The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-11-12
ROTTEN TO TIE CORE
NEITHER OF THE PRESENT PAR
TIES WILL DO.

NEITHER OF THE PRESENT PAR
TIES WILL DO.
"Thc Grand Old Party" and "JcffersOnian
Democracy" hut Titles to Two Broadly
Indecent Farces-We are tho People,
Selal,!
"No man can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one and love
the other; or else he will hold to the
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and Mammon."
The above text should be emblaz-
oned in letters of gold upon the walls
of every Alliance lodge in tho land.
No man can be at once good Repub-
lican or Democrat, as those parties are
Mt present constituted, and good
Allianceman. He will inevitably
"hold to the one and dcspise the
other" 1e cannot serve both the pro-
fessional politician and the people.
The Farmers Alliances Is the name of
an organization that has lately sprung
into existence. Its purpose is to make
reforms in government that are con-
sidercd essential. and secure Justice to
the agricul. ural interests of the coun-
try. lis growth has been something
phenomenal; is political power, al
ready considerable. is steadily aug
menting. The ycomanry of the lanl.
long the patient drudge of dcma-
gogues, the plant tools of political
charlatans, the burden bearers for
monopoly and johhcry; robbed at every
turn, oppressed on every hand, a-e at
last turning at bay. At last they are
demanding that in this land which
their toll has transformed from will
derness into garden whose glory
and greatness are due to their denial
their right to life at least shall be
respected. At last they are demand
ing that a government supported by
their labor, defended by their Drawn
and sanctitied by their blood, shall
recognize the fact that they are some-
what else than beasts to bear burdens
or food for power.
For long years they have trusted to
this or that party to right their wrongs,
to equalize the burdens of state, to in
sure to them the fruits of their toll :;
but they have trusted in vain, and hope
deferred hath made them heartsick.
:A's :.s & conviction is being forced
] ~. them that if relief ever comes it
must be through their own exertion,
and they are getting together" The
standard of revolt has been raised, the
beacon fires are blazing on thousand
hills, the insurgent army is swelling to
vast proportions, while monopolists
look on with alarm, and parasites
whose only trade is politics are ear
nestly debating the all-important ques-
ton: What shall We do to be saved?
AS yet the great army which has
assembled under the bucolic banner is
little better than q mob-a mob angry
enough. resolute enough to make sad
havoc with the existing order of things,
but with 10 well-deiined plan of cam
paign; no fixed i,len of what should be
destroyed, what spared-harlly know
ing what tools it We're best to work
with. 1t recognizes that something
must be done, that it has grievous
wrongs to right; the question is, how
Is the enemy here, or there? Were it
best to wear the Democratic or Repub-
ican uniform, or get us regimentals of
party platforms ready made, modify
them somewhat, and adopt the party
shibboleth? or shall we stand upon
our own masonry and carpentry, under
banner of our own designing? Oh
that some latter-day and greater Iris
megistus would but instruct us! that
some modern Moses would but open
for us path through the Shiny sea OF
politics, that we might tread it in con-
fidence
The rank and file of the Alliance is
necessarily drawn chiefly from the two
numerically great political parties. In
this state they are chiefly of the Dem
ocratic persuasion, in that of the Re-
publican. Naturally they are deeply
imbued with old party prejudices, In
fected more or less with economic doc
trines that have been long used as
platform timber. The unctious ennis
saries of the old parties promise fair
their siren song goes direct to the
heart; penetrates the most obdurate OF
Alliance wax. Ii we will but call our
selves Democrats and support tina party
nominees, why, the Democracy, in
State or National convention assem-.
bled, will consider our demands, and
who knows?-may even join forces
with US, and victory We're as easy q:
turning hen over-or lying, for in
stance.
Really, it were but waste of ballots
to buck against SO great Democratic
majority! Perhaps we had best come
into camp, and if We do not get all WI
ask in the matter of principles as ALI
ancemen, we may at least be permitted
to sop our corn-dodger in the tleshpot
If our allies do not deceive us! Il
that State the Republicans are in
majority-''ha everything grabbed
and if the Alliance is to do effectiv
work, if it is not to whistle dolefully il
the teeth of the north wind and sucl
. its thumbs for sustenence it were well
perhaps, for it to wear the Republican
trade mark ostentatiously branded ol
the rear elevation of its butternu
breeches! at is hard to kick agains
the pricks," in politics as in other mat
ters mundane. When the Allianc
gets stronger-as in Kansas for instanc
why then it can tell "radicalism,
"bourbonism," and other isms born G
BASTARD COMPROMISES VI rlSHt jill
wrong to go to; then can the farme
halloa, being out of the chapparal, an
huzza for an Independent flag with
fodder-shock for emblem!
It will not do! Both of the old pc
litical parties are rotten to the core
Their only essential difference is tina
one has power and the other wants
will get it by whatever means it ca
be come at! Their tissues" are fo
most part but bids for votes, but bid
for silly suckers! Their leaders al
full of protestations of love for the Ii
borer, Of anxiety for the agriculturist
welfare; their eyes have ever on ia
tears for the toiler, but experience hi
time and again dem monstrated that the
nretended interest ia Dure hypocris,