The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-07-18
MINNESOTA FARMERS.

The Farmers Alliance, of Minnesota,
have adopted resolution declaring that
they viii actindependently in politics. This
does not mean that the members will each
take independent action in political cam
pagns, making up ticket to suit himself,
advocating it on the stump and voting 1t at
the polls. That kind of independent polit-
ical action would be ridiculous, resulting
only in giving advantage to the enemy.
What the farmers propose and have agreed
to do, is to go into politics as separate
and independent organization, having their
own platform and tickets and making the
contest for offices on the merits of their
principles and men.
As rule third partiesn are failure.
They achieve nothing. They may be theo-
retically correct, and their aims and efforts
are praiseworthy in fhe abstract; but as
for results they never come. The Mug
wumps demand honesty in government and
politics, and no air-minded man can find
any fault with them or their labors; but
the hlugwumps are anuisance everywhere,
andaccomphsh nothing. Every good man
must confess that the Prohibitionists are
laboring for the benefit OF mankind, and
pretty nearly every good man would
be pleased if the temperance people We're
to gain what they are striving for; but as
AIN independent political organization the
Prohibition party works quite as much
harm as benefit to the cause.
How it will be with the Farmers ALI
ance cannot be foretold, but we apprehend
that their experience will not be unlike
that of other disconnected voters who set
out TO cure evils by working on independ-
ent lines twill not be disputed by any
intelligent observer that while the farmers
give strength and solidity to the nation
they are Disseminated against and put
upon by legislation, both national and state.
Laws are framed III tie interest of corpo-
rations and the money power, and the poor
farmer is the one to be plucked. Every
tariff law that we have had since the war
has been framed with the view to plumber
ing the agriculturist for the benefit of
others; railway Legislation is almost in
variably against the farmer; the farmer is
plucked on all sides, the politicians assum-
ing that because he is a mild. non
combative, Woodworking man he will
not resist as long as it is pos
sible TO stand up under the
burden. Your demagogues and these
are the fellows who are running,
the country-cater to the money power and
are afraid to offend the workingmen who
can be so influential at election times; but
the honest, easy-going farmer can be
ground down with impunity, because it is
assumed that he will not resent the impo-
sition.
Latterly, the tillers of the soil have given
evidence of a disposition to give their eyes
and intellects chance. They are show
ing that they know something of the
wrongs heaped upon them, and that they
are disposed to resist. But we fear they
are going about the business of obtaining
relief in the wrong way. If they have the
strength of numbers to win control, they
will be all right in going alone and ''down-
ing'' the opposition; but they have not that
strength, hence in herding by themselves
will they not tie their own hands and lose
all the influence they now possess BY
acting independently of the old parties in
Minnesota the farmers will make it easier
for the farmers enemy-the Republican
party-to retain its supremacy.
We must think it is political blunder
that the Alliance is working, and one which
viii be regretted. The place for the farm
ers to work is within the parties, where
they can cure evils and obtain their rights.
To go outside will be to accomplish nothing.