Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-19
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.

THE ORGANIZATION AND OBI ECTS DISCUSSED BY
MR.. BEN TERRELL.
OF TEXAS LECTURER OF THE NATIONAL ALI
ANCE.
Agreeable to announcement, the lecturer of
the Farmers National Alliance. Mr.. Ben Ter
rell, of Texas. delivered q public address in the
Courthouse on the 18th instant. About one
hundred and fifty persons were present. most
ly Augusta farmers and members of the organi.
zation. They were representative citizens Of
the county. and were much interested in the
speech of the lecturer.
Shortly after IL O'Clock, Mr.. Terrell was es-
corted TO the stand by Hon. A. 3. Lightner,
who In troduced him to the audience. He is of
medium height and of good presence and pop
ular address, and speaks rapidly and well. He
commenced by stating that he was a native
and resident of Texas. and was farmer. This
was his first speech in Virginia. andh second
visit. When a boy seventeen years of age, he
became Confederate soldier and served in
Hoods brigade, and was with that command
when 1t was in Virginia. He now came as the
lecturer of the Farmers National Alliance,
The organization was commenced In Texas.
and there were now two and halfmillion mem
bers. and with the Industrial Union and Co.
operative Associations, more than four mill
lion members working to obtain for the agri-
cultural in terest of the country relief from the
burdens it had long suffered.
The forms of the organization in its work
were explained, none of which were secret.
The only secrecy about 1t, vera the methods OF
recognizing one another by signs and the fra
ternal associations which bound them together
as brethren. A broad national citizenship
cemented the fraternity which was for obliter-
ating all sectional feelings. and to place the
70
plane they should occupy in the whole coun-
try. He had been in Kansas lately, and par
ticipated in the canvass there which had re-
suited in electing a legislature and five mem
bers of Congress who adhered to the objecS OF
the Alliance. Three years ago. he could not
have spoken in that State as he had done in
this canvass, because the people were then led
by sectional influences and prejudices, and
from which the organic ltion had freed them.
Ifthe Southern States were solidly demo-
cratic and the others Republican, no progress
could be made in securing legislation by Con-
gress for the great agricultural interests, con-
sequently political feeling established upon
sectional pref udices had to be overcome and
| class legislation defeated. Selfish men were in
| the organization as they were In political par
| ties, and all SUCH should be kept out of office.
He next discussed the currency question. and
argued that 1t had been regulated In the inter-
est of bondholders, and that the silver blu of
| the present administration wholly failed to
give relief to the agricultural interest. The
| farmers should now control the legi station,
| and If they were benefited thereby, 1t could
| not hurt any other interest. and 1t was sur
prising that they had remained SO long with
| out asserting their rights, and now we have
organized to change tie State of things. To do
1 ffr,r,c
in the school districts, sending the best men to
| the State Alliance. and that body to send Its
best men to the National Alliance at, Chicago
| In December, when the measures which should
be demanded at the hands of Congress would
be form ulated.
He coupled the force bill with other objec-
| tionable and sectional measures of the Repub-
lican adm abstraction, to show how earnestly
| the Alliance In the Republican States were OPP
posing such legislation and cited the case If a
distinguished editor ofthe Alliance organ, Mr.,
Jno. P. StehI, in Illinois. The Alliance were
determined to crush out all such policies. and
| If the democrats failed to sustain the measures
which the Alliance should demand. and give
nothing better in their stead. like fate would
await them in 1850 to that which was visited
upon their oppone cuts in 1899.
He cited the case of the distinguished rail-
road lawyer in Georgia, Mr.. Calhoun, whom
they worked to send to the q. s. Senate, who.
though not a member ofthe Alliance. had been
the advocate for all they desired In regulating
charges on railroads.
He adverted again to the metals OF the cur
rency and demanded that silver should be OF
the same value as gold. which was not the case
under existing laws. The Alliance did not say
that only farmers could legislate properly-not
4 ricrtf Iny
yer to an unworthy farmer. Nor was 1t first
intellectual, and then b onest men they want
ed, but it was first honest men. In seeking
the election CT such uot vote should be
bought, and whiskey should not be used in
elections In his own county IL Texas, the
canvass thus conducted in opposition to otner
methods had resulted In 200 majority against
the use of whiskey and the employment of
money in obtaining votes.
The sub-treasury scheme was next discussed.
which was an Alliance measure. He devoted
much time to this policy and gave many Illus
trations of the effect it would produce benefi-
cial to the wheat.growers in Augusta county.
The constitutional objection was unworthy of
consideration. The constitution had been
changed to suit the situation and to benefit
negroes and there was no reason why 1t should
not be altered, if necessary. when the farmers
and the agricultural interests of the country
were seeking for relief. If the measure were
efficacious, that was sufficient; If otherwise.
they did not want it. 1t was The duty and
would be required of Congress to furnish such
relief. It is the business of Congress to do 1t.
The petition for such law had been denied
discussion, but there would be thirty eight
men in the next Congress who would see that
1t was discussed. and If the democrats failed to
do Justice to it, other men will take their places
just as they had suppIanted their opponents.
References were made to the views of Jeffer-
son and Lincoln which they held were applic-
able to ownership of land and the proper use
of money. condemning foreign proprietorship
In the first, and the duty of government as TO
the other. The large possession OF lands by
railroad corporations was baneful. as illustrate
ed in a case in Georgia The effects of aliens
obtaining large possessionsswere greatly hurt
full to the general interests of all the people.
He made 1t very clear that Mr.. Ingalls, OF
Kansas would not be returned again to the
United States Senate where he had ignored the
claims and the distressed situation of the far
mers of that State. and closed with handsome
eulogy of the Confederate and Union soldiers
who now stood together for the great and best
interests of the country and whose principles
were emblazoned on the banners of the AL
lance IN thirty 0IatSS VI tuo OulOu. ne spoke
for nearly two hours.
Col. H. ]. Williams, President of the County
Alliance. came in q few minutes after the
speaker had commenced his address and took
a seat on the stand.
Sale Of Farms.
Mr.. P. N Powell has sod his farm east of the
city to the stanton Development Company
Tor $4,000 and bought of Mr.. Isaac Wiz his
farm of I acres west OF the city at sll 900.
A REVISED SCHEDULE of the passenger trains
on the Valley Railroad will be published next
week. The train Southwark which arrives at
stanton at 1:40 P. NJ, has been discontinued
south of StauntOn.
The proprietors of EIy's Cream Balm do not