment Of the Popu
lists there was that the union Of the
common people-the rank and file of
all parties for the triumph Of POpuIism
tine cause of humanity could be &C
complished with any promise of com
plete and final success, only under the
banner of the Populist party-the only
banner that waves a protest against the
wrongs that are to righted, and has in
scribed upon its folds the reforms that
are necessary-the banner that waves
over the neutral ground-the halfway
station between the Democratic and
Republican camps where, without the
sacrifice of party pride, or political re
pentance on the part Of one more than
on the part of the other, Democratic
and Republican voters can meet, shake
hands, bury the Ratchet, and side by
side, vote for their homes, loved ones,
personal and civil liberty.
I believe that nine tenths of the
8 2opullsts of that conference, and this
State, as well as Nation, realize the
utter futility of forming an honorable
co operation" with hell and the devil to
crush sin-of uniting with the promis
ing policy Spaniard to free Cuba-of
fighting for the cross under the shadow
of the crescent-of uniting with the
m%urderous Turk to stop the massacre
of Armenians. In short, they realiz9
the utter futility of forming an ''honor
able CD co operation" Qusiop) with the
promising. policy Democratic machine,
to free our people from the financial
and monopolistfc bondage that the
machine itself, has i'm
posed upon them-of fighting for the
creed of Populism under the shadow of
opposing principles, hypocricy and
treachery; of uniting for silver with
them at whose hands was required
the life of silver eleven times; of uniting
to kill trusts, with them who are them
selves organizers and promoters of
trusts, and whose hands reek with cor
ruption and ballot box fraud, and are
stained with the blood of the rights of
the people, liberty and the prosperity
of the country. Who have not dealt
harshly with this generation alone, but
have formed q 1868. 900, COO and with
interest a 1924, 600, 600 yoke of financial
bondage as a legacy to the children of
the early years of the twentieth CEN
fury.
In view of the fact that the Demo
cratic party in this State is the same
old party it has always been-that it
rotten egged US in 1892, attempted to
count as out in 1894 and opposed every
reform and stood by the trusts in the
legislature Of that year, did all in its
power to return Ransom, Cleveland's
tool, to the Senate, and numerically
slandered the first reform legislature
North Carolina ever had Chat of '95),
refused to unite with US in principle in
State matters in 1896. and stood soIidly
by the Southern Railroad in the legis-
lature OF that year, yells ''nigger"
now instead of principle, and desires
above all others 10 repeal the present
election law and local county govern
ment; in view of the fact that there
was a leak of an average Of Sc. 900
per month in the Secretary of States
Office under Democratic administra-
lions; in view OF the Pamlico coun