Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-10-22
Farmers North and South:

L 4C CNA0CuCCo Va AA1C hCSAAhC anu AN4-
of the peoples party as a political
factor in future elections are coming In
from all quarters. And it is not at all
surprising that those republicans who
Joined the "non-partisan institution
called the farmers alliaoce" should
have had a good many scales knocked
from their eyes by the events of the
past year. That the democratic party,
exemplified in thefable of the wolf in
sleeps clothing, has by the organiza-
ton of third party, contrived a
scheme for the overthrow of the repub-
lican party and its principles is now
apparent o'the jullest intellect.
If its southern managers can work
the alliance in a way to weaken the
republicans vote in republican states
they will realize their most ardent
desires. They have no other object in
view. In southern states where de-
mocracy is secure, alliance votes have
been universally cast for democratic
candidates to the utter disregard of
alliance candidates. This proves that
the southern alliance is democratic
first, last and all the time. Or as the
newspaper organ of the party informed
the Florida convention, 1--WE are dem
ocrats seven days in the week"
a desperate effort is now being
made by a few democrats of this
county to persuade the republicans
who belong to the alliance that the
| interests of the farmers of the west
and north are identical with the
interests of the rice, cotton and sugar
plantations of the south, and are pre-
sentiDg this as an argument why the
peoples party and the democrats
should join hands to defeat the repub-
licans. 1t is gratifying TO know that
they are not making much Roadway in
this deceptive movement. When our
| farmers hear the inc9ssant demands of
the southern planter for cheaper flour,
cheaper meal, cheaper beef, pork and
wool, and their grumbling at the reduc-
ton in the prices of cotton, rice, sugar,
they see at once that western farmers
have very few interests in common
with the southern oligarchy.
For every single thing, and the
things combined that are requisite and
necessary to the prosperity of the
farmers, meaning the Ten who raise
grain, wool and meat on comparatively
large farms, are things to the consum-
nation of which the southern planters
who are the soul of the democratic
party are opposed.
Let US consider few of them. The
farmer wants dollar wheat" The
planter wants 80 cent wheat to feed his
''cheap labor" upon. The farmer
wants high price for his wool. The
planter wants wool so cheap that it
may be bought by British manufac-
turers, woven by them into cheap
cloth, and returned to America under
free trade provision at cheap rates.
The farmer wants .a good price for beef
aud pork. The planter seeks to reduce
the northern markets for beef by Grip
ping the manufacturers whose well
paid hands are the butchers best
customers, and to force the northern
farmer to feed bis corn to hogs only,
the coaTser parts of which the planter
wishes to buy at very low rates for his
''cheap Labor The farmer needs
many small towns, with factories in
each of them, 10 furnish local markets
for his minor products, such as fruit,
eggs, butter, poultry, etc. The planter
always was, is now, and until he be-
comes better educated, always will be,
hostile to the multiplication of such
centers of industry. For they create a
demand for labor, and that tends to
increase its price. From the same
reason, OF rather from the same use of
unreason for reason, the planter is
more hostile to the great manufacture
ing cities of America that consume
most of the farmers great staples, hay,
wheat, corn and meat than he is to the
multiplication of small towns.
The south is the brain and heart of
the democratic party, and the south
buys northern farm produce, but is
always scheming to reduce the price of
them in order that their cheapness
may be plea against increase in the
price of its "eheap labor" The resi-
due of farm products the south would
delight to see sent to England, at
very low prices, in order that English
laborImsy be kept at cheap rates, and
by its means English manufactures
sold cheaply TO southern oligarchy.
Folks Record.
Evar ainoa the praoinitona ratraat