St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-15
Fighting FARMERS.

The indications are that the Alliance
movement is going to cut an important
figure in national politics this year. and
that it is going to make serious break
Ill both of the old parties. In the
Southern states the Democrats will be
the sufferers. while in the Western
states the Republicans will have to
bear the brunt of the new departure.
Whether or not this is one of those
spasmodic movements which the farm
ers and labor classes are accustomed to,
or whether it is movement of perma-
nent growth and development remains
to be seen. In some respects it is SINH
lar to the Grange movement Of several
years ago, which cut wide swath in
the Western states for season OF two
and then quietly dropped out of exist
ence. Yet in other respects the new
movement has an appearance of solidity
and permanence which strikes terror to
the souls of the old party hacks, and
they are in quandary as to what is to
be the outcome of the Alliance move
ment.
The Ohio farmers declined to put
state ticket in the field at this time, pre-
ferring, as they expressed it. to make
one more effort to swing the old parties
into line with the Alliance. Taking the
platform of principles adopted by the
Buckeye farmers as guide, it will be
impossible for the Republicans of Ohio,
under the leadership of men like KC
kINLEY and FORAKER, to affiliate with
the farmers, or even to encourage them
in their present position. 1t was I'M
questionably the farmer vote that elect
ed CAMPBELL in the last state election,
and the chances are that the farmer vote
will contribute very largely TO sending
a Democratic delegation from Ohio to
the next congress. In South Carolina
the Alliance men captured the Demo-
cratic state convention. and by all over
whelming majority forced tine Demo-
Gratis to take stand on the Alliance
platform. Practically the same course
is being pursued in Texas and in
Georgia.
Here in the Northwest, however, the
farmers have decided upon more in
dependent course of action. In Kansas,
Nebraska and Minnesota, they have
broken away from the old parties and
are sailing under their own colors. They
have had more experience here in
dickering with the old parties than their
Southern brethren have, and after the
same experience the latter will prob
ably do just as the Northwestern
farmers are doing.
Taking Minnesota as an example, the
farmers of this state have for the last
ten years held to the Republican party
in the hope that something would be
done for their relief. Successive Repub-
lican platforms promised all that the
farmers demanded, yet in no single in
stance were those pledges fulfilled.
The farmers voted the Republican
ticket on the strength of the platform,
and yet, at the end of ten years, they
find themselves more completely at the
mercy of the rings and the corporations
than they were in the beginning. 1t is
no wonder they have become suspicious
of the sincerity of Republican prom
ises, and it is an evidence of their in
| telligence and independence that they
refuse to be deluded any longer.
The farmers of Kansas and Nebraska
have had the same experience that their
Minnesota brethren have, and now they
are breaking away from the dominant
party In both of those states Alliance
tickets have been placed in the field.
| There, as here, the state conventions
were composed of representative farm
| ers who refused to be led by the profess
SIGNAL politicians. They struck out for
themselves. and they are going to fight
the battle Oh their own line of cam
paigning.
The surface indications are that the
Alliance movement has staying quail
ties, and is destined to become an I'M
portant factor in national politics. AT
all events, it is disturbing the dreams of
the politicians so far as this years out
look is concerned. There is many con-
gresham now trembling in his seat fol-
fear that the place which now knows
him will know him no more forever.