St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-06-28
Keep I'D the Alliance Meetings.

The Farmers Alliance has been very &C
tive and very prosperous in Iowa and in
the entire West during the past winter,
says the Homestead. 1t has not been linn
tied by any means to the West. 1t has
been even more active and enthusiastic in
the Southern States. Nor has it been
limited to the West and South Alliances
are springing up all over the Pacific States
and in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Viz
ginia and even in the New England States.
Some of these movements are in connec-
ton with the Southern Alliance, and
others with the National or Northern
Alliance, and others are independent local
or State organizations. with no national
connections
The time is at hand when there will be
lull in this farmers movement on &C
count of the pressing demands of the crops
on the farmers time and attention. Meet
| ings will not be SO frequent or so well
attended, and there is danger just now of
the farmer losing much that he has gained
| during the winter. The activity, energy
and independence of the farmers move
ment has made an impression on the minds
of the politicians, both State and national
but whether this will be an advantage or q
disadvantage to the farmer depends very
much on his own course during the next
thirty, sixty or ninety days. Farmers
must understand that if the politician
fears them he does not love them, and it
would be just like him to take advantage
of their busy season to lay plans to cir
cumvent them in the coming nominations
or political conventions in every State in
| the Union. While the farmer is busy
| getting in the corn and cultivating his
| crop, and is becoming slack in his attend
ance at Alliance meetings, the politician
has abundant leisure and is very busy set
ting up the pins and securing the nomina-
ton of candidates, who, while not specially
| Objectionable to the farmers, will stand in
with the other fellows. Hence the impor-
lance of farmers of both parties keeping
up their attendance at Alliance meetings
| and considering the political situation.
For instance, the Iowa Republican conven.
ton is called to meet in Sioux City, June
25, and the announcement of the Demo-
cratic con vention will soon follow. In this
State the most important mater is the
nomination of railroad commissioner.
So long as Iowa farmers retain railroad
commission in sympathy with their inter-
ests, the railroad problem will give them
little trouble. Should the railroads secure
of the past four years will be wrested from
| them. An anti-monopoly commission can
be retained only by ceaseless vigilance.
Again, this year congressman will b
elected, and it is of the utmost importanc
that the candidates nominated in both
parties should be in the closest sympathy
with the Western farmer-not only in the
closest sympathy, but should besides
know what the Western farmer needs.
The Esst will take care of itself. They
have no politics in industrial questions
down there. They are not chasing after
rainbows, but corralling all the substan-
tial benefits they can get in the way of
legislation. 1t will be better for the
whole nation if the Western people like
wise look after themselves. Representa-
tives should be nominated in both parties
who are thoroughly Western in sympa-
tbies, interests and traits of character, and
who are proof against the Establishment
and temptations of the East The farm
ers can secure this in both parties if they
will. In politics look after the farm first
the rest will take care of itself. 1t always
has. Farmers may differ as to the reve
nue. policy that should be adopted for the
patton, but they should not differ on this
point, that whstever may be adopted the
farmer should stand even with the mer-
chaut and the manufacturer. Congress
men should be chosen in both parties who
are dead set against any contraction of the
currency, and are against Discrimination
against silver in favor of Wall street, and
who heartily favor legislation that will
protect the people against food adultera-
tions, that will stamp out pleuro-pneu-
monia, and provide for the fullest protec-
ton of focks and herds against disease.
Without the least regard to party all
farmers should stand for men of this kind,
and in their respective party caucauses in
sist on it so earnestly that refusal to grant
it will suggest that the farm interest is
superior to any special emergencies of pol
itics. In this way, without rupturing
party ties, farmers can secure all they
desire.
What is true of Iowa is true of all other
Western States, and even more important
than in Iowa. In all of them farmers
should insist on the fullest recognition of
their rights, not merely in the way of
party or personal pledges, but in the choice |
of men who have the farm spirit, and the |
rugged, stalwart character that is the |
exponent of the tendencies of farm life. |
They can have all this, if they will, but |
they must keep up their meetings and |
stand for their rights. The Alliance |
must not 60 to sleep in political harvest
time. 1t is important to talk through the
winter, but when the party caucus is held
and the conventions are called, it is time
to act
Nor should county interests be over
looked. Nearly all the taxes are levied
and expended in the county. Economical
county management is of the utmost i'm
portance. 1t involves few or no political
questions. Mutual interests alone are
involved. Cities are beginning to under
stand this, and hence do not often carry
political matters into city elections. They
look after economical government. Let
the farmer do likewise. When they do
this, the party in power will give them
good government in order to secure it's
hold. Farmers may just as well have this
as not. Let them insist on it. It always
pays to take day off about caucus time
and see that the county bung hole is looked
after even If little leak does leak out at
the farm spigot Therefore, even if you
must have fewer meetings during the crop
season, see that the attendance is full
Western RurGl and AnaerSc0n Ss0ckna0n.
Gen. P. McGlashan delivered lecture
in Savannah, Ga, recently, for the benefit
of the Confederate veterans fund His
subject was "The Battle of Salem Church,
Va" The speaker described with graphic
1ataiI the hatt1a of SaIem Gburoh ond tho