The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-03-20
Valley Items.

I-see in the DEMOCRAT call, by
president Mayo, for council of b.
OF 4. to meet iu Dover on the 29th
inst, to determine what course the
order shall take in running Broth
er's of Freedom ticket in the forth
coming elections.
Your correspondent had looked to
this organization for relief to the
poor tiller of the soil. He had hoped
that the order would never seek to
become power in politics. He fan
cied he saw, through its influence,
omens of better day dawning, not
only upon its members, but upon all,
for success and prosperity on the
farm means success and prosperity
everywhere. But now, what! Is it
possible that, just as the order IS be-
ginning to assume sufficient proper
tons to step out on the highway
that leads to permanent good, poll
tics is to be allowed to creep IN and
spoil the whole thing! A secret po-
Utica, party! Who ever heard OF
such an organization that was not
soon frowned down and forced out
of existence to be remembered only
as futile effort at something or
nothing-the public knew not what.
What do we propose to do? Start
ing a third party out in this little
nook Of Arkansas among the Broth
ers of Freedom. Where are our
members? Who're is our platform
Whittier shall we turn for officers?
Until shown up that we can do some
thing better for the people than
either Of the two great parties can
do, true, patriotic, capable men will
risk the chances where they are.
Demagogues, shysters, tricksters,
spectators would be glad to make a
hobby of our order upon which to
ride into Office. Shall we give them
that chance by allowing politics in
side our ranks? Politics in, and the
order dies at once. Politics in, and
the order becomes body OF rene
gades-bolters. Beware, Brothers
Of Freedom, there is danger just
here. Let us strive to preserve the
name of our order from a stains
stigma like this. The political caul.
dron is sure to bubble and excite
ment run high. We can keep an
eye on it and at the same time carry
out the aims and objects of the or
der. DO you understand me to mean
that members Of this order should
have no voice in politics, no voice in
making and executing laws. Imean
no such thing, would have politics
controlled as heretofore. would
have every one to use the greatest
discretion at the ballot box.
Alone by intelligent and wise con-
duct at the primaries and ballot box
we can rid ourselves of obnoxious
and burthensome laws and force the
enactment of better ones. Here is a
question: Who made the last nomi
cation? / answer; farmers. By whose
vote were our present officers elect
ed? The vote of farmers. Who com
pose the order of Il. of +? Farmers
Now is it reasonable to suppose that
because farmers have banded them
selves together they can make any
wiser selections for the various Off
ces? 1t is folly to talk so, and il we
as Brothers of Freedom, had not
agreed that it IS our right 10 disagree
on religious and political subjects
would be half tempted to say tina,
this move TO make the order a pow
er in politics is all TRICK. and as
for me, notwithstanding | am Q
member of the order, yet, until SEE
my error, / shall continue to advo
cate democratic principles and vote
with this old, tried and true party
regretting however that under III
policy plumbers have been made.
Brothers of Freedom, let us stanf
together in the right. Democrats
let US stand together and on election
day cast the vote of Intelligence
prudence, wisdom, impartiali:y, tina
past wrongs may be rectiiied, whole
some laws enacted, crime punished