The Progressive Farmer

ADDRESS TO ALLIANCEMEN.

Okisko, N. C.

MR. Editor:—Being myself a hard-fisted son of toil, may not I indulge the hope that I do not weary your patience and those of the "household of faith" by asking the privilege of addressing myself to Alliancemen everywhere? Brethren, ours is the noblest cause in existence, save the religion of Jesus Christ. My only hope for the perpetuation of civil and religious liberty is within its keeping, and should the devil and his hosts succeed in beguiling and capturing us, farewell to free America: therefore I feel most keenly the importance of not only maintaining and sustaining our organ, The Progressive Farmer, and all other friendly papers to the Order. The Progressive Farmer is without doubt the best educator and has done more than all other papers in the State of both parties to point out the dangerous political coast and rocks, upon which the Ship of State is about to be dashed by debauched demagogue political figure-head Wall street servants, styling themselves Congressmen and servants of the "dear people." Yes, my countrymen, it, like the National Economist, is a safe chart and compass by which we are to ride over the present political billows that come up before and behind us as did the army of Pharaoh and the surging waves of the Red Sea. But we have a bold and fearless leader (and we bid him God speed though he be assailed by dastards and tools of the money power, seeking to defame and impugn his motives), it will only bind us the closer to him and the great cause he represents. As good soldiers, let us stand by our guns and in the darkness rest our arms, trusting in God for victory and a safe deliverance from the Turk, the devil and the comet.

I am puzzled to know why Democratic and Republican political guns have been so arranged as to shoot over each others heads that Alliancemen may be slain thereby. Do not the pestleheaded Arnolds and Ananiases know that the combined forces of Wall Street Mudslingers, Congress & Co., and the devil as their leader will not deter us one moment in the discharge of duties as citizens of what ought to be the grandest country on earth? Retail slander is as mean as wholesale slander. The man who opposes the Alliance demands is an open enemy to a republican government and is no democrat. He is a policy man. We do not propose sneezing every time the would-be bosses take snuff.

Yours fraternally,

M. G. Gregory.