The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-21
Che GntelE1qel1Ger.
WHEELING. NOVEMBER 81. 1891.
The Alliance In tho Tolls.

Tho Farmers Alliance received its
death blow Thursday when it was alb
sorbcd by the Third party. In rcfus-
ing to heed the protest entered by the
anti-sub-trcasury people, and accepting
the Peoples party, it took IN action
that will result in driving from tho
ranks thousands OF farmers who had
entered the order in good faith, and for
their mutual benefit and protection.
The schemes embodied in the platform
OF the Peoples party arc wildly imprac-
ticablc and unconstitutional, and many
farmers believe them to DO in conflict
with the spirit OF The Alliance move
ment, which was intended to be nom
partisan. In taking tho course it did at
Indianapolis tho organization defeated
the very object OF its establishment,
and has fallen into the hands OF design
ing politicians, who stand apoa Plat.
form which, being rcpugnant to the
Constitution OF the United States, never
can succeed.
Intelligent, thinking farmers through
out the country will not endorse tho
Indianapolis action. They know the
weakness Of the Third party cause and
will prefer to remain in tho old parties,
hoping by an effort on tho lines origin
ally laid down in the Alliance move
ment TO secure the reforms they de-
mand. The experience OF the Third
party in the recent elections in Kansas
July demonstrated the small amount
OF faith the farmers have in the
stability OF the peculia. political and
economic principles advocated by it.
the following protest against the
leading Third party principles, made
by the committee from the Farmers
and Laborers' union, should be care
fully considered by every Farmers
Alliance man in the country. 1t fur
nishes food for some very broad
thinking:
The memorial respectfully protests against any
action OF the supreme council that proposes TO
commit the Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union TO the proposition that provision be made
by the federal congress for government loans OF
money 10 individual citizens upon farm mort
cages rs security, or TO demand for government
ownership or control OF railroad property md
transportation.
These schemes are unconstitutional aud i'm.
practicable conflicting with the spirit OF the
Alliance movement and tending TO government
patcrnalism md state socialism. The govern
ment naturally looks to the citizen for the sup.
ply OF all its legitimate wants, an inversion OF
which state OF affairs would make the govern
mcnt an engine OF oppression and the citizen
helpless and dependents The progress and pros
perity OF the individual, us also the stability and
bencicencc OF institutions, must be left 10 free
government, 10 Individual thought, effort md
enterprise. Any other system would dwarf the
individual and abnOrmGy magnify the govern.
incnt. Any assumption OF the rights and duties
OF the citizen by government. mcnaces the truld
American principle that government Is OF the
people, by the people End for the people. In
stead OF relief from present oppression, the meas.
urcJ promise greater evils. The scheme would
he partial to certain classes, Involving business
details too deep for the average farmer attendant
expense would make the market price OF money
higher mud would open an avonne for sharpcrS
10 trade upon the farmers harlearncG goods
and products. The markets would be overloaded
with produce, putting down value OF commodi-
ties and raising taxation. Allba,ns, Mississippi
and Missouri furnish examples OF how simiar
schemes TO the subtrcAsury project failed sig.
nGlly, The land loan scheme, beyond promising
low rate OF interest, he's no favorable features,
The expense OF maintenance being cnOrrnous
Government ownership Of railroad implies one
OF the two other schemes. Either the govern
Iacnt must take railroads from owners 6v force
or buy them for more than they are worth. It
would foster political corruption md would be
m arbitrary Interference with private rights IN
many senses. The three schemes flavor strongly
OF class legislation.
Glass legislation is one Of the things
that the Peoples party proposes to be
unaltcrably opposed to, and yet there
are farmers who have been led 10 en-
do.se the three pctsc:lcmes which seen.
very strongly Of this very thing.