The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-05-23

The Farmers.
It is not at all impossible that the NEXT
organized body to cnt . figure in our:m--
tional politics. will be the farmers. The
terrible industrial depression ameng
them the past few years has driventhem
to measures of self helpfulness. There
are some half dozen different organiza-
tons of farmers in various parts Of the
country, the principal ones being the
Farmers Alliance and the Farmers Nut
ual Benefit association. In the west and
south the farmers societies are- most
numerous and popular.
In Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois and Indi-
ana the farmers are showing great activity
politically, having in several instances
nominated their own candidates for con-
gross. There are gentlemen just now who
love agricultural life so intensely that
they woa1d even accept. the nomination
for governor of stateat the hands of the
farmers. In Alabcma the Farmers
for governor, r. S. kolb, and this fact is.
said tc'portend peril to the danocratio.
party sof that state
In Indiana, in Martin county alone,
the Farmers Alliance numbers 1900
members. At Loagootee the Alliance
has &eontract store. In Indiana the va
rious farmers societies propose to cou-
soEdate into one compact body of 1OO.-
0oAmembers. Ashundred thousand vet
era: hanging solidly together and work
iag vigorously could controlany election
i1s any state of the Union. In Nebraska
the Farmers Alliance numbers 44,5OO
F'0f these, howsver, G per cent. are wo-
] men, who do not count politically.
/ In Illinois the farmers Mutual Bene-
fit association has nearly 100, 900 men.
beers. Its president is G. j. Lindly, a
young lawyer, who runs,a 600 acre>farm.
The F. M. b A. distinctly disclaims any
connections with politics, but somehow it
is rather expected that next winters leg
islature in Illinois wilh contain consid-
cradle sprinkling of men who s<will con-
slider their allegiance, to. the farmers and
laboress in matters Of legislation as para
mount to party fealty."
The declaration ct purpose Of the Farm
ers' Alliance is a document to- be COM
mended to. gentlemen with political as
pirations. It is as follows:
Declaration of Purposes Profoundly impressed
that we, the Farmers Alliance, united by the
strong and faithful ties of financial and home in
terests, should set forth our declarations of in
te2tions, we therefore resolve:
To strive to secure the establishment of RICH.
and justice to ourselves and our posterity.
To labor for the education Of the agricultural
classes in the science Of economical government
in strictly non-partisan spirit.
To iDdOrse the motto, ''In things essential
unity; in ell things charity
To secure purity Of the elective franchise and
to induce all voters to intelligenty exercise it for
the enactment and execution of laws which will
express the most advanced public sentiment upon
all questions involving the interests Of laborers
and farmers.
To develop better state, mentally, morally
socially and financially
To constantly strive to secure entire harmony
and good will among all mankind, and brotherly
love among ourselves.
To suppress personal local. sectional and ma
tonal prejudices: all unhealthful rivalry and all
selfish ambition.
To assuage the sufferings of brother and sis
ter bury the dead, care for the widows and edu-
cate the orphans; to exercise charity toward Of
tenders
To construe words and purposes in their most
favorable light, granting honesty of purpose and
good intentions to others, and to protect the prin
ciples of the Alliance unto death.
The corresponding secretary of Farm
ers' Alliance lodge near Steubenville, O.,
sent ex-President Cleveland COPY of
the declaration. Mr.. Cleveland returned
reply at some length, from which the
following is a paragraph:
Struggle as they may, our farmers must
tinue to be purchasers and consumers of number
less things enhanced in by tariff regulations.
Surely they have the right to say that this cost
Shall not be increased for the purpose Of collect
ing unnecessary revenue, or to give undue adj
vantage to domestic manufacturers. The plea
that our infant industries need the protection
which thus iInpoverishes the farmer and con-
the skill and ingenuity of our people, a hollow
pretext.
The United States is not the only
country in which race prejudice rears it's
head. It is as bad in Europe, and there
between white races The hatred of
lava ia 90 intansn in R,7sSia A1,cfria and