Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-10
Editorial Comments.
True Aims of the Alliance.

True Aims OF the Alliance.
Most of the republican farmers who
belong to the alliance went into it in
good faith. They joined it in hopes
that by an association of those engaged
in their own calling they might con-
slider and devise ways and means of
ameliorating the condition of agricul-
ture. They were told it was not to be
a political party and that by joining
the order, they would not be required
or expected to renounce any of their
former party principles or associations.
Every republican farmer in Kansas
knew and now knows that the republi-
can party has done everything by way
of Legislation for the farmer that has
been done for thirty years; that the
entire course Of the democratic party
has been against free homes, home
steads, and free and well paid labor
and that the doctrine of the union
labor-greenbaek party, so far as it can
be said to have stuck to one idea for
fOrtY-eight hours, has been visionary,
impractical, subversive of all good
government, destructive of all homes
and devoid of all merit. Had the
object of the alliance been stated to be
the formation of new political party
with democrats and union labor men
for its leaders, not one republican
would have enlisted in the ranks of
such ali organization. But the true
objects of the alliance had been cor
rectly promulgated by the true friends
of the farmers in other states and re-
publican farmers had reason to believe
that the alliance of Kansas was for the
same high and useful purpose. The
alliance and State Grange of Illinois in
resolution recently adopted at Spring
field, have very pointedly and tersely
stated the object and purpose of the
order. Among other resolutions they
adopted the following:
Resolved, That since this organization is
made up of members of all political parties,
each member is expected to be missionary
in his own party. That only men favorable
to our reasonable demands are nominated
for Office in which they may effect our inter-
ests as a class, we, as members of the differ,
ent parties, exp ect to find them in ranks of
cur respective party, but should we be dis
appointed we shall be excused If we insist
on voting for our friends. We further rec.
ommend to our members that they take
an active and leading part in political prima-
ries and conventions of all parties, and that
they give an expression to their views and
wishes in such primaries and conventions
by instructions to delegates and resolutions
unmistakable in terms upon the subjects of
political economy and such others as are
now before the public. That the OrganiZa-
tions here repre- zented are in no wise pOlit-
ical in "a party sense, and, therefore, we rec
omme1d that we make no state nominations
as a separate party, but that in legislative,
senatorial and congressional nominations we
demand of ell candidates that they be pub
licly pledged to maintain the principles and
demands herein set forth, and that we will
support no candidate not 20 pledged.
principles of the alliance, and where
ever the organization is not domineered
over by democrats and other designing
political demagogues, the method of
procedure as laid down in this resolu-
tion will be pursued. 1t points out the
only natural way to accomplish the
purposes of the alliance.
Let every farmer be a missionary in
his own party. Let them see to it that
only men favorable to the reasonable
demands Of the farmers are nominated
by the republicans; such men are to lie
found in greater abundance among re-
publicans than elsewhere. Let the |
republican farmers take an active and |
leading part in the primaries and con-
ventions; let them by instruction to !
delegates and resolutions unmistakable |
express their views in such primaries |
and conventions in language that can
not be misunderstood. Then will the |
farmers have representatives of their |
own choosing in all the offices to be
filed, and these representatives will |
belong to powerful political organiza-
ton which has heretofore, is now and
will continue to be the best friend of
The farmer and the home.