T--TT T
1
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i
i
THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY.
Vol. 6.
RALEIGH, 1ST. C, JUNE 2, 1891.
No. 15
r
PEOGEESSTV
FAEMER.
CIRCULATION.
The actual circulation of Volume Y,
which closed with the issue of Febru
ary 17th, 1891, was as follows
February 13,1890, 12.M0
25 " 12.2441
August
Sept.
bt
4.
OctoVr
it
Nov.
19,1S00, 16,(5SO
2tf "
Mnrrh 4. " 1
H5,NX)
ltt.WM
17,040
lti.HOO
17,20
17,010
17,20
17,20
17.20
17,20
17,70
17,7M
17,7J)
11,
is,
2.",
April 1
lO.fM)
K,5tMl
lo.mi
lu.Nin
10. NI0
l(t,.SK)
11,040
11, (W)
11,1U
11.400
ll,20
11,20
11,400
11,44"0
11.400
li.ro
11. H40
12, :ti0
13,St
ir.,;52i)
lf),4)0
16, "
Si, "
30, "
H, "
21, "
4. "
11, "
18. "
i:
... tt
"..' "
13, "
JO, "
10, "
17, "
24, "
1, "
S, "
I-"., "
i.
X) "
"5; "
12, "
J ur.e
Deceuib'r 2, "
18,211
1S.240
18,240
18,244)
luly
January , 1891, 18.240
13, " 18,240
20, " 18,240
" 27 " 18,240
February 3, " 1',240
10, " 18,240
17, " 18,210
August,
Klrbt 6 moutlis, 007,0S0
Second 6 months, 453,1C0
Making a total circulation for the
year of 705,210; averaging for 52 suc
cessive issues, per issue, 11,716, and
showing a net increase for the year of
5,100, or more than 113 per week.
The above statement is taken from
the records kept in the office of The
Progressive Farmer, and i correct to
the best of my knowledge and belief.
J. W. Denmark,
Business Manager.
I am Book-keeper for Edwards fe
Broughton, Printers and Binders, Ral
eigh, N. C. The press-work on The
Progressive Farmer has been done
for the past three years by Edwards &
Broughton, and I have kept account of
the same. I have compared the above
statement with the account I have
kept, and find it tallies throughout,
and is correct, T. J. Bashford.
Personally appeared before me, W.
T. Womble, Notary Public, J. W. Den
mark, Business Manager of The Pro
gressive Farmer, als) T. J. Bashford,
Book-keeper for Edwards & Broughton,
and mike oath that the statements
contained above are correct to the best
of their knowledge and belief.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my notarial
seal of office this day, February 2oth,
1891. W. T. Womble,
Notarial Seal Notary Public.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
We want to say that, if the new
party formed at Cincinnati the other
day shall sweep the country like a
tornado, there will come from such
sweeping no harm to democratic prin
ciples. There may come harm to dem
ocratic organizations. But there can
come no harm to democratic principles.
With one single unimportant exception
the principles laid down by the con
ference at Cincinnati are democratic
to the core. We want this to be dis
tinctly understood. Any real peoples
party is a democratic party. Let this
simple fact be kept in mind.
It seems to us that the assaults which
have lately been made upon the Young
Men's Christian Association by leading
ministers of several Christian demon
inations in North Carolina are very
unwise. This organization as it seems
to us has done great good in the cities
and larger towns in the country. And
inasmuch as its work is wholly unde
nominational and purely benevolent,
we see no reason why those Christians
who do not wish to take part in its
work should oppose it. The country
is not so rich in religious workers and
influence as to make it either appro
priate or innocent to resist any class
of religious workers. We most heartily
bid the Young Men's Christian Associa
tion God-speed.
The question, what will the Alliance
do with the new party? is on the lips
of tens of thousands of anxious people
to-day. Well, it ought not to take
much wisdom to answer that question.
The new party has adopted the Alli
ance demands into its platform. Does
any one suppose that intelligent Alli
ancemen will vote against a party
that adopts those demands and in
favor of a party that not only fails to
adopt, but resists those demands? The
Western Alliance States have already
gone into the new party." Will not
the necessity for Alliance unity force
the other Alliance States to go into the
new party also? We see no way to
prevent the new party from sweeping
the country, except the simple one of
cheerfully conceding to the people
every one of their just demands. If
the Alliancemen are to be blamed for.
1
going into the new party, then a hungry
child can be blamed for going to some
one who can and will furnish him food.
Gentlemen of the old parties, if the
time comes when your ranks shall be
broken, your leaders overthrown and
your heritage taken from you, do not
blame the Alliance for your ruin. The
people represented by the Farmers'
Alliance have petitioned and begged
and pleaded and prayed for relief all
these years ; and the haughty minions
of political power have spurned both
them and their petitions and prayers.
Do not blame them for your overthrow,
but blame your own blind and miser
ably folly.
The action lately taken by the Con
ference at Cincinnati has made the
future of our politics so uncertain as
to throw the old party leaders into
consternation. They do not know
"and no fellow can tell them " into
whose hands they are going to fall. It
seems to us that no good can come to
these leaders and the parties they rep
resent, so long as these people stand
shivering in their places expecting dis
aster. If these people really want to
save themselves from defeat, let them
get together and throw their corrupt
leaders overboard and address them
selves manfully to the work of reform
ing the financial system. It will not do to
point the people to the readings of
former platforms as the guarantees of
their future action on behalf of the
people. The farmers and laboring
men of this country do not care one
stiver for what these parties promised
to do in the past. They want to know
what they are going to do in the im
mediate future. Nothing but clear-cut
declarations of fidelity to the good of
the entire people can save the old par
ties from entire and ignominious over
throw. We have noticed with great pain
that the discussion of the Sub -Treasury
bill, now before Congress, is being
made the occasion and means of di
vision amongst Alliancemen. The
warmest friends of the pending bill do
not hesitatejto admit that it is not a
THE POLITICAL DEBUTANTE.
"Where are you going, my pretty maid?"
"I am going voting, sirs,'' she said.
perfect bill, and we know of no one in
the Alliance who will contend for this
specific bill for one moment if a better
bill can be brought forward. The end
sought in the Sub-Treasury bill is more
money. And to secure that end every
Allianceman is pledged ; and for its se
curement every Allianceman, no mat
ter what his opinion of the present bill
may be, will fight and strive. Cannot
our friends be contented to strive for
the principles and ends which the Alli
ance has in view, and leave questions
of method to be adjusted in the light
of the most careful examination and in
the use of the best wisdom? At this
moment we are passing through a crisis
in the history of the Alliance move
ment. Every effort that ability can
suggest, that experience can employ,
will be used, is now being used, to dis
integrate the Alliance. Do we mean
to furnish our enemies any aid and
comfort from within our own ranks?
We value the unity of the Alliance al
ways, but especially at the present
time, as above any questions of mere
methods. Let us fix our attention
upon the ends Ave have in view and
upon the principles we have espoused
and let us stand together until such
time as will bring to us ability, not
only to say what reforms shall be
brought about, but what methods shall
be followed in bringing them about.
We plead for unity and fraternity in
our great brotherhood.
Yirgilina, Ya., May 4th, 1891.
Mr. Editor: Thinking a sketch
from this part of the laborer's vine
yard might interest your readers, I
wish to say that Red Bank Alliance
No. 53 ia still alive and enjoying mod
erate health, though I think if our mem
bers would use more of the tonic and
alterative denominated, The Pro
gressive Farmer, and taken weekly,
their mental, financial and political
system would be greatly improved.
Instead, I feel satisfied that if they use
the medicine according to directions
and eat only such political food as
your paper recommends we would soon
be restored to perfect health, though
it might and doubtless will take con
siderable time to regain the strength
we have lost, through the political,
monopolistic leach sucking the very
life blood from our veins. Well, Red
Bank Alliance is situated near Yirgi
lina, and we have some as good and
true material as this world affords. I
mean as true, loyal, determined Alli
ancemen. We number only 44 males
and some 25 females, but notwithstand
ing we are very poor, we are deter
mined, God aiding us, to make our
selves felt. We are expecting by the
1st day of October to open a store at
Yirgilina, with the co-operation of
Hyco and Midway Alliances. On the
2nd day of this month we had a meet
ing of the stockholders and a commit
tee was sent to buy a lot and as we
have about $1,000 already promised we
feel sure there is some reality in the
project. We are expecting old sister
North Carolina to come to our aid as
the location is Avithiu 100 or 150 yards
of the line. Well, perhaps some of
your readers are wondering where this
Yirgilina is, and some will doubtless
be surprised to know that Ned Tucks
old Cross Roads is the place. Yirgilina
is on the A. & D. R. R.. nearly an
equal distance from Danville and
Portsmouth, about 12 miles from Den
niston Junction on the L. & D. railroad,
1(3 miles from South Boston, about the
same from Clarksville, about il mile3
from Buffalo Lithia springs, (whose
waters seem to be for the healing of
the nations), and within 1 and a half
miles of the copper mines, which are
said to be very rich. We have one
store running at this place, the foun
dation is being laid for another, and
the Alliance makes the third, and we
are going to build. We have here a
saw and grist mill ; planing mill owned
by Messrs. Pannebaker and John
Ford, and other buildings. We are
satisfied that there are few, if any,
more healthful locations m North
Carolina or Yirginia than Virgilina.
Moreover, there is some probability of
a railroad from Greensboro by this
place, but be it as it may, we have a
most flattering prospect for a town of
some note at no very distant day. We
hope to be able to have a border school
here very soon if Ave can get the tAvo
States to unite in building and running
it, Nothing earthly could prevent its
success. I Avish to say right here that
I heartily endorse the stand taken by
The Progressive Farmer in regard to
CleAeland. Let him slide. We don't
need him down here Avith his anti-silver
views and we Avon't have him, we don't
care who nominates him. In the
National Economist of March 7th, near
the close ef an article on Judge Sny
der's decision in regard to the Ameri
can live stock commission company,
we find the question, "Hoav long Avill
the people submit to these outrages?"
and Ave wish to repeat, how long?
Fraternally, W.
o . . .
Bells, Ya. , May 10, 1891.
Mr. Editor: Evidently there is a
j commotion in the political camp, else
I why are so many political papers
j being sent to post offices in the coun
j try for gratuitous distribution, ostensi-
bly to get subscribers? One might give
; them credit for being honest in their
; intentions and purposes but it looks a
little peculiar that all these papars
should haTe their guns leveled at the
Alliance and firing on the sub-Treasury
plan. So ter as your correspondent
has seen not one of these papers has
offered anything even resembling an
argument, but are trying the power of
ridicule. They have totally failed to
read the signs of the times andare en
tirely in the dark as to the rapid
strides we have made in education,
else they Avould have seen (if they
possess the acumen their arrogance
Avould indicate) that ridicule cannot
serve their purpose. It can only Aveaken
them and strengthen us. It is just
another instance of the Devil over
rating his poAvers and over-reaching
himself, for this is most assuredly a
battle between good and evil.
Be patient, brethren; ridicule and
reviling will do the truth no harm.
The veil is too flimsy to obscure the
light.
These papers have a good deal to
say about the Mississippi campaign,
and if one's faith Avas weak in our
cause and strong in them, one might
conclude that ours was a desperate
case, if not a lost cause. But I notice
apologies and excuses are made for the
expressed sentiment of the people. One
apology offered was this: "They need
more light," and one excuse was this:
"The resolutions were railroaded
through.'' This, too, after the able,
the gifted, the mighty Senator George
had exploded the Sub-Treasury bubble
and laid bare its fallacies and concom
itant evils, all to his own glory and
his friends' entire satisfaction. "Can't
fool all the people all the time."
The way I read it, even fr )m the ac
counts published by our enemies, Bro.
Burkit, Avith the truth 011 his side and
the people on the side of truth, is
rather more than the lofty Senator,
Avith a renegade brother for an ally,
can manage. I say hurrah for Burkit !
Three times hurrah for the people ! and
all glory and honor to the truth!
What should be done Avith these
gratuitously-distributed papers. I read
them with care, for I Avant to become
familiar with the enemy's ground, but
I am not going to aid by subscribing
or paying for them.
Brethren, take courage and be of
good cheer, for avc Avill certainly "get
there Avith both feet.'' Old Yirginia is
coming slowly but surely and firmly.
Tuos. E. Comis.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
Mr. Editor: A great deal of the dis
cussion about the volume of our circu
lation and the amount of money per
capita is idle. If it could be shoAvn
conclusively that the.ie were 22.00 or
even 50 per capita, and that either of
these amounts would suffice to do the
business of the country, the 'vilof con
stipated currency Avould still continue
unabated. Those avIio discuss nothing
but the increase op the volume of the
currency as a remedy haAe never se
riously considered the evil. It is per
fectly true that the greater the volume
the harder for monopoly to control the
circulation; but it is also true that so
long as monopoly does control it, how
ever great the volume, credit will be
curtailed and ordinary business
cramped. The energy ot the battle
ought to be mainly against the mo
nopoly in charge. of all our financial
machinery, ai'iuvil ought not be shitted
to side isms, if Ave Avin the main fight
these Avill be settled. While everybody
knoAvs because everybody fet'ls that Ave
need more money, nobody can tell how
much Ave do need any more than Iioav
much sunlight Ave need. If credit and
currency are left unfetterred by mo
nopoly our business demands Avill settle
and re-settle and keep always settling
the eAer Aarying amount of money
needed in circulation. Leave coinage
free, which in the making of a circu
lating medium out of metal, and leare
credit free, which involves the making
of a circulating medium out of other
material also, Avlierfe the metals fall
short, or are inconvenient, and the
question of the volume of the currency
needed Avill speedily settle itself.
Guesses and speculation about the
quantity of money employed in com
merce and exchange are sometimes in
teresting, if everybody Avill only re
member that they are guesses. The
monopolistic jugglers of finance pre
tend to know exactly how much Ave do
need, and they have denied it out in
such quantities as to make paupers out
of one half our population. Certain of
the simple minded of our own friends
too believe that they hae discovered
hoAv much Ave need, and they hae
been decoyed into an endless jargon of
Avords Avith the monopolists, by which
the real issues have been greatly ob
scured, greatly to the delight of the
monopolists. These questions of quan
tity and volume have generally been
raised by the controllers of both, to pre
vent a discussion of their control.
There is Avhere the rub lies. They know
very well that of the "volume'' that is
already in "circulation" only a very
small part is available for the masses,
or for the ordinary business purposes.
The bulk of it rarely changes bulk.
The bulk of it is kept to the credit of
these very monopolists, and never sets
into active and legitimate circulation.
The goA'ernment manufactures enough
money to supply the wants of its mo
nopolistic tape worms the speculators
in money and legitimate business gets
it only through such channels. It is
not the volume that comes out and its
condition Avhen it comes poisened AA'ith
high rates of interest and delayed by
the constipation of class interests.
Hoav can the body politic congratu-1
late itself on the "volume of currency"
it contains Avhen the bidk of it is in the
tape Avorm, and about all of it must
pass through him. Not one of these
political phenomina with head full of
figures about the "volume of the cir
culation" has eA-en told us hoAv mnch
of it Avas in the tape worm. The same
prophetic foresight that enables them
to tell Avith such accuracy the amount
we need and the amount avc have,
ought to enable them to tell what the
tape worm needs ; how much the con
stipator ; and how long and Arith what
changes it comes through him to the
people.
At some future time I Avill undertake
to sIioav how the National banking sys
tem controls, blocks up and poisons the
circulation of the country.
W. J. Peele.