Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21

1t Promises to Cut Big Figure in Future
Elections.


The Farmers alliance seems to be
fourishing in the south. At the meeting
Of the state alliance of Mississippi, at
Starkvllle, recently, every county in the
state except two was represented. The
delegates present represented |, $40 sub-al-
lance. At the same time the Farmers
alliances of Louisiana met at Baton Rouge.
about forty parishes being represented.
In South Carolina the organization has
taken the political field, and to many
southern congressional districts 1t is a
powerful factor, having promise of making
itself felt in the election of congressman.
The very name is significant.
In slavery times farm and plantation
were terms suggestive respectively OF free
and slave labor applied to agriculture.
Gradually the planter is giving place to the
farmer, and the old prejudice against the
latter term seems to be gradually dying
out. Important results may come out Of
the change thus being wrought, but ii
idea is still dominant in the south, and
quite as bad In the rural districts as In the
cities. Of the two it is worse in the agri-
cultural districts than it is in the cities and
towns
In South Carolina the alliance is array
ed against the landed and human chat
tel aristocracy, of which Wade Hampton
is distinguished representative, but the
poor whites and the common people show
no signs, so far as can be observed at this
distance, of any less bitter preiudices
against the colored people than the old
aristocracy. The black man is all well
enough as a field and household drudge,
but when it comes to the rights of man
hood the alliance is probably as bitter as
the regular democracy. The time may
come when the feeling between the aristoc-
racy and the humble whites will be so bit
ter that one or the other will call on the
colored voters to come to the rescue, but
every possible precaution against such a
result is taken In the present stage of de-
velopment.
Whatever, then, may be the ultimate
effect of this new factor in southern poll.
tics no one need suppose for a moment
that the solidity OF the south, so far as
| concerns the negro vote, is likely to be
broken or seriously impaired thereby
Congress must do its duty in the premises,
and not trust to some fortuitous third
party movement to bring about the recog-
milton of the colored citizens right to vote
and have his ballot counted.
A year or so ago good deal of progress
was being made, especially in the cotton
belt of Mississippi, in the organization Of
colored farmers alliances Those alliances
had their newspaper organ, and seemed III
fair way to develop large proportions
This tendency was apparently wholesome.
It was non-political. But it excited APP
prehension. The ''niggers were putting
on white airs, and proposed to be some.
body. That would never do. A killing
bee was formed in Tallahatchie county,
Mississippi. There was no fighting back
A gang of whites. fairly representative of
| the region, turned out, and with their Win
chesters cooked rode around shooting
colored men at sight A local paper said
that these measures look harsh and
arbitrary, but when the fearful ignorance
and prejudice of the negroes are taken in,
to account it is indisputable that a combi
nation Of any kind among them is danger
Gus and needs more or less surveillance
They frequently prostitute their churche:
and benevolent orders to wrongful pur
poses" In other words, the colored mer
must not be allowed to organize under the
rules of even so non-political an order a:
the Farmers alliance, and it is more thar
limited that suppression of all assembling
of themselves together. even for religion!
or charitable purposes, would be sanction
ed. The ordinary agencies of progress
and betterment must be denied the coloreo
people lest they should assert manhood
That is the barbarism to which the south
| has at Ia ct SINK