Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-03-21
undeaarvad sarcaam.

size of the bundle. Finally motion was made
and carried with a whOOp. follows; That we
send our sincere thanks to our representative IN
Cong ress for his liberal distribution of seeds
ON motion the secretary was instructed 70 pub
liFh such part of the proceedings as he thought
advisable. b. HLSsDELLs Secretary.
The above appeared as part Of the
Secretary's report Of the late meeting
of the Farmers Alliance. 1t is we'll
known that the HERALD has from the
beginning been the ardent friend and
defender of the Alliance movement.
It is still such friend For the first
time the occasion has arisen when we
feel it is our duty to criticize the ac-
ton Of some members of the Alliance.
Calling on Mr.. Spaulding for an ex-
PLANTATION in regard to this seed dis
tribution business. he said that the
Secretary of the Agricultural depart
ment at the request of Congressman
Turner sent the seeds to some desig-
mated person IN each county with the
request that they be distributed over
the county. On account Of lack Of
time, Mr.. Spaulding thought the most
efficient way to distribute the seeds
would be to ask Mr. Dunning to hand
them to delegates attending the
Farmers County Alliance meeting, as
they were from all parts of the cOun-
ty. Mr.. Spaulding wrote to Secre-
tary Rusk urging him to send this
county a greater amount of seeds, but
so far has received no response. If
the convention did express the con-
tempt and indulge in the sneers as
reported by Secretary Hinsdell, then
we do not hesitate to say that their
action was i'll advised and unwIse.
Every well informed person knows
that the Agricultural department de
termines the proportion Of seeds
which shall be sent to the respective
congressional districts of the United
States, and that a member Of congress
cannot control that no more than can
a private citizen. He can only DIS
tribute his quota and no more.
| The Farmers Alliance movement is
a grand one and gives promise Of ac-
complishing great good but it should
deal with men and measures candid
ly, fairly. Nothing can be gained in
the long run by misrepresentation or
} unfairness. The great, honest, intel
. tllgent masses which constitute the
r rank and file of this noble Alliance
movement should be discreet and
} thoughtful and not be led too swiftly
. into denunciations of men nor of time
, honored customs. This is an age of
z earnest thought, of rigid investiga-
: ton, Of sitting the true from the false,
of departing from some old methods
r and the adoption of new ones. It be
hooves every one to go forward slow
lily, intelligently but surely. The
mere emotional agitators, the wild
l entbuslasts-the fellows whose whole
i power of argument consists in ridi-
s culing or violently denouncing an op-
ponent are not the safest leaders. Let
4 wise counsels prevail: let no Impor-
r tant step be taken without the fullest
investigation Of the subject in all its
+ bearings; let those who would ridi
i cule and resort to viJuperation anc
4 blind, unreasOning enthusiasm anC
+ misrepresentation be kept in the
i back ground, and the level-headec
d ones who are too honest to be unfair
> and too intelligent to be led by ridi
D cule and sopistry, come to the front.
/. LATER Since the above was put il
9 type the following letter was handed
T to us:
d WASHINGTON. Mar. 18th, 1890.
n G. A. SDaulding ESQ.