The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-04-23

WHERE THEY STAND.

The Farmers Alliance Not . Political Or
ssnisatioa II the Common Acceptation
Of theTerm. a
The Chicago, Tribune says: "The
latest political organization is the
Farmers Alliance which seems to be
taxing the place once, occupied by the
Grangers, though its programme has
not yet been very definitely outlined.
In South Carolina, Alabama. and some
other Southern States it seems to have
grown out Of division in the Demo-
cratic ranks with the object Of breaking
up the monopoly of offices. In the West,
however. 1t seems to have grown out Of
the discomfort of farmers who allege
that they are going to vote in their own
interests and against professional poll
clans. Whatever may be tho purpose Of
the Farmers Alliance, it is rapidly
spreading and gaining considerable
strength in Michigan, Wisconsin, Kan
sas, Missouri, Arkansas, and other
Western and Southwestern States.
what is the object OF these Alliances
OF the farmers? Suppose that they get
control, what do they propose to do with
1t? Do th0y intend to 60 into the manu-
facture Of irredeemable shinplaster
money TO loan at one per cent. TO every
body in debt? Their programme is not
very clear in the statement of purposes
orplatform, either locally or generally.
The country wants some light on the
subject Where do they propose to
stand on the tariff question, the trust
question. monetary matters, pension APP
preparations, gerrymandering, on the
race question in the South, on sumptu-
ary laws, on transportation, and other
I prominent issues Of the time? Ina word,
what do they propose to do If they get
control? If they are organizing simply
because they are disconnected with the
prices they are getting for their products,
! what remedy do they intent to apply?
4 Some authorized person ought to make
I known TO the public exactly what the
principles Of the Alliance are. 1t Is not
possible either to approve or disapprove
of Farmers Alliances until it is known
what they are advocating" &~F9 Z.
If the Tribune would read it would
get light In the frst place the Alliance
is not political organization in the
common acceptance Of. the term. 1t is
reorganization to protect the interests
Of the farmer. and its members are vot-
ers; and sometimes they disarrange the
plans Of the demagogues, which they
have the right to do and ought to do.
The Alliance will never advocate giving
us circulating medium that is any
worse than the one we now have. That
is satisfactory, is 1t not? 1t will never
advocate any kind of money that the
Government Of the United States is not
behind, and, as 1t is behind our present
money, nobody will feel much of jolt
from any change that might be made II
the Alliance should mold the financial
policy Of the country. On the
tariff question the Alliance stands
where nearly every body else,
the Tribune included, processes to
stand, fUrrrevision; on the trust ques.
tion it will be in favor of putting an end
to trusts, hit has to send few pompous,
restless Shieves TO the penitentiary; II
llfavor paying reasona ble'pensions tc
the men who saved tho country; it will
be in favor Of enforcing all laws, and
the simple enforcement Of law is all
that is necessary to solve the race prob
lem: II hopes that II may be able to dc
what no political party has ever YET
been able to do, resist the temptstion O
gerrymandering its opponents out o
office; the Alliance will favor legisla
ton that will best encourage temper
ance and decency, and if there is any
body who does not know what. thu
farmers would do with the transporta
tion question he is not sufficiently wei
read to be the editor Of a newspaper
Western Rural. iom n,fe inn vl3rg%