The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-01
WHY / AM A FUsIoNIsT.

GuIS anU EuOJ8CtS, anu pup
lished in The PROGRESSIVE FARMER and
the Blade, though some may not have
condescended to notice it, I propose to
add q few others to vindicate the
character of myself and others who
propose to think for ourselves. Poll
tics is a dangerous pool that destroys
more men than it saves, and many of
it's leading apostles are insincere, I'm
truthful, and dishonest in their politi-
Cal teaching, making it necessary for
others to investigate, think and act for
themselves. While I have always tried
CATER due investigation) to affiliate
with one of the two great parties, be-
fore and since the civil war, that have
controlled politics and governed the
country. have been an independent
voter for 30 years, allowing no striped
legged ring.master to buckle a collar
around my neck and lead me to the
ballot box. But in so doing I have
learned independent voting alone could
not purify the political pool or obtain
all needed reformations. Hence, from
now till the end of time I expect to be
ready to take the best I can get or the
least of two or more evils to secure
good government for the greatest mum
Der, including those nearest and dear
est to me. Having been a Wing from
childhood to the death of that party,
at tha close Of the civil war, with thou
sands Of others, I became what was
then called a Conservative, and voted
with the Democrats, against carpet,
bag rule" though o%vertures were made
as I had been a prominent railroad
contractor, for me to join the 8wepson-
Little field ring that feeced the State of
millions of dollars under the pretence
of completing our system of internal
improvements. Modern Democracy,
after obtaining supremacy, soon be-
come ictatorial, selfish and oppressive,
which eliminated in the persecution
and ostracism of all those who refused
to submit to partisan rule. To prove
the allegation, it is only necessary to
say that when a large number Of it's
best fnanciers thought the currency Of
the nation was being contracted too
rapidly, and failing to obtain party &C
ton to prevent it, the Greenback ele
ment stabbed off and formed a new
party. 1t was slaughtered by its mother
in it's infancy by the use of everything
that was evil. And later, this and
other differences created the Peoples
party, which has received more abuse,
false criticism and hatred from former
friends than any gang of thieves ever
did, less corporal punishment which
they could not control.
Is this too severe7 Let US see. When
Gan. Weaver ran for President of the
Third party, though he was a lawyer,
an honored layman in the Methodist
Church at the time, had been a humane
soldier and useful member of Congress,
he was cartooned as a chicken thief ct
nearly all the voting places of the
country by modern Democracy, and
after he was defeated by this and other
slanderous rumors and unfair dealing,
his followers were serenaded, taunted
and insulted by the same persons who
seemed not to know the meaning of
the name Democracy, under which
they were called and voted This was
carried so far at the homes Of the
writer and others as to come very near
the shedding of blood.
Since that the same domineering
party has so infamed the minds of the
young men of the country as to cause
some of them to believe their own
fathers are either knaves or fools for
opposing the immaculated party that
had been keeping the negro and whis
key here for a hundred years to use as
stepping stones to power. The Church
of Col has not escaped the pollution
of modern political ostracism which
has dictated terms of social staDdingi in
many communities, hindered the use
fulness and abated the happiness OF
many old and tried members, It it
were possible, the &C fiji 1s of many de-
ceased old Wings would not retain
their occupants if they could know the
present education and practices of their
posterity.
These are some of the reasons why
the writer has been despised fusionist
for several years, and if desired many
others may be given. The history OF
all the fallen nations and churches OF
the world would prove political cor
ruption to be the hidden rock that
wrecked their crafts and sent them to
eternal ruin, and if we are to escape
their destiny we must have purer