The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-01
The Alliance and Politics.
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New Bcrnc Journal.)
1t has been asked. is there not
danger that Alliances will combine
to defeat the Democratic partY:'
They tell rs that the Alliance is =
secret organization" and that "secrct
societies are not in accord with the
genius of our institutions
To all this We answer that Al
larces are composed Of farmers who
have as much interest 10 the pros
per!ty Of the country as any of their
Fellow fitizcns. and that their pa
triotism, though often tried, has
never been found wanting. In peace
and IN war they have been faithful
to the highest demands of the past,
and they mag &c trusted to tic utter
most ia all cxigencies Of the future,
1t is not true that secret 8oClcties
arc opposed to The genius Of our in
stitutioos. The grand J1ry is a secret
i1Guisjtion and every petit jury that
sits upon life. character ard property
rct,rcs to tLc secret chamber Of the
Jury room 10 consider the facts and
A proper verdict render in the case.
No organization stands higher In
public esteem than Free Masonry
and charlottesville. They are
secret societies, and in the rccesses
or their lodges they Gcrelop the
character Of their members and ma>
turc plans for the ancliogat!on Of
mankind.
Then the simple fact that Alliances
hold secret scssious should not be
used as an argument against then.
If. is sait that secret political
societies ought not to exist in 4 free
republic, We acq1iesce in the decla-
ration. Hut we are yet to learn that
Alliances are political organizations.
1t would be absurd to say that
farmers must take no part in poll
tics, and It would be no less absurd
to attemrt to prescribe limits to their
action. Their Organization is not
political, bat as citizens OF the cOun-
try .hcY have an ina:icnatle right t.
their opinions and perfect freedom
in the expression Of those opinions.
Alliances, Ike all other organiza ;
tons, lrust be true to the purposes
"f their creation. If Masonry forgets
ITS high mission OF fraternity and
charity, its light will 90 out and is
days will be numbered; and If Al
lauccs turn from the lofty purposes
I'll their founders to become political
iuntos they will be disbandcd by the
voluntary withdrawal Of the men
who give them character and in
NucncC.
The public may possess Its soul
in patience. The Alliances are all
right. The Democratic party is the
party Of the people. and its ablest
defenders and truest representatives
are the farmers Of the county.
when in the course Of human
events 81 Alliance rises to protest
against any political action, it Will
be Justly considered 4 summons to
halt and deliberate npon the situa,
ton.
The arbitrary dictam Of farmers
mast not be acceE tea against the
rest Of "a community, but as con.
otitucnt part Of 4 community their
options arc entitled to the highest
and most profound consideration.
Let us hear the conclusion Of the
whole matter. Farmers are Demo
crats. The Democratic party has
for its o}j2lt the repeal Of the laws
that orpsezs them, and the enact
ment Of laws for their protection
Farmers in and out of the Alliance
will stand by the Democratic party
Tae present tariff IS the great obst
acIc 70 Agricultural success in al
parts or :hC country.