Blue-grass blade. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 188?-19??, 1891-01-10
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Word For the Farmers'
Alliance People.
Editor Blue Grass Blade:
/ have been reading of late il
our various party papers edito
rials, communications, ETC., or
platforms broad and platform,
narrow, Farmers Alliances, Pro.
Fusions and Anti-Fusions. II
my opinion much has been said
that had best been left unsaid.
can see no more necessity fOr
fusions now than in August
1872, when "ProhibitiOnists," "
"Home Protectionists," "Peo-
ple's Party" ETC., made a fusion.
This fusion brought together the
extremes as well as the means
mathematical, not Financially, and
out of this political hotch-potch
have grown chickering's and inter
necine strife. / see no good sense
in making war upon the farmers,
or tile Farmers Alliance. We
can differ with some of their
extreme ideas, and what appears
to many of us as impracticable
methods, without indulging bit
ter personalities and sharp criti-
cisms. Whatever else may be
said about and against our farm
ing classes, there is one thing
certain, as q class they are hon.
est and sincere, and in my opin-
ion constitute the conserving
forces in our government. We
want the farmer to see that there
is in existence now a political
party, and the only political party
that will give any permanent
relief to the down-trodden and
oppressed masses, and that party
is the Prohibi ion party.
Reform has grown to be a
mighty big word of late. In fact
every eccentric notion thrown off
from the centrifugal forces Of
society, religion and politics, now
days, 10 denominated "reform."
'- What, in my opinion, we need
IN Kentucky, and the nation is
party with enough conservatism
and common sense in its platform
to commend it to the every day
thinking man. Whether it be a
virtue, or a vice, it is none the less
true. that the American people are
not going hastily. to make any
radical changes in our government,
whether they be administrative or
legislative, and the great stumbling
blocks Of all so.called reforms have
been their ultraism. While l
might as an individual be very
favorably inclined to support some,
or all of these ultra political ideas,
vet common sense, and a practical
knowledge of political conditions
suggest to me that l would be en-
gagged in decidedly up hill busi-
ness to try to induce majority of
the voters of this country to see
likewise. As farmer and horticul-
turist I have learned by actual ex-
perience, that in all tree growth a
pruning is sometimes as essential
to the life ola tree, as sack Of
fertilizer, and l want to suggest to
the Prohibs Of Kentucky, if, when
you come together again in State
Convention, you will use politi.
cal knife on your platform. cut out
the gush aud extreme notions, and
in their stead. cultivate with more
energy and sincerity, the practical
reforms advocated by the Farmers
Alliance people, there will be no
necessity for another new party in
Kentucky.
l have by invitation, been at
tending and addressing of late some
Of these Alliance gatherings, and |
rejoice at the independence OF
thought expressed. The farmers
as a class are our friends, and l
want to conclude as l began, there
is no good sense in insulting and
driving from us those who are
growing sufficiently independent to
give us a listening ear.
We can, at least, treat them
courteously and be patient with
them while they are passing
through the same embrionic period
from which many of us have not yet
fully emerged. Non partisanism.
l believe if the views herein ex-
pressed meet with the hearty con-
currence OF a majority of the Pro-
hibitiOnists in the next State Con-
vention assembled, and we will
come together in the spirit of RE
CANCELLATION determining to wipe
out this internicine strife that is
consuming us, we will sooner
or later march forward to a glo-
rious victory in the ozark ant
Bloody Ground"
JAS. 7. BARBEE.
Glasgow, KY, Dec, 20, 1890.