The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-04-02
THE SECRET OUT.
THE IMPOSING AND impress
SIVE INITIATING GENIE
MONY OF THE FARM
Frs ALLIANCE EN-
POSED.
How Gordon was Made to Ride
the Goat.

draws on his imagination and
gives the following account of
the initiation Of General Cor
don, the Senator-elect Of Geor-
gia, into the Farmers Alliance:
General Gordon is now q full
fledged AllianCeman, and will
hereafter be made to toe the
mark, and address Livingston.
Macune and Harry Brown as
Brother" The initiation of
this distinguished gentleman
went through without a jostle,
and was witnessed by a large
and enthusiastic audience of
Alliance men.
AT the risk of icing shot Cor
exposing the secrets Of Our Or
der. I will give the Banner A
full report of the Impressive
ceremony that snatched General
Gordon from the clutcj es of
politicians and made him an
humble disciple Of the pillow.
The candidate was escorted
into the ante-room of the ALI
ancemen by a bOdy-guard of
farmers. He manifested some
nervousness when his conduc-
tors demanded that he partially
disro6e and submit to the ordeal
OF being curried off with corn
cob and rubbed down with q
bundle Of fodder; the reason for
this phantom agricultural bath
being that it was necessary to
cleanse his person from the con-
tamnating effects of too close a
connection with Atlanta politi-
clans, Jeffersonian Democrats,
independents and other unclean
elements, and that he might en-
ter the realms of agricultural
bliss. He was then arrayed in
a pail of cOpperas pants, upheld
by one suspender, and a hickory
shirt, wool hat and hrogan
shoes. The Alliance (hi5 guide
explained) was no respector of
persons and every member must
be on an equal footing.
Three raps were given Oh the
lodge-room door, and sepulchral
voice from within demanded
"Who comes there?"
ga poor penitent who is crop
ing in darkness and asks that
the light of the Alliance be
turned upon him." was the re-
ply.
"Iis the candidate IL ti1ler Of
be soil?" was the next query
from within.
"He says he has always been
t he best friend the farmer of
Georgia ever had" was the eva
sive response.
''See if there are any corns in
his band or cuckle-burrs in his
hair" was the command.
"The seeker of light says he
is only a farmer 10y proxy, and
thesscOrns are in the hands of
the men who work his land"
was the response.
'Does the candidate ask adj
mittanco into our Orde on his
own volition, and is he prepared
pass through the ordeal of I'M
tiation?"
Gle does and he u.s." was the
reply from without.
"Let the candidate then re-
main in darkness until his eye
are prepared to receive the great
light that the Alliance will turn
upon him and he can be admit
ted into our sacred precincts"
was the next order.
The eyes of the applicant for
Alliance knowledge were baud
aged with q second-handed qua
no sack, the door of the lodge
room thrown open and Georgia's
Ex-Governor and Unite States
Senator, for the first time in his
life, found himself in the inner
sanctuary Of the farmers lair.
He was marched three times
around the room, while the
members welcomed him with
"While the lamp holds out to burn,
The vilest sinner may return"
With gee and haw the can
didate was escorted to the Grand
Tycoon, who used as chair of
state the small end of bale of
cotton.
"Our would-be brother, your
humiliating entry into this room
teaches you a useful lesson. A
few minutes ago you came to
US reeking with the odor OF the
politician and arrayed in the
paraphernalia of a great man.
You were stripped of your fine
apparels, which means that you
must also leave behind in your
future communications with far
mers your worldly dignity, or
the Alliance will strip you
of your honors as easily as
it did of your tailor-made gar
meuts. All men Except the
nigger) are free and equal.
1.-THE odious bandage that oh
scured your vision is a necessa-
ry attachment to the farm, and
while it teaches an Alltanceman
that he must not expect his
pathway through life to be
sprinkled with the ottar of roses,
will be a special reminder to
you of the offensive manner that