The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-26
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
1t Has Grown To Be a Very For
mldable Movement.

is A REVERSAL OF THE RELA.
TIoNs OF CAPITAL TO LABOR.
The National View. Washington. D. G.
The old aphorism that the aggregate
sense of the people is generally right Is
soon to have another test. in what is
now known as the Farmers Alliance.
That it has grown to be very formid-
able movement is alarmingly evidenced
in the unrest manifest among politicians
in both parties in nearly all the agri-
cultural sections of the country. 1t is
astonishing the proportions it has
reached. There is scarcely political
convention, county or state, held any
where that does not court its favor, and
that is not ready to shape their pledges
in its behalf. The reason for all this
is obvious, and politicians of all grades
understand it. These alliances repre-
sent votes, and have given notice that
for the first time they are going to be
used for their own benefit as against
abuses arising out of false legislation,
and which they believe are at the bot
tom of all their present troubles. Very
properly they realize that the ballot is
the only efectual weapon for an Amer.
lean citizen not only to assert his equal.
ity before the law, but by which to
correct allthe abuses committed under
the law. Here, in this country, it is
the only Legitimate means of defense,
the citizen has to protect himself
against all encroachments on his rights.
The very law he depends on for his
individual rights of "life, property and
and the pursuit of happiness" rests
upon the ballot. It's wonderful
privilege, and yet how few of US really
appreciate its full import-the conse
quences and responsibilities underlying
it, as we'll as the wrongs and abuses
committed in its name. The fact that
the farmers Alliance intend to use it is
good sign, because the necessities
that have driven them to it has been
the best possible education to inspire
the hope that they will use it intelli-
gently. If this is done, as is already
foreshadowed in political circles every
where, look out for surprises. and par
ticularly in the composition of the next
congress. No one pretends that the
republicans will control it, by reason of
its weakness in shaping important leg
islation in the present congress. With
the exception of the silver question,
even in its present shape, and this had
very narrow escape of being sacrificed
for the benefit of the "gold bugs" there
is every reason to believe that the tariff,
and all other important measures if
passed at all, will be in such bungled
shapes as to be finally rejected by the
people. Under ordinary circumstances
it would be safe to say that the demo
cratic party would be the largest bene-
ciary; but not so, however, with the
threatening proportions of the Farmers
Alliance standing in the way. Unless
some very remarkable changes occur in
this organization to neutralize its pres
ent political probabilities it will elect to
the next congress members enough to
control it, and should this happen then
will come the test of its ability to form.
ulate plan which will be acceptable to
all classes of industry. So far the real
burden of the farmer appears to be his
financial oppression, arising out of the
mischievous mortgage system to which
he has surrendered. The mortgage plan
OF raising money as means of safe Sc
curity, everybody will admit, is one of
the very best, both to the debtor and
the creditor, but it is the evils sanction.
cd under it, that has rendered it op-
pressive. First by monopolizng the
use of money to the few, both by limit.
ing its valume of circulation and by
prescribing the class of securities to
borrow it. In other words, it tends to
increase the purchasing power of money
and thereby prostitutes its Legitimate
purposes, and while this policy has
been the accepted one the world over,
It's discriminating effects underlies
largely, all the great inequalities of life.
The real producer of wealth cannot and
never will get justice under such a
system He may organize and combine
to the end of time, but uatil he strikes
at this root of all evil, his struggles
will continue. What the industrial class
want is complete reversal of the re-
lations of capital to labor. Real wealth
NOT its mere token, made SO by law
should be the master, Money should