The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-04-16
ALLIANCE AND GRANGE.
GOOD RESULTS.
Advantages OF Cohesion I'm the Alliance
Becoming Manifest.

Advantages OF Cohesion I'm the Alliance
Becoming Manifest.
AT last the farmer has realized that
resolutions and declarations of rights
are futile unless backed by substantial
demonstration of power-for half a
century he has annually resolved, re-,
solved and lived and paid Just the same.
Some points have been definitely
settled-they are unalterable facts in
the calendar of 1889. whatever history
in 1890 may write. Note few of the
most prominent
l. Contrary to all precedent and pre-
diction the farmers have stuck together
the past year. They have done more
they have acted commercially, con-
servatively, intelligently. True, re-
suits are short of what they might have
been; but they have been directly pro-
portionai 10 the prevalence Of concert
ed action-and | am persuaded, are far
short of what 1890 will show. The
farmers ability to stick" is q demon
strated fact.
p The farmers ability to control his
product, and command a fair price for it
in the markets of the world, even under
the unfavorable conditions of last year,
is settled question. There is no wiping
out the fact that Notwithstanding the
large crop, and the manipulation of a
shrinking volume of currency in the in
terest of speculation, the cotton crop
Just harvested has sold for an average
of 81 more per bale than that of any
year since 1881. This, too, in the face
of existing disproportions-e. g., the
crop of 1881 aggregated only five and
half million bales as against near seven
and half millions for last year. To
purchase the crop of 1881 there was cur
rency in circulation to the amount of
Sll.4S per capita; to purchase the last
crop there was only $40 per capita, or
less.
1t is generally admitted now by can
did observers in Wall street and out of
it that the Farmers movement was the
principal factor in making up this re-
suit. If such results can be wrought
out of such crude material, with an en-
vironment so inauspicious, what may
not the farmer reasonably hope for the
present year? The possibilities contin-
gent alone upon concerted action (for
wise leadership is assured) are inspiring
in the highest degree.
3. The mercantile and manufacturing
world has changed its attitude toward
the farmer. Every line of goods in
every line Of business has been sub
iected to the closest scrutiny; and ''what
are the farmers going to dol" figures in
every business calculation. The con
temptation well-nigh takes ones breath
Is this not worth all the labor, all the
trouble?
General inquiry into the first cost Of
commodities has been stimulated. and
the people at large instructed as to the
wide hiatus between cash and time
prices There will be no steps back
ward from this point.
The cohesive force does exist, then
among the farmers; and the stupendous
momentum Of the coherent body of farm
ers against any and all combinations
devised for the farmers hurt has beer
startlingly illustrated. But let The
farmer not forget that his case is still
res ddjudicdtG mont is continued upor
the dockets Of go; it is still pending
Its decision or progress towards fina
adjudication this year will depend upol
the fidelity of the farmer Throughout
the year, of course; but will depend par
ticularly, and, more than all else, upO
three things:
l. Upon the business engagement
the farmer makes during the next few
months. If he fall into the old rut an
make contracts for advances payabl
November 1, as heretofore, the move
ment will be shorn Of half its power.
is the universal sense Of State and Ma
tional Alliance that no contract Shout
be made that will compel the produce
to sell his products before December
or %.
Complete victory for the farmer i
1890 will be achieved, IL at all, durin
the first months of the year." writes
w. Stokes in the Orangeburg Is. c.
Times and Democrat. He continues:
''let him economic at every poin
make this crop, if possible, without in
curing debt. If one must have &C
vances, make no contracts to mature bt
fore January or December 25. Tn
merchant must help us at this poin
and he will if it is properly presented
Pay him interest for the addition;
time, of course, but by all means hol
that point, demand that time"
.. 1t depends upon strictest fidelity
the plans and instructions emanatin
from farmers headquarters. Seeds I
dissension will be industriously and il
sidiously sown by disaffected partit
within and without the camps. Ever
effort will be made to undermine tt
confidence of the farmer in those me
who are stationed upon the watc
towers. Their motives will be il
sidiously assailed, and the temptatic
will be to repudiate their rulings whe
individual or local interest seem to col
fict with them; but have patienc
brother, till you can see all around Il
matter from their standpoint. TIL
phase Of the fight is already ''on," {
was clearly shown few days ago. II
president OF the State Exchange
Georgia resigned on the groul
OF ill-health and pressing priva
business. An enemy flashed 9
over the country the insinuation tn
he was defaulter. The dailies. wi
their usual enterprise, announced
startling headlines, "A scandal in AL
ance circles!" followed by quarter
"A column of conjectures and surmis