The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-12-11


and they appear to be intelligent men
who know what they want and are ready
for business.
Mr.. Humphreys address is signlfl-
cant document. inasmuch as it is out
spoken for third party politics and de-
clares unequivocally for the Henry
George single-tax idea.
After reviewing the growth OF the or
der, Superintendent Humphrey spoke OF
the deplorable condition in which the
coIored people had found themselves.
Unable to clothe and feed themselves,
return to abject slavery seemed inevlta-
ble Among the causes which retarded
the progress of the Alliance, he mem
tions the opposition of many people TO
negro education. and the opposition OF
newspapers which are usually under the
control of monopoly. He denounced the
national banking system and the Specu-
lators who sought to contract the cur
rency. He continued as follows:
1t is doubtful if there is in circulation
this year money enough to pay for the cot
ton crop at four cents q pound and the
wheat crop at thirty cents bushel, and but
for the influence of the Alliance and its eX-
changes there is no probability that cotton
would now sell above four cents pound
At the request of thousands of the best
and most influential colored people OF this
country, both within and outside the ALI
ance, it becomes my duty to call your at
tention to the necessity that exists for indie
pendence in political action. During this
year no less than five representative bodies
of colOred men assembled in Chicago, Wash
ington, Raleigh, Richmond and Philadel-
phia and declared their disaffection ana
unaff1liation with the existing political
parties. None of these great conven-
ha
late a platform that they consider
would be satisfactory to their race. 1t re-
mains, therefore, that you shOnld give your
earnest attention to this absorbing ques-
ton, and if by a spirit of mutual compro-
mise YOU may be able to secure such
pledges from the great labor organizations
now represented in this city as will warrant
reciprocal and hearty confederation and
cooperation, doubtless great good will re-
suit to both the white and the colored
races. Those who hope to equalize the bur-
dens of taxation, to relieve the depression
of agriculture, and to restore the Govern
ment to the service of the people, must join
together and stick together, and they must
have name as well as platform OF prln-
ciples distinctly their own To this name
and platform they must invite their fellow
citizens of the United States as to refuge
and q fortress
In the recent elections the influence of
the Alliance was felt, and every man real
lied what tremendous power it is destined
in the near future to exert, but 1T must De
remembered that in this case the Alliance
was fettered by party names which 1t could
not bear and in many States refused to vote
at all. We hear that in Mississippi 40 per
cent. of the white and 70 per cent. of the
colored people absolutely refused to vote or
even to attend the polls. In Texas ana
many other States the elections went rather
by default than otherwise. The people
were not satisfied with the standard bear
ers, and rather than be considered Demo-
Gratis or Republicans, they remained at
their homes and refused to take part in the
election of men in whom they could feel no
interest.
Col. Humphrey commits himself with
out reservation to a platform of social
ism and Henry Georges single-taX idea.
He says:
God has given this earth to all the living.
Men have as much right to monopolize the
air we breathe and the sunshine that warns
us as the land that by Gods ordination
feeds our families. We take this occasion
distinctly to affirm that land is not proper
ty, never can be property, holds no allcgi-
ance but to the man who lives on it. His
improvements are his, but the land belongs
to the sovereign people. In view of these
indiSputable truths we recommend to our
people the principles of the Slngle-TaX
",
dens of taxation from all property, because
the value of property is increased by taxa
ton; but, on the contrary, land, If carrying
all the taxes necessary to support the Gov
eminent, would not be held by spectators,
as it is now, and would soon become abund-
ant and cheap. There are already millions
of our people, both cO1Ored and white, who
favor this single-tax plan, and we recon-
mend it to you, as it's enactment into law
would place homes within the reach of all
the people,
The convention was thoroughly in
harmony with the views expressed by
the National Superintendent. The Sec
retary's report showed that there were
now enrolled in the Organization about
100000 as members, Of whom over
100000 are male adults. All of the
Southern States are thoroughly organ
ized and the following are partially or
ganized: Delaware, Ohio, Illinois, In
diana, Missouri, and Nebraska. In
round numbers there are in Alabama
100, coo members, South Carolina co.,
900, Mississippi 10000, Texas 10000,
Georgia $4,000, Arkansas 10000, Louisi-
ana and Virginia $4,000, Tennessee co.
900, North Carolina SIS, 900, and Kentucky
25. 900. The balance are scattered among
the other States.
AT the afternoon session committee
from the white alliance, consisting of a
delegate from Tennessee, Virginia, Ala
bama, and Louisiana, called in to extend
fraternal greetings. 1t would have been
staggerer to the friends in the color
line to have seen the good feeling shown
on both sides. The white delegates were
introduced to the negroes, shook hands
cordially, and SPOKE to them as brothers.
They were cordially received, and an in
vitation for the colored men to send a
delegation to the meeting of the whites
was accepted. The visit will be made
Friday.
One prominent man in the Alliance
said: "Had the Lodge bill been passed
twenty years ago it would have been
blessing It's too late now" He ex-
planned this by saying that the time had
come when white men and black men
would vote together. Nj. Humphrey
was formerly Democrat, but says the
Democratic party had come to be so bad
that it had no politics at all.
About Well-KnOwn People,
BIsMARCK's autobiography will appear
early next year and it will be printed in