The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-24
LISTEN TO THIS TALE OF WOE.
me Alliance OF the Farmers which
Frehtens Politicians.
u Began as a Terror to the Cattle
Thieves Of Texas.
Now 1t Has Cone Into Politics In ths
South and West.
Especial to the Press. ]


WASHINGTON. July 23.-Aside from their
troubles in attempting to override the
Speaker, the Southern Democrats have other
and great causes Of woe this session. Al
though the Democratic papers have said
considerable about the grievOusnsss Of life
In House where the Speaker Is a "czar,"
this has been far from measuring the true
volume Of their grief. Happen upon group
Of Democratic statesmen from the South In
the cloak room or In the seclusion Of their
committee rooms and you will find them talk
ing, not about the "ezar" or the rules, but
about the Alliance. The Alliance Is to
them great and an abiding terror, and well
It may be. In South Carolina 1t Is shaking
TO its lowest depths that old and hldebound
association known as the Democratic Ollgar-
chy; in Georgia II has arranged 10 remove
from the halls Of the House seyeralbrlght
and shining Democratic lights. m AIahe,arr-
there is TO be told the same tale Of woe in
Mississippi the terrible Alliance even sue
ceeded for time In beclOuding the spirits
OF the faeetious John Allen, who before that
was the perpetual variety show Of the House
OF Representatives In Arkansas and Texas
states OF eternal Democracy, there, also, Is
the Alliance terror.
IL would be a mistake 20 suppose that the
Democrats alone are suffering from this or
ganizatiOn OF phenomenal growth and polit-
leal pO 1er. In the West aud Northwest the
Republicans are having more or less trouble
although th-y do not seem so much cast
down as the Democrats Of the South
Inc Farmers Alliance, the organization
which Is max ng all this disturbance, Is one
Of the most remarkable organizations Of the
day. 1t came into being fourteen years ago,
In Lampasas county, Texas, but IL did not
spring at once TO that tremendous stature as
q political agerey which new terrifes poll.i-
In Nka ETlasfs. f.w. -.
Alliance was not framed for an engine to
cast abroad dismaY in the political feld.s
Fence breakers and cattle thieves were nu-
merous In Lampasas county, and the sturdy
Texas farmers determined TO put them down.
So the Alliance was formed. How its ener-
giles came to be turned from
cattle thieves to politicians is
an interesting story. The arrangement In
Lampasas county worked so well that far
mers in other counties adopted 1t, and soon
there were enough local bodies to form a
state alliance. About this time 1t was found
that the order would be good thing for the
farmers irrespective Of the advantages
which 1t gave for dealing with cattle thieves.
While the alliance was starting In Texas the
farmers In other states were Organizing
The example Of the Grange had been fol-
lowed in several states where the Grange had
obtained no footing, for the Grange was con-
fined largely to the Northern States. II
Louisiana was formed the Farmers Uniol.
in Arkansas "The Wheel" farmers organ
ization which has at the present time a rep
Tesentatiye on the floor Of Congress in
Featherst0ne, OF Arkansas. Then there
were the Brothers Of Freedom, an organi-
zation similar to The Wheel, and organized
in the same region. The Brothers OF Free
dom first consolidated with The Wheel
and formed tho National Wheel. StiIi
later. at meeting at Waco, Texas the Far.
mers' Union of Louisiana. and The Wheel
Joined hands, the result being the Farmers
and Laborers' Union OF America, which had
membership in all the states In the cotton
belt. 1t was In December, 1888, that the new
organization completed the arrangement.
Meanwhile the Farmers Alliance had been
spreading from Texas, and had attained
large membership In the West and North
west
Last year the two great organizations met
| in their conventions In st. Louis, the Farm
| efsSAlliance and the Farmers and LabOrers'
| Union 81 1Ak1aaeEica. Then 1t was decided to
consolidate the w0eSganizations under the
name Of the National Farmers' Alliance and
Industrial Union. This is the order the
making politicians and states1feS
south and West, especially In the 81
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, North L.
ia, South Dakota, Florida, Georgia, Indiana,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ma
Tyland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wis
eonsin. Ohio and Illinois, the Farmers AL
lance Is on the war path with more OF less
vigor, especially in South Carolina, Georgia
Is having series Of fits on account Of its APP
pearance.
As yet the order has not appeared in New
England, but its leaders are proposing to
move on that region.
The order Is secret, much as the Grange Is
| secret order. Its declaration Of purposes
| Is far more moderate than would be expected
| OF an order that Is kicking up such a sensa-
| tlon in the political world. Here is the mod
| est and reasonable declaration, between the
lines OF which many a Bourbon politician OF
the South thinks he is reading his own doom:
Profoundly impressed that we, the Farmers'
A,Inancei a, united oy the strong and faithful ties
our declaration OF Intentions, we therefore re-
solve:
L.. To labor for the education OF the agricul-
tural classes In the science Of economical govern
ment, IN strictly non partisan spirit.
2. To indOrse the motto, lin things essential,
unity and In all things charity"
3; 10 develop better state, mentally, morally.
socially and financially
T. To create a better understanding for sus-
| der.
s. To constantly strive to secure entire harmo-
ny and good will among all mankind and brother
/ ly love among ourselves.
| Q. To suppress personal, local. sectional aud
national preiudices; all unhealthy rivalry and all
| selfish ambition.
| Z. The brightest Jewels which it gamers are
i the tetrs of widows and orphans, and It's impera-
/ tive commands are TO visit the homes where lac.
| ings OF brother; bury the dead; care for the
/ widows aud educate the orphans; to exercise
i charity toward offenders; 20 cOnstrue words and
deeds In their most favorable light, granting hon
| esty OF purpose and good intentions to others,
ana TO protect the principles OF the Alliance unto
death. Its laws are reason and equity; its cardi-
nal doctrines inspire purity Of thought aud lifei
| It's intentions are peace ON earth and good VIII
| toward men,"