North Carolina Newspapers

1 J THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. RALEIGH, N. C JUNE 30, 1891. Vol. 6. No. 19 PBOGKESSIV FAEMER. 1 JLJkjLJ -L "A - N CIRCULATION The actual circulation of Volume V, which closed with the issue of Febru ary 17th, 1891, was as follows: February 18, 1890, 12,840 2a, " 1,240 August it Sept. . October t Nov. i 19,1890, 16,680 26, " 16,680 March 12.000 2, 9, 16, 23, 3D, r , H, 21, 28, 4. 11, 18, 16,800 16,800 17,040 16,800 17,280 17,040 17,280 17,280 17,280 17,280 17,760 17,760 17,760 18,230 18,240 18,240 18.240 10,5ti0 10,560 10,800 10,800 10,800 10,800 10,800 11,040 11,040 11,160 11,11.0 11,44X1 11,280 11,280 11,400 11,400 11,400 11,520 11,640 12,;jo 13,800 16,:?20 16,680 :: 15, " April 29, 6, 13, 20, 27, 3, 10, 17, 24, 1, , 15, 29; 5, 12, May 25, June Decemb'r 2, 9, 16, 2:, July January 6. 1891. 18.240 13, " 18,240 " 20, " 18,240 " 27 " 18 240 February s', " 18,240 10, " 18,240 . 17, " 18,240 AUgUSt, First 6 months, 307,080 Second 6 months, 458,160 Making a total circulation for the year of 765,210; averaging for 52 suc cessive issues, per issue, 14,716, and showing a net increase for the year of 5,400, or more than 113 per week. The above statement is taken from the records kept in the office of The Progressive Farmer, and is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. J. W. Denmark, Business Manager. I am Book-keeper for Edwards & 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, alsD T. J. Bashford, Book-keeper for Edwards & Broughton, and m ike oath that the statements contained above are correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. In witness where if, I have hereunto setmy hand and affixed my notarial seal of office this day, February 26th, 1891. W. T. Womble, Notarial Seal Notary Public. REVENUE AND TAXATION. Mr. Editor: These are principles and objects sought to be accomplished by the citizens of our land. The ques tion of taxation is one of vital impor tance and interest to every citizen, whether he be rich or poor. It is the corner-stone of all governments, and upon it rests human liberties, more sacred than all things else that we may atlempt to build and to guard. The great State of Kentucky, her conven tions are now sitting, whose purpose it is to change the organic law of her State and to forever wipe out that old slave code and to hand down to her posterity a constitution, a code of laws that will be charitable and a pride to all. She is moving slowly but wisely upon the vital problems of taxation, the problem that affects them mostly. And should an equal adjustment of the public burdens, to be born upon all alike and special privileges to none, should there be any exemptions except government property ? What is an ex emption? It is a tax levied on a part of its citizens who have no interest in it for the benefit of others who have. Is that right? Are they charities? What is religion? Is it a brain faculty in one citizen to force another to give up his money to supoort some doctrine that he believes to be pernicious and wrong, or some magnificent churches of the wealthy, while others are living in want and homeless ? Should costly schools be set up for the favored and the expense of others? Whenever the property of one man has been exempted, you put that bur den on the shoulders of others? Is hat right? Is it republican ideas? Is it a Democratic precept? What is the best way to distribute the burdens of government justly? Is it to let the taxation rest equally on all? Who should be spared these discriminating favors and burdens? Should citizens be left free according to the spirit of the--law to exercise his religious lib erty? The desire to equalize as near as possible on every specie of property does not grow out of any hostilities to any institutions. Those who oppose what they believe to be unreasonable exemptions are friendly to all chari ties. We are not champions of any particular schools, sect or charities. The movers of these great reforms all over the country are a generous people ; they love their State, thir schools, their churches, and can be trusted to cherish them according to their ability, their, faith and their affections and should be without the intervention of the hands of laws. There is not but one treasure common to the hearts of all, and that is the man's pocket-book, out of which he greases the wheels of all charities and every institution, cost of government, cost of living, etc. Should not the doors be well guarded against all exemptions, except govern ment property, and that actually used for religious worship? R. W. Humphrey. Bogue, N. C, March 11, 1891. SHOW TO THE WORLD WHAT YOUR SECTION IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING. The following are among the articles that are desirable from each section of the South to place in the Southern Exposition to be held in the City of Raleigh, N. C. One-half bushel of each of the fol lowing: Barley, buckwheat, corn oats, rye, wheat, rice, grass seed, cane seed, field peas, beans, dried apples, peaches, quinces, prunes,, cherries, wild and cultivated berries, nuts and acorns. Preserved fruits in half -gallon glass jars. One to ten pounds of each variety of cotton in seed and lint; flax and jute in various stages of manipulation. Ten pounds of each variety of sugar ; one gallon of each variety of molasses and sorghum ; honey, one quart or one to ten pounds in comb. Two pounds of each variety of to bacco. Ten pounds of each variety of grass ; one bundle, six inches. in diameter, of each variety of grain in sheaf. Hops, five pounds ; broom corn, ten to twenty five heads; garden peas and beans, one gallon of each variety dried. Plants and growing shrubs in pots. Spirituous liquors, wines and all kinds of liquids, one quart of each variety. Minerals, building stones, precious stones, marl and phosphate rock, any size specimens; soils, one foot square as deep as desired, boxed up so as to retain the same shape as when taken from the ground. Wood and timber specimens, if in sawed form, one inch thick, any width and length ; if a section is sawed from the tree, to be any size desired; if split from the tree, the section to be large enough to square at least two by four inches, by four feet long. Manufactured goods, from cotton, wool, flax and silk, each sample usual width, six yards long; from wood or iron, one specimen of a kind. Stuffed birds and animals; Indian relics and curiosities; photographic views of buildings, farms and scenery, one of a kind. The above list of articles may be added to, both in variety and quantity, according to what is produced, manu factured, or found in each State or community. Jno. T. Patrick, Sec'y. . Kelly's, Bladen Co., N. C. The French's Creek, Furman and Caintuck Sub-Alliances held their grand rally on May 14th, amid the booming of celestial cannon and the fitful blaze of original electric lights. The rain that was badly needed poured down in torrents all the time the speaking was going on ; but it did not dampen the ardor of the Alliance mem bers present, who likened it to the dis tinguished speaker of the day, Dr. V. N. Seawell, being both harbingers of prosperity to the modern Atlas the overburdened farmers of America. Dr. Seawell prefaced his discourse by an account of the origin of the Farmers' Alliance, and dwelt on the necessity of concentration, quoting history and cit ing modern precedents to support his position. He then spoke, freely and feelingly about the wrongs of the agri cultural class and related some perti nent anecdotes that the audience much relished. He explained in a most painstaking manner the objects and demands of our order, and wound up with a tribute to the public and private character of our honored President, Col. Polk. An attention born not only of courtesy, but eager interest, was accorded him throughout his instruc tive speech. The members afterwards held a private meeting with J. F. Croom, Esq., in the chair, where they were instructed and drilled in the secret work of the order. ; Mrs. E. H. Anders, Sec'y French's C'k Alliance, No. 1,275. THE POWER OF THE MONEY KINGS. "What do you understand by busi ness?" somebody asked Talleyrand. " V argent oV autres." (Other folk's monev) was the reDlv. The an- 4 swer was given in the light of his tory experience as priest, prince, courtier, diplomatist and man of the world ; and if at the time it contained a touch of sarcasm, no such suspicion could to-day attach to the response, at least, not in this country. For if "business" means other folk's money, then the definition of Talleyrand's is a certitude beyond the reach of sarcasm, and is as true, terse and comprehensive as was ever concocted to embrace such an extensive subject. Indeed, no bet ter definition could be devised to state, in explicit terms, the existing state of things. When we call to mind that the total wealth of 31,000 people amounts to $36,250,000,000, or, in other words, that three-fifths of the entire wealth of the United States is owned by one twentieth of one per cent, of the popu lation, we can then, indeed, begin to comprehend what "business" is, as Talleyrand expressed it, in all its force, and see to what extent "other folk's money " goes to fill the coffers of the few by creating over 31,000 millionaires. Just think of it, thirty-six thousand, two hundred and fifty millions in the hands of comparatively .few men! What a mighty power does this give them to wield for weal or woe ! And how do they wield it? Why, in a way not only not to rest satisfied with three fifths of the wealth of the country, but, if possible, to own two hundred one hundredths, that is, to gobble us up, body and soul. " However full, with something more They fain the bag would cram They sigh above the crowded net For fish that never swam." And "T argent d1 a utres " will be their slogan so long as we have a cent for them to grasp without resistance, and so long as we case to resist such ravenous greed, with all the might that's in us, the more tenacious will be the grip, and therefore harder to shake off. It is time, indeed, to summon forth our battalions, beat the long-call, dress by the flag and march abreast, at double-quick step, with concert of action, to oppose and combat this mighty power a power' with the thirst and insatiate greed of ghoulish harpies to prey on human flesh. They will, by a concentration of all their power to perpetuate their, reign, move heaven and earth to thwart us in getting rid of their yoke. And what a yoke it is we groan under, a few facts known to us all, showing how they wield their power, will readily demonstrate. Let's relate a few of the monstrous enormities this monster of a money power can and does perpetrate to suit its own behests and the subversion of honest government. Monster is a ter rible word and reads as if written in anger, and perhaps, under such aggra vating provocations, it is. But what other word so cold, so impressive, so true? It is a monstrous thing to buy judges ; to pollute justice by degrading it to dishonest gains; to lead venal creatures on the bench into crimes which result in their impeachment ; to purchase legislators, and boast that it was done without regard to politics ; to aim even to control the Supreme Court; to dictate nominations to the Presidency, and deal with the majestic franchises of a nation as though they were the watered shares of one of their swindling railways; to subsidize news papers, wreck railways and carry off as plunder the invested savings of widows and orphans; to corrupt every channel that boodle can reach and what can't it reach? to further their ends ; to lead a long career of crimes succeeding crimes, tolerated only be cause of success and unaccountable public apathy. Such, in brief, is a relation of a few of the nefarious do ings of these monsters of iniquity, and, because they are guilty of such, they should stand condemned as monsters to the highest vengeance of civilization, the contempt and scorn of mankind. Do not let us, for a moment, enter tain the delusion that this money power will ever, on its own accord, rest satis fied with its accumulated hordings, or volunteer to lighten its taskmastership, for, far from being satiated with mil lions, they will not cease to drain us of our substance until they have made billionaires of themselves, and then, in deed, we will be helpless to get rid of the Egyptian bondage they have fast ened upon us. To be sure they are kind enough at times to give us sooth ing advice about practicing economy, not glutting the markets by overpro duction, and the like, as sure ways of improving our condition. But this sort of advisory comfort brings to our minds what is related of an old rat. The poor old fellow, feeling his end approaching, called all his children, grand-children, and great-grand-chil-dren together to give them his farewell blessing. ' He advised them, among other things, to rest content with plain food, and not to sneak about stealing dainties ; that for himself he would re tire from the world to spend his last days in peace, and then, bidding them good-bye, he wiped a tear from his eye with the end of his tail. Ere long one of his grand-children, regardless t)f his good advice, ventured forth upon a rampage and found his poor old grand father in the middle of a large Cheshire cheese. The moral is left to the reader to make out and apply. Aye, indeed, it is against such men's pecuniary in terests, that main-spring of their ener gies and highest visions of their dreams, to do otherwise and does any one sup pose, for an instant, that the selfish greed for money is going to halt, in the least, through any consideration to wards those who lay them golden eggs? Unlike the foolish husbandman of tra dition they are too cute to kill the goose so long as they have such a host of geese (metaphorically speaking) out of which to squeeze golden eggs. No, indeed, they will do nothing to injure the breed, but will do all they can to increase enriching birds. Unless we check this diabolical power, which is increasing with more than geometrical progression year after year, the desperation of the masses ere long will be such that another French reign of terror will be the inevitable result. Unless this head-long enrichment of the few, which is surely and steadily sapping the liberties and very life blood of the many, is checked, Robe spierres, Murats and Daltons will spring up with their guillotines, and then woe be to those who have caused such des peration on the part of the long-suffer ing masses. But how are we to deal with this mighty, soulless power that confronts us d stave off the horrors that will ensue unless we act in time? How get rid of this huge, gangrenous excrescence on the body politic without the terrible alternative of bloodshed? The remedy is easy enough if we will only apply it. We have it in our own hands, and it consists in the very self -same cause that brought about these evils under which we languish, that is, the supineness of the people in being fooled into submit ting so long to such a yoke, and surely the people, now that their eyes are be ing opened, can undo what they have so disastrously to themselves permitted to be done. Yes, we have the power of alleviating our grievances without bloodshed. Those who are the most concerned in such a blessed consumma tion can realize their aims and avert internecine strife by the use of a blood less weapon at the polls. Unanimity of the industrial elements, agricultural and mechanical, all of whose votes united are surely numerous enough and to spare, can, as sure as there is a God in heaven, accomplish a bloodless revolution at the ballot box. Wo will then achieve the double blessing of lightening the burdens of crushed humanity and stave off the terrible re sults of vengeful revolt. Like the bar rons of -England in King John's time, who drew up their demands against oppression in the shape of their magna charter, that ground-work of English liberty, and forced the tyrant to yield to its exactions, so must we formulate our great charter of demands and right s for the money kings to sign and seal at another Runnymede. It will be time enough to proceed to extremities after they have failed to obey our behests. Allow me to conclude with a query : Is it not about high time in this day of mundane existence, A. D., 1S91, that those who ventilate themselves on monetary questions should come to some sort of an agreement upon the definition of money? Everybody who expatiates on the subject feels called upon to define a thing that has had a tangible, practical existence for thou sands of years, so that, amid the mental bewilderment thus engendered, a finan cial dunderhead is completely flabber gasted in trying to make out, whether or not, this nondescript mongrel mon strosity belongs to or can be classified in the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdom. Adam Smith, Ricardo, Mills, Dew and other economic experts have in vain endeavored to define or place this hybrid of a hippo-griff in a light at all satisfactory to now-a-day dabblers in the science. The dumb f oundedness caused by this multi-defining of money puts one in about the same perplexity experienced by Omar Khayyan from his contact with some sapient philosophers. Said he : "Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About and about, but evermore Came out by the same door wherein I went." ' U. B. Gwynn. THE STORM IS COMING. The Washington Post says: "The spirit of reform in the shape of revolu tion is undoubtedly abroad, and the success that it may here and there achieve is likely to be contagious. It will be well for the politicians to put their houses in order. By wisdom they may break the force of the storm, but the storm is in the air." No half-way dubious course will shel ter the political parties from this popu lar uprising. They have a cause a good cause ; they have issues which cannot be laid aside or overshadowed by any other isse available "vO . the parties. They cannot make the tariff interesting iough, being so stale and thread-b ;re, to distract attention from the new- issues. "So it would be well for the politicians," says the Post, " to pui their houses in order." At this writing we hnow of only one State which can easily divert this furious deluge, and that is the State of North Carolina. We are informed by The Progressive Farmer thatthe Democratic Party of that State has adopted the St. Louis platform or all the essential demands of the F. A. and I. U., and this places it on the side of the people and not antagonistic there to. This will give it ease and quietude. The next step to be taken in order that there may be no misgiving in respect to its sincerity on the part of Republicans or Democrats belonging to this reform movement is for the Demo cratic journals of the State to come out unqualifiedly in favor of all those de mands urged by this movement if they can conscientiously and honestly do so. If there be some who cannot, let them so state and take issues on the other side of these questions. Some may wish farther time to investigate them. That is well. Let all be fully persuaded in their own minds. All this talk that North Carolina is not go ing into a third party, that the farmers have too much sense to go into a third party, will do but little good to pre vent this outcome, unless the Demo cratic journals preach up to the stand ard the farmer says the Democratic convention has adopted. The Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union will be perfectly willing, we think, for the Democratic party or the Republican party to retain its organization intact and to hold on to their experienced statesmen, if either will come boldly and unreservedly for ward and endorse in some tangible shape the dem inds of the new move ment and show the sincerity of their endorsement by promising to act them out through their representatives in Washington, regardless of caucus action. If the Democratic press or Republican press will unite on this course, it will save the State from a mighty political disruption next year. We do not think the Republican party or press stands in an attitude to do this, but since the State Democratic Convention has already endorsed all essential particulars of this reform, it would be very natural for the Demo cratic press to make this tangible en dorsement to satisfy a doubting public mind. This is the path of wisdom and safety. That the Democratic party has done the State much good, will not be de nied. But it has done no more than its duty ; therefore the obligations of the people to the party are all paid. The peo ple are no longer in debt to any party. If there comes along new duties to be performed at the behests of the people, the Democratic party will be untrue to its name, if it does not at once, and without hesitation shoulder those duties. . They should not wait to hear from the magnates of the East. Cleve land pandered to the woolen factories of the East and the gold bugs thereof and lost. The first question to be asked is, is it just, is it right, is it best for the general welfare? If found so, put a peg do.wn and dance around it. Let not the question of su jcess or defeat bias your minds; for these, in a just cause, are all in the hands of a higher Providence. Look not to party power nor to human wisdom for safety. The onward tide of a popular upheaval is moving with steady, but tremendous force. We would be glad to see your State unruffled and as calm as a lake in sun shine when this storm is sweeping into political eddies and churning into foam and fury the politics of other States. By a wise and prudent course now be gun, but scarcely perfected all this will be averted. But if the democracy of the State wait to hear the dictates of the East, if she waits to hear from the consolidated wisdom of a national convention, which hitherto has been ruled by the interests of the East, where the Republicans have had the most prwer, she perhaps will wait too long in this restless age. Dr. Living ston,, of Georgia, Tillman, of South Carolina, Macune, of Texas, President Polk, of North Carolina, or all of our leaders in this movement, cannot stop it now.,' Boys may set a prairie on fire whiclfthe strongest men cannot stop.. So if they assert there will be no third, party in their particular State, they must do it under the assurance that some organization already existing will advocate all they want without it. If they mean to say they can keep all the people within the ranks of the old parties" and ignore the'ir demands in the bargain, they iiave certainly made a grand mistake. Evtr.as we said bo fore, no half-way dubious cpurso will avail to prevent a disruption. We be lieve the Democracy of the StateNwilI see the signs in the sky and take shel- ter at once. This will secure them their organization, avoid a great dis ruption in political circles, and retain their tried and experienced statesmen ; for if the advocates of this reform meet with obstructions from this party like the Vandals who sacked the City of Rome, they will hold nothing sacred because it is old or highly appreciated: by others. Behold, the axe is laid at the root of every tree ; old things are passing away,, the lines are being drawn with the plu tocracy on one side and the people on tha other, each element like particles of iron attracted by a maget is segre gating itself to its proper pole, and we believe that the mass of the Democracy of this State, true to name, will take? sides with the people. Let any one pile up brush and bramble in the current, tc stop it, it may check it for a season only to break loose at last with thc redoubled force of a Niagara. Lucius Lagone BELL IN THE WEST. Rob bins vi lle, N. C, May 18, 189 L , .. Mr. Editor : I began my work as District Lecturer at Hayesville, tho county seat of Clay county, on the 11th of this month; had a good audience to. bear the public speaking, after which; we held a private session of the Alli ance. The brethren seemed delighted with the new work and plans of the--Order. I took nine subscribers tc The Progressive Farmer for six months in a very few minutes. The x little progressive county of Clay will be heard from later with a good report. I went next to the Bellview Sub-Alliance in Cherokee, and found it in a bad condition. I made them a public talk, and left them in a better condition, and think they will soon be on their feet again. I next went to Murphy, the county seat of Cherokee, but I found that it was not generally known that I would speak there on that day, so I had a small crowd there, but managed to get. some true-blue brethren together, and after explaining the objects, plans and; purposes of our noble Order, it was agreed that they would request their County Lecturer to visit each Sub Alliance in their county at once,: so I. regard the Alliance as having a bright-,, future before it yet in Cherokee county; . for there are a great many true and ! noble Alliancemen in the good oJ&4, county of Cherokee. I then took private conveyance to--Andrews, where I spent the night very -pleasantly with Bro. J. L. Porter and v family, a3 good an Allianceman as tramps shoe leather. I then obtained a good long-headed Alliance mule fromr Bro. Steve Porter, and he got here just the same, and in time for dinner, at the first table at that. I found on reaching Robbinsville, the county seat of Graham, that my posters, had just reached this point the night previous; so I fear we will not have at very large attendance here. So I guess . I had better close this communication,, lest I weary some brother's patience who may be led to read this article by curiosity or otherwise. A word to Lecturers : Brethren, cur success depends, in a great measure,, upon the reading of Alliance literature-. Therefore let us indeavor to increase- the circulation of The Progressives Farsier. Success is assured when we have been able to show the people their true condition and a way for their escape from the perils that threaten the very foundation of our liberties. If we can only give the farmers a crumb, let it be the truth-, the solid truth, and' nothing but the truth. God speed the happy day whenx every toiler will realize the importance of immediate action on his or her partu and resolve himself into a committee of one and appoint himself lecturer and go forth to preach and teach Alliance truth. Your ob'dt servant, J. S. Bell, Dist. Lecturer.