Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-07-31
AS TO tho Alliance and Politics.
[From tho Cotton Plant. !


and non-sectarian sensc. In this
way our members will be informed
as to what is thoir duty in such mat
tcrs.
don't think II becomes us, as an
organization, to take part in tho lob
bying or putting forward of candi-
dates, but it becomes us to study
any and every issue that pertains to
our interest, ascertain the opinions
and views of every candidate on all
questions that concern us, to sup
port only those whom we know are
wholly in sympathy with us and
will work for the advancement Of
our cause, for the upbuilding Of the
agricultural interests of the country
and for the overthrow Of monopolics,
combines and trusts. Those YAM
pircs that are sapping the very life
blood Of the nation and forcing the
wealth producers into II scrfdom
squal to, if not worse than, that OK
listing i'll many OF the older countries,
must be crushed. This plan of op-
preston was SIT on foot Immediately
after the close Q. the war, and has
continued to grow and expand until
we are on the verge Of ruin. We,
as was the custom prior to the war,
left the management of the govern
mcnt, both National and State, in
the hands Of the politicians, who
have played into the hands of the
moncyed autocrats. The object and
aim of this class have been to shape
all Legislation in their favor, to the
oppression of the masses. This is
plainly evidenced by the fact that
thirty years ago the wealth producers
of the nation owned one half of tic
wealth, now they own little over
onc-ifth. Was IL not time. for us to
arouse from our lcthargy and strive
to devise ways and means for check
ing them III their iniquitous course,
and save ourselves from the iinan-
cial bondage, whittier we were fast
drifting?
In discussing the situation at the
last meeting of our National body at
st. Louis, 1T was asccrtaincd that
ninc-tcnths of the farmers and nine
tccn-twcnticths of the wage carncrs
of the United States were on the
down grade to bcggary. 1t was
thcrc resolved by our representa-
tivcs, composed of both ,eysFl.lar;;il:.;
and n- ~ e. I..,G en- 'S
..,a .s.r-UOnicdcratcs, that the bloody
shirt, which has been the potent
weapon of those, invisible during the
war, but invinciblc in securing Office
since, should be buried and an organi-
zation s.rmcd that knows no North,
no South, no East, no West, an or
ganization that knows union of
States preserved one and inscparablc,
and that they shall remain the hcri-
tagc of II free people. An organiza-
ton that determined We shall have a
government us established and hand
ed down to us by our forclathers, ''of
the people, for the people and by
the people"
Now rs the source Of our opprcs-
sion has been asccrtaincd to lie
chiefly in national Legislation, when
the grand and mighty conflict is to
be made, we must not let our little
family quarrc! here in our own State,
which had its start before the forma-
ton Of our organization here, cause
disscnsions in our ranks, as in all
other elections we all have our pref
utcntcs uf men Tor Office, either of
the three candidates before us will
make us y good Governor, which
Judge we will have to settle the mat
ter, let us vote for the man of our
choice, and If he fails to get the
nomination, let us quietly submit to
the voice OF the majority. Then at
the general election, turn out in
mass and support the nominee, who
ever he may be.
Now, brethren, whilst this little
conflict is going on at home, we
must not lose sight Of the mighty
conflict before mentioned, which,
from the signs of the times, is incvi-
table. We must nerve ourselves for
the fight, stand shoulder to shoulder
with our sister States and move for
ward in our solid phalanx, with our
banners unfurlcd to the breeze, in
scrlbcd with the motto "cqual rights
to all, special privileges to nonc,"
never looking back until VIC acquire
the accomplishment Of our objects and
aims. w. N. ELDER.