The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-21
Alliance Instructions.

Il ~--|N-
Those newspapers of the state that are
opposing Gov Gordon for senator are try
ing to make it appear that those newspa-
pers that are supporting him are making
war upon the farmers because they insist
that the alliance organizations have no
right to instruct the members Of the legisla-
ture on the senatorial issue. And they are
telling the alliancemen that those newspa-
pers that are supporting Gov. Gordon are
willing that they shall do the voting, but
are not willing that they shall make sug-
gestions relative TO candidates and public
matters. OF course these newspapers know
that they are not dealing honestly with al
liancemen. They are simply trying to mis-
lead them.
When the county alliances first began to
instruct the representatives of their re-
| spective counties on the senatorial question
| the MORNING News took the position that
they were doing what they had right to
do. for the members Of the legislature were
not nominated and elected as alliancemen,
but as democrats. and the Democratic
party elected them. 1t is undoubtedly true
that nearly all the alliancemen in this state
are democrats, but all democrats are not
aliancemen. There is only one orkaniza-
tion that has right to instruct democratic
members of the legislature on the senatorial
or any other question, and that is the Demo-
cratic party.
The MORNING NEWS has said
time and time again that if the
democratic alliancemen want TO in
struct the members of the legis-
lature of their respective counties upon any
question, they should do so as democrats and
not as alliancemen. They should have dem
ocratic mass meetings called. so as to get
full, free and fair expression of democratic
sentiment. Instructions which are issued
by a secret organization, even If that organ
ization is composed wholly of democrats.
should not be needed by democratic legis-
lators.
The alliance shuts out Of its organization
all who are not farmers, and admits to
membership all farmers in good standing
whatever their political opinions may be.
1t is folly, therefore. to say that instruc-
tions emanating from an alliance organiza-
ton are democratic instructions, those
who pretend otherwise are not dealing hon.
estly with the pubic.
In this senatorial contest many county
alliances haxe refused to recognize the ex-
istence of the Democratic party. They
have ignored it entirely, and yet there was
no reason why they should have done so if
it be true, as claimed. that they comprise a
majority OF the democrats of their respect
i've counties. They could have called mass
meetings or democrats and their instruc-
tons would then have been genuine demo-
cratic instructions, which their representa-
tives would have willingly obeyed. That
they did not take that course justifies the
suspicion that democratic mass meetings
would not have given the instructions which
the alliances did.
Some of the county alliances have adj
mitted that they have no right to instruct
members of the legislature, and have Joined
other democrats in calling mass meetings
or holding primaries. Their course of action
is severe reflection upon those newspapers
which are insisting that alliance instruc-
tions are just as potent with democratic
members of the legislature as the instruc-
tions of democratic mass meetings. They,
in effect, say: "We know the advice you are
giving us is not honest advice, and we will
not follow it." 1t is always better to deal
honestly with the people. Demagogues
may flourish for a while, but they are GER
tain to be found out and receive the con-
tempt they merit.