Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-12-03


farmers organization has been in exist
ence in this State. The character of
the organization also is a guarantee of
its permanence and its future power. 1t
possesses elements of strength. 1t pos
sesses elements of strength that no
other political party has.
While the party itself is an organiza-
ton outside, not only Of the Alliance
but also of the other Industrial orders
that have united under a common ban
ner yet the several Alliances and As
semblies Of the different orders are the
schools where the wrongs of the people
and the remedies for the same are most
thoroughly discussed.
In this multitude of schools farmers
and laboring men. the producers OF all
wealth, come together from week to
week, bringing their wives and sons
and daughters with them, and they all
sit down together and dispassionately
discuss the questions relating to their
common interests.
No such organizations ever before ex-
isted. The old Grange was the nearest
approximation to 1t, but the fact that
politics was not allowed to be brought
within the sacred precin nets of the
Grange marks a wide difference in the
two organizations Great stress has
been laid by the adherents of the old
parties upon the first clause in the Alli-
ance declaration of principles, wherein
it is our declared purpose, to labor for
the education of the agricultural classes
in the science of economical govern
ment in strictly non partisan spirit"
1t has been held that this clause ex-
cluded politics from consideration in
the order. By what rule of interpreta-
ton of language such conclusion is
reached it is difficult to determine.
We hold, as we have ever held, that on
the contrary this is a direct war
rant for political discussion and for
political action. The aim of the order,
as defined by this declaration, is SIM
ply to make men less partisan in poll
tics. Party ties have been too strong.
Men have adhered too much to party,
whether right or wrong, and the re-
suit of this extreme partisan zeal has
been the evils from which we are now
suffering.
When the people of America are all
thoroughly educated lin the science of
economical government in a strictly
non-partisan spirit, they will cease to
vote for party and will vote ever for the
right
This is one of the purposes of the AL
lance. 1t is evident that while a very
small and insignificant majority hold to
the non-political character of the order
| as they understand it to be defined by
our declaration of principles, the great
mass of the membership hold to the
view herein expressed. If the Alliance
is non-politcal, its sphere of usefulness
is extremely limited, and the results to
be accomplished are not commensurate
with the outlay of time and money
necessary to maintain it. But we do
not propose to argue a proposition sc
universally admitted.
The political character of the organ
ization being decided, and its adhesive
| qualities having stood the test of a first
trial under most d scouraging circum.
stances, having undertaken and largely
succeeded in overcoming the vast ma.
| jority of the banner Republican States
OF the Union, what shall we say of its
future? A glance at the results of the
recent elections in other States of the
Union, shows that wherever the organi
cation exists it has dealt tell
ing blows to the dominan
parties of the several States A large
number of members have been elected
to the next Congress. Our influence
will be felt when these members take
their seats The power of the SenatG
| -, H. Al E. -
but the future will change the com
plexion of that body as we'll as tn,
House. Kansas will begin the gooC
work this year, and it will be contin
ued in the years to come. There will
be no cessation of hostilities agains
the hosts of monopoly until the right
Of the people are fully recognized.
What, then, is the future of our party
1t will be organized as a Nationa
party in the near future. We shall a
once commence to marshal the host
of the people for the conflict of 1892
In this great work there are man,
prejudices to overcome. Sectiona
lines must be abolished Interest
which are identical must be brough
together, and the combined forces O
the agricultural and laboring classe
must be consolidated against the force
of the corporations, monopolists, trusts
syndicates and moneyed aristocrat
who have for years Toasted upol
the substance Of the people. Whel
we say these forces are to b
marshaled against the oppressors of tn
people we do not mean that the injus
toe which has characterized the col
porate power of America is to be re
turned in kind; the people simply as
for justice, that alone-and that, by tn
eternal, they will have. The comm
contest therefore, will not take plac
between the Northern and Southern sec
tons of our country. In the languag
Of Senator Ingalls,:
These great communities, that wer
only separated by the system of slavery
have, since its destruction, been alier
, ated by factions that have estrange
them only to prey upon them and
maintain political supremacy by thei
! alienation. Unfrendly legislation ha
imposed intolerable burdens upon thei
energies; invidious discrimination ha
been made against their products; III
,, just tariffs have repressed their indus
tries"
The interest of the people of tn
West and South are ident cal, and thei
,, political forces must be consolidate
against the power of corporate greed
We may as we'll recognize this fact no
as to permit our prejudices to postpon
. the day of its recognition. The profet
sional politicians of both PARTIES. bot
North and South, who have devote
: their lives so assiduously to the promo
ton of corporate interests, recognize
that this union of the two sections
the great danger that threatens tn
D power of monopo y, and they therefor
constantly aim to keep alive the prejt
dices that have ''estranged them onl
: TO prey upon them, and to maintai
olitical annramacv hu thnir allan.