The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-04-29
The Farmers Meeting.

/ / see call for a meeting of the
this is the most important meeting
that could be called or assembled
at this time. In the past most of
our calls and meetings have been
political ones to advance the inter
est or ambition of some favorite in
| dividual and without often any cor
responding benefit to any one else.
But few men in office ever vote for
or favor a reduction in taxation,
particularly if it is likely to take
anything from their salaries. This
call if 1 have rightly understood the
signs of the times, is for discussing
affairs that pertain directly to the
interest of the farmers; whether or
not, he shall retain his home, pro-
vide bread and meat and the com
mon necessities for his family.
This serious subject, he has now
to consider. The farmer does not
propose to make war on their in
terests, but Shout Id do all in his
power to protect his own, give JUS
tice to others and retain his right
to demand it from them. Farmers
standing singly are thrust aside,
and as sheep, dumb-led to the
slaughter. What is a contract and
what are we to understand as the
meaning of one, and for what pur-
~ Id t. - e.
tual protection and guidance and
voluntary agreement on the part of
all parties concerned? Or is it
document from a Lord to a beggar
damned? 1 read few days ago
an interesting article in the Times
Democrat under the heading of
The Position of Cotton, which
and a warming to trusts and mono
poles. An extract is as follows:
$50 far the old crop is concerned, the
die is cast, but the admission that the future
holds nothing better in its keeping is simply
the final acceptance of the creed of despair
On the heels of such conclusion must fol
low results which could give pleasure to the
architects of ruin alone, for it is as clear as
the MONDAY sun that condition of things
which means perpetual serfdom for the
mass of population below Mason 4 Dixon's
live must also involve economic and political
consequences too awful to be contemplated
with the semblance of calm. Even as it is
one sees symptoms Of unrest which al
ways surpassed in Significance by the nature
of the remedies proposed. From vague
discomfort to tumultuous action the dis
lance is extremely short and history has al
ways been made in haste such critical
conjunctures. Let no human being through
out the length and breadth of the North
land hug the deluson that he is a mere
spectator of the tragedy that is being
enacted in his VIEW
And it further says:
1.-The varying fortunes of the spectators
are of no great consequence save to the
spectators themselves, but the case is vastly |
different regards the remuneration that |
waits upon the toll of the silent millions who |
are the bone and sinew of the body polite. |
We well aware that the term s.Farmers' |
Friend is the most mirth provoking in the |
parlance of the rings. Vet every man with |
any stake in the commonwealth is forced to |
place himself in that category, whether he !
will or In the last analysis all values
rest on the produce of the soil, and the |
deniZens of cities only enact the subordinate |
though important part of distributors of the !
property of their fellow men. At recruiting
periods in the history of the race, the former |
has been the butt of clumsy ridicule but
he has always changed the face of things, !
when he has been by stern necessity goaded |
to the task
Now my friends, in conclusion
L hope much from your meeting,
even if not for the present The !
future will bring it's reward, if
you are guided by wisdom, justice
and fairness. You cannot fail
Remember true saying: The
Lord helps those only who try to-
help themselves. Yours truly,
''REJECTED FOR ANY CAUSE WHAT
SOEvER."