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THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR FEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. RALEIGH, N. O., JANUARY 28, 1890. Vol. 4. No 50 i I THE NATIONAL FARMERS' AL LIANCE ANU muuaiRiftL UNION. preident L. L. Polk, Raleigh, N. C. Vice-President B. H. Clover, Cain bridge Kansas. Secretary J. H. Turner, La Grange, Treasurer W. H. Hickman, Puxico, Missouri. Lecturer Ben Terrell, Texas. EXECUTIVE BOARD. C W. Macune, Washington, D. C. Alonzo Wardatl, Huron, South Dakota. J. F. Tillman, Palmetto, Tennessee. JUDICIARY. R. C. Patty, Macon, Mississippi. . Isaac McCracken, Ozone, Arkansas. Evan Jones, Dublin, Texas. UORTH CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLIANCE. President Elias Carr, Old Sparta, 5T.C. Vice-President A. H. Hayes, Bird town, N. C. Secretary E. C. Beddingfield, Raleigh, N. C. treasurer J. D. Allen, Falls, N. C. Lecturer Thos. B. Long, Longs, N. C. Assistant Lecturer R. B. Hunter, Char lotte, N. C. . Chaplain J. J. Scott, Alfordsville, V C Door Keeper W. H. Tomlinson, Fay ette ville, N. C. Assistant Door Keeper H. E. King, Peanut N. C. Sergeant-at-Arms J. S. Holt, Chalk Level, K C. State Business Agent W. H. Worth, Raleigh, N. C. - Trustee Business Agency Fund W. A. Graham, Machpelah, N. C. SXEOUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH CARO LINA FARMERS' STATE ALLIANCE. S. B. Alexander, Chariots, N. C, Chair nan; J. M. Mewborne, Kinston N. C; J. S. ohnston, Ruffin, N. C. GOVERNMENT BONDS. BY OLD FOGY. Suppose that the amount of govern ment indebtedness is one thousand millions of dollars, and the interest 4 1-2 per cent. The 'interest would be 45,000,T)00 of dollars yearly. Would the indebtedness be any greater if this debt was cancelled by the issuing of a similar amount of greenbacks by the government and buying up these bonds? The indebtedness would be the same, the form only would be changed from a bond to a draft, not interest bearing. " This alone would save the $45,000,000 we now pay in interest. This would increase the currency by the difference between national bank circulation and the amount of national indebtedness. -This would destroy national banks and State or private banks would follow. Two worthy aims, surely. This is called Greuibackism. What of it ? The Republican party opposed this because the national banks are their pets, and contribute largely to the campaign fund. The Democratic party opposes it because to be success ful they must carry New York and New Jersey, and as the party is led by men like Tilden, who invested his money m British consuls bearing 2 per cent, and bonds at 4 1-2 per cent., they did not dare to make it an issue, so it died. To day we are battling for the right, for justice and special favors for none. If the payment of the bonds would aid us the farmers then we ought to force in due time this as an issue. I care not how the law now reads, the question of justice is before all special legislation, enacted for the benefit of bankers and brokers. Is it right to pay in gold for bonds bought in greenbacks worth 55 cents on the dollar? Is it just? That is the burning question. So far as I am concerned I would take Garfield's views quite as soon as the view enter tained by the bond-holding Democrats or Republicans of the Northeast. Garfield said "That the people would remember the bankers and capitalists of Wall street as the Ger mans remembered the robbers of the river Rhine who never came out of their strong holds but to plunder and rob them." The solution to this problem is, we have listened to the siren song of our parties and have not thought of our own interests. Now that we have abandoned the old parties and have commenced to examine for ourselves, the organs of the bond-holders will howl and tell us secret parties will ruin the country. Was it right to take 1,200 millions of what had been a circulating medium and transform it into bonds biaring 6 per cent, interest? Was the legisla tion that made this vast charge just? If not let us charge it and force upon them as they have on us what we de sire as they did what they desired. Our cause is just, theirs was unjust and legalized robbery is no less wrong t rr-rrr - I - - - than through forms of law were not employed. In 1866 the Secretary of the Treasury was instructed to further contract the currency by buying up 5 millions of greenbacks each month and burniog them up. To obtain these he was authorized to sell bonds ctraiving interest and buy them. In five years our currency had been re duced from $1,863,409,216 to less than $795,000,000. It was not until March 18, 1869, that an act was passed pledging the United States to pay all their obligators in coin. Up to the passage of this act the bond holders had made about $485,000,000 in the exchange. The original contract was for their payment (the bonds) in lawful money either paper or coin. So said John Sherman in the Senate, February 27th, 1867. During the war when the bonds were sold the government received nothing but greenbacks, and O. P. Morton, the great war governor of Indiana, said: " We sold these bonds for not more that 60 cents to the dol lar and it would be unjust now to contract to pay in coin. July 14, 1870, Congress passed a funding bill which authorized the sale of 1,500 millions of interest-bearing bonds, payable in coin. On Feb ruary 12, 1873, Congress passed an act dropping the silver dollar from our coinage, and in 1875 they de monetized it. This, the culmination of the scheme made the whole debt payable in gold. The whole scheme was for the benefit of the banker and bond-holder and was done on the principle, " to him that hath shall be given and to him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath." Let us remonetize silver, pay off the bonds with it, and do away with national banks, and return to the principles of justice and right handed down to us as a heritage by our fathers. THE HOMESTE ADLTAW. Wilton, N. C, Dec. 4, 1889. Mr. Editor: Allow me to say a few wora s concerning a crying evil in this land. The exemption laws of North Carolina require every man's homestead of $1,500 in value to be laid off before any of his property can be sold for his debts. This is equiva lent to saying that at least nine-tenths of the citizens of North Carolina may get in debt to their fellow-citizens all they can and shall not be required to pay it. Perhaps there are as many creditors as debtors who do not own the amount of the homestead. There is no principle of justice or morality upon which such a law can be justi fied. Alas, for the moral sentiment of any people whose government teaches dishonesty by forbidding, in the fundamental law of the land, that a just debt shall be paid. Can it be otherwise than that such a tree should bear its natural fruits? Confidence between man and man has almost dis appeared. Comparatively few people have any credit. Crop liens, chattle mortgages and extortionate time prices have reduced many to the verge of pauperism. When shall we have a legislature with the moral courage to grapple with this monster? Cor. Sec'y. A DAY THAT WEBSTER FORE SAW. Seventy years is a long way to look ahead, but Daniel Webster in 1820 foresaw the chief features of yester day's doings in Congress as clearly as we see them this morning from the accounts of the printed page. Edward Atkinson, in his latest book (''The Industrial Progress of the Nation," published by the Putnams), takes from the files of the Boston Advertiser an account of a meeting of a meeting of Boston business men held in Octo ber, 1820, to resist the attempts of Calhoun and other representatives of the slave State, to establish a system of protection for the benefit of the cotton industry; at this meeting Mr. Webster pointed out the results of such a policy as follows: Hence a perpetual contest carried on between the different interests of society. Agriculture taxed to-day to sustain manufactures commerce taxed to-morrow to sustain agricul ture and then impositions perhaps on manufactures and agriculture to support commerce. I can hardly conceive of anything worse than a policy which shall place the great in terests of this country in hostility to one another a policy whicu will keep them in constant conflict and bring them every year to fight their battles in the committee rooms of the House of Representatives at Washington. A LETTER FROM CLEVELAND. Earl Alliance, No. 1,317, Dec. 19, 1889. Mr. Editor: Having seen nothing in your valuable columns from this Alliance, and very little from this county, I beg a little space. We have about fifty members with addi tions each meeting. Most of them are strong in the faith and attend regularly. Some time ago we were favored with an excellent address by Dr. L. W. Durham, our County Lec turer, and a most earnest worker for the Allianc'e cause. It is gratifying to see what progress this organization has made in this county. There is scarcely a roof, where the inmates are eligible, that doesn't shelter an Allianceman. Al ready its great mission has been seen so visibly that a dissenting voice can scarcely be heard; already we see a bright ray of hope illuminating the horizon of the farmer. A co-operative Alliance store at this place is likely to become a reality in the near future. Messrs. Bettis & Austell have sup plied us with a car load of very five hogs at an unusually low price, yet we hope by next year our members will be able to remove their smoke houses from the valley of the Tennes see. We sometimes fear our brethren lose sight of the fact that Alliance men produce other things besides cot ton that they, too, want a living price for their productions. "In all things, charity," brethren. Fraternally, J. H. Quinn. FROM ROBESON COUNTY. ' Leesville, N. C. Mr. Editor: I have been a reader of your valuable paper for about two years, and have seen but one article from this part of the Alliaxice vine yard, and as it seems that no one will say anything about No. 40, I will try to write a lew lines, though I am a poor newspaper correspondent. Oar Alliance is moving smoothly along. We received three .members at our last meecing, also one application for membership. Though we are down here and but little heard of us yet, we mean to stand firm by the principles of the or der, and ever try to be ready to lend a helping hand to any and all plans and movements set on foot for the betterment of the laboring classes a task if it may be called a task which all good citizens should be willing to do whether they are mem bers of the Alliance or not. Yet there are those (and they are farmers too) who stand, as it were, with fold ed hands and say, by their actions; "Come rings and combines, fraudulent trusts and speculators, come make our fair country a nation of land-lords and tenants. Come, we will be your slaves. We are tired of being our own lords and masters." Now these are the sentiments, as spoken by the actions of our friends (?) who are standing on the outside and who will not join the Alliance, but will raise all the objections possible. We are glad to say that the number of this class is comparatively small and is gradually decreasing in this section. May the time soon come when every man and woman who i3 eligible may become a member of that grand and noble order, the Farmers' Alliance. We need a few good lectures to show to the people the condition of our country and the purpose of the Alli ance. This should be done, in order that those of our people who do not read as much as they should, might know the dangers that await us. We have a hard struggle before us, and need the help of all who are true to their homes and their families. The enemy is upon us! We must stand for our rights and our liberties to retreat will fa3ten the chains of slavery upon us and turn our happy homes into miserable tenant houses; and not only we, but our children, will be the slaves of those money kings who are now seeking to bring us into servitude which is more terri bje that was that of the black slave before the war. Now, brethren, let me ask you to arouse, from your lukewarmness; put on the whole armor of unity and har mony and resolve to work out the great problems of the future welfare of our country, though we have to la bor under many disadvantages. With best wishes for the Progres sive Farmer and its honorable editor, I am, Fraternally, R. Best. A SENSIBLE LETTER. The Principles of the Alliance to be De fended. . Apex, Wake county, N. C, f . Dec. 25, 1889. Mr. Editor: Apex Alliance has been one of the most silent, but, per haps, not one of the least enthusiastic over the great principles that go to make up the word alliance. The im portance attached to anything is measured by the solidncss it carries with its name. The Alliance, therefore,- when first organized, was not looked upon as a thing of much im portance, because the territory which contained it was so narrowly bounded, bull since the work of organization has developed in such immense pro portions, it stands to day as one al most solid structure of united work in gmen, all looking for the same pur pose, and the grandest of all those principles set forth in the Constitution until that reat and underlying truth called principle has been so shaped as that it metes out a high degree of im portance to the laboring classes of America. I am impressed now as formerly that to make the Alliance a success mefa A-ho compose it must be mem berk from principle and from no other source or purpose; not members because they can say they belong to an organization; not members merely for the pecuniary profits they may suspect of gaining; not members to use the Alliance as a pretext under which to transact their business and fail to meet their obligotions; not members that would render them selves incredulous by making and circulating an untruthful thing to avenge a little odium that may have arisen formerly, but members who will stand by the principles and pur pokes of the Alliance unto the end. J am again impressed that there are toj many weak members in the order wbV.da not look upon the conception zation as tirae3 that will revolutionize in the near future great achievements to the agricultural classes. It is, therefore, to the interest of all Sub Alliances to be careful and take no man who is unworthy and may prove disloyal to the cause. I do not be lieve the Alliance makes model men out of everybody, but I do believe it is a very poor organization that does not better either the social, moral or financial condition of a man. In other words, I mean that a man who is not made better by belonging to an organ ization of the right kind had better form an organization of one and be to himself. All good men ought to be long to the Alliance to help swell the force until simple petitions from the people would get vn honest hearing in Congressional and legislative halls, and thereby help to defend the prin ciples of the Alliance. It may not be amiss to say that this Alliance has contributed, both by individual subscription and as an Alli ance, about $50 to the business agency fund, and doubtless would have doubled, or, perhaps, trebled this amount had it not been for p. shortage in crops for the past two years. Let the Alliance keep wide awake on the subject pertaining to their future interests. Fraternally, J. P. Pearson, Sec'y. LETTER FROM YADKIN. January 6, 1890. Yadkin County Farmers' Alliance has met and adjourned. It was a harmonious meeting and one calculat ed to do our order good in this coun ty. It was composed of some of the best meL of their respective communi ties. Our order is weak as yet in this county but we hope ere long to be strong as any. The County Alliance subscribed ten dollars to the Business Agency fund. The State Alliances promised to con tribute as much as possible. Our reports show only six sub Alli ances in our County Alliance where there should be at least fifteen. . The reports show not above 150 members in the county where there should be 1,500. The great need of our county is an eloquent lecturer. The people are - not thoroughly aroused to the great questions of the times. Our people have not had the oppor tunities that many sister counties have had in hearing the great princi ples of the Alliance explained by such men as Tracy, Polk, D. Reid Parker or any other good talker. I am told that Bro. D. Reid Parker :e Lecturer for this district, if so I think he should be sent here. We think our county needs him worse than any county in his district. I - I lhe people are waking up to the fact that they have very grave ques tions to face. We think that with the aid of an efficient lecturer our order would quadruple its number of members in a short time. While we all rejoice that our hon orable brother has been chosen to fill the responsible office of President of our National Alliance, we very much regret the loss of our most excellent Secretary. There is a question before our peo ple to-day that is being agitated all over our south land that I will refer to. It Is the question of better postal facilities. Many argue in favor of penny postage but I consider that this would not benefit the farmer and laboring man as much as other meas ures I advocate. The greatest benefit derived from penny postage would be to business "men in cities. The changes which would be most beneficial to the members of the Alli ance would be, 1st, Reduction of fourth class postage to 4 cents per pound, now 16 cents. 2nd, The establishment of money order offices at all fourth -class post offices. 3rd, The extension of the free de livery system to all fourth class offices. Such deliver to be made to all persons living in two miles of the office. A reduction of fourth class postage would enable the farmer to purchase many goods, seeds, etc., at a great gain to himself over what he is com pelled to pay at home markets. This is, especially true of all seeds pur chased. It would place him in near contact with all markets. The changing fourth class offices to money order offices would greatly aid the farmer. Giving him a safe mode of transmitting small sums of money through the mails at small cost. The fact that it is almost impossible to get bills of small denominations, never less than one dollar would make this especially advantageous to the coun try. The great riek-4n sending- small or large sums of silver through mails is another reason for this change. While I do not urge the free delivery system it would greatly benefit the farmer. I leave this with you, breth ren, think over it and let us hear from you. Fra'ernally, Yad Kin Kid. MARVEL A r ITS GROWTH. How the South's Progress is Viewed by Leading Statesmen Ten Years of Development. The Manufacturers' Record this week publishes the views of a number of prominent public men upon the future of the South, or upon the progress made in the South since 1880, as set forth in the Record's special bankers' edition a few weeks ago. Letters are published from Vice-President Morton, Secretaries Blaine, Noble and Rusk, Postmaster General Wana maker and Senators Vest, Reagan, Sherman and Hawlev. Vice President Morton is patriotic ally glad that the great diversity of industries in which the South is now engaged, brings it in line with all other sections, to the mutual benefit of all. Secretary B'aine in concise terms, says that it is a patriotic work to make known to the world the rich nd varied resources of the Southern State3 of the Union. Secretary Windoni find3 the re markable commercial and industrial growth of the South is exceedingly gratifying, and regards it as a splen ded illustration of the beneficent re sults of the American principle of protection. Postmaster - General Wanamaker says the industrial advancement of the South is indeed marvelous. If to the honest industry of its people can be added courageous enterprise and liberal thrift, then there can be no question of the Souths complete pros perity. Secretary Noble refers particularly to the great advance in the education al interests of the South, as shown by the excess of enrollment iu the com mon schools over the increase of pop ulation between six and fourteen years of age. He refers also to the great landed interests the Interior De partment has under its control in the South, which are being rapidly dis posed of, and adds, the constant and continuous increase in the demand for homes under the general laws of the United States is acheering indication of the future of that portion of our common country. Secretary Rusk expresses his grati fication at the evidences furnished him of Southern progress. He intro duces various subjects that will great ly interest Southern farmers. The several Senators whose letters are published are also much gratified to note the advancing prosperity of the South. Senator Sherman, of Ohio, thinks that the success of varied mechanical industries will induce a greater varity ' of agricultural products and will bring the South that which U most wanted there a home market for home products. He trusts that pros perity will settle the race conflict oa a fair basis, for with a diversity of pursuits the negro will become more valuable, more independent and more worthy of the rights and privileges of freedom. Senator Hawley, of Connecticut, agrees with the record that the history of many Southern towns in the last five years reads like a romance. He earnestly wishes that more capitalists would go into his native State, North Carol ina, whoss raDts of climate, soils, fauna, and flora, and minerals are not equaled by these ot any other State. Senator Vest says there i3 not in the history of the world a progress so marvelous as that of the Southern people since the war, and when we consider the circumstances which have environed the South since the war, the increase of material wealth is without a parallel in the history of nations. If the charges made by the partisan press of the North be true, thr-t the Southern people are system atically engaged in oppressing the negro, and that they spend their days in scheming for the purpose and their nights in murder and intimidation, then they are beyond question the most remarkabls race of people who have existed upon the face of the earth. If these charges were true it would follow that the Southern people are able to violate all the laws which properly govern social and economic conditions and, at the same time, "at tain a degree of prosperity which amazes the world. THEY ALL SINGTHESAME SONG. Messrs. Editors: It's an iaterest iug question to know when the farm ers, mechanics and other small tax payers are to have a hearing before "the Ways and Meani Committee." The big tax receivers in tho favored manufacturing guilds have been ac corded most patient and respectful consideration by that august body of tax impostors, and with a single ex ception, I believe, they all s ng the same song, the burden of which is in crease, instead of diminution of legal robbery, under the thin, pitiful, lying tretext that the demand is made in the interest of their employees. Like the horse leech's cry for blood, their's is protection, protection, pro tection ! ! ! Yes, protect yourselves ye thriving nabobs into more than ducal fortunes, and to build them up protect the great majority of toiling millions out of house and home. Yon are hard to satisfy, if after thirty thousand of you have absorbed more than half the wealth of sixty odd mil lions of people, you insist upon the screws being turned once more upon the starving masses. Will -naught less than absolute proprietary control of the whole satisfy you manufactur ing lords? Gentlemen of the committee, ye of ti4 controlling majority, let not your ex'.rf-me solicitude for your pampered pets, blind you to the act that "there is a limit beyond which e:c. Hearken to a secret: The millions are growing restive under tributary control of gov ernment saction of the unit. Think twice, and listen to the voice of the plaintive plea and syren song of mine owners and mill owners, and their bonded confederates running through the whole line of factory control, as you are now doing. The ex parte statements of interested rogues will no shield you at a higher bar than yours, to which you are accountable, for your prospective form illation of a new tax bill. From your considerate selection of witnesses, the people have but little to hope for in the way of re lief in that ominous documentby you to be submitted. Perhaps you are not aware, "most grave, potent and reverend signors, that there is now an organized body of near three millions of tax payers in this good land of ours, and that they are debating economic problems, fore most of which is: "why tax one's self for the benefit of another?'' "School is taken in." and a mighty school it is, and th schoolmaster's abroad. I trust you'll take my meaning. W.J. G,, in TTie Farmer and Scottish Chief. The business portion of Flora, Miss., was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Jan. 28, 1890, edition 1
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