The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-17
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF FARMERS

correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
MISREPRESENTATION is the first law
of nature and ''he who fails to pro
vide for his own household is worse
than an infdel," are expressions
that we have heard since u earliest
recollection. They r pungent
truths, and the latter usually APP
plicable to some one else other than
ourselves. The farmers of North
Carolina as a class can we'll consider
them as applying to themselves.
"Watchman, what of the night?''
The faithful Waterman scans the
horizon and reports his findings. If
he reports signs Of danger, all is &C
tivity within, and weak places are
strengthened. Such r the scenes
in a cautious and we'll disciplined
garrison. These are familiar expires
sions and scenes where there + an
tagonistic forces.
Are there no lessons in these for
the farmers of North Carolina?
Waterman, what of the night? The
answer comes back: ACTIVITY in
the camps of our adversaries. .
Trusts have been formed and their
lines frightened and made stronger.
Their numbers have been increased
until they now control nearly every
thing that we use. On many articles
arbitrary prices have been made to
the detriment of the agricultural in
terests of the country. With us,
farming is the basis of wealth and
farmers are the greatest producers
in the land, yet they r not per
mitted to enjoy an equal share in the
wave of prosperity that is blessing
other industries.
All because they are not organ
lied, not in position to make them
selves felt. Organized, they would
be all powerful. Disorganized, their
power is turned into weakness. How
long before our people will have
their eyes opened to the necessity
of organization? How long will they
pay tribute to every trust that sees
fit to make a levy?
In the palmy days of thesAlliance
the farmers were respected because
of their organization. They can be
respected again if they will organize
as they were then. To say that it
cannot be done is to proclaim that
we are weaklings. To refuse to or
ganize is suicidal. Choose this day
whom you will serve, the trusts or
the people. There has recently been
an awakening among the people
along this line, such as | have not
seen for the last five years. Neces-
sity is driving our people together.
The Alliance stands with open doors
and offers a solution to the situation.
The Alliance is not a political or
g~anizatiOn, as the term ''political''
is usually applied. Far from it, the
assertion to the contrary notwith-
standing. There is no political or
religious test, other than the appli-
can't must believe in the existence of
God. Each member is vouchsafed
his political and religious opinions.
All of the political parties of the
State are today represented in the
membership of the Alliance, and all,
[ believe, in the officials of the State
Alliance. They vote as they please
and they pray as they please but
are brethren and respect each other
as such.
Ten years ago in the prosperous
days of the Alliance, there was a
better feeling existing among the
farmers OF the State than at any
other period of its history. Cannot
there be a return of the conditions
then prevailing, of the brotherIy
love then existing? Kind reader,
are you not willing to labor for that
end? Then of a truth might the to-
bacco trust, the jute bagging trust,
the fertilizer trust, or any of the
many trusts that now defy us, quake
with fear.
Have we lost our manhood? Are
we willing to become slaves our
selves and consign our children to a
state of servitude, to try to appease
the Unsuitable demands of the trusts.
rather than come together and as
sert u rights and a determination
to be free men in the true sense of
the word? Each person can answer
this for him or herself