The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-12
SENATOR PETER AT ANNAPOLIS.

In the address which Senator PETER, Of
Kansas, the leading representative of the
Farmers Alliance now in public life. delivered
on Tuesday at Annapolis before large assem-
bly, of Maryland farmers, he announced that 1t
was 10 the interest of the Alliance 10 establish
a separate party that will further its needs
and work upon principles that will benefit the
general public In making this statement,
which, as coming from him is authoritative,
he undoubtedly reflected the sentiment of a
very large majority Of the Western members
Of the organization to which he belonged.
There is. however no reason TO think that
the Southern members will be induced to
unite in an independent political movement
in the next national campaign. In fact. II may
be confidently anticipated that such move
ment will not have their countenance and
support, however warmly they may stand by
their organization in local elections, because
there are several issues involved in II Presi-
dental campaign which are of more vital inn
portance TO the white farmers of the Southern
States than any purposes which the Alliance
may have in view.
Local self-goyernment and the supremacy
Of the white people are the fundamental con-
ditions upon which the prosperity Of the
Southern farmers rs well ms of every other
personal element in our Southern communi-
ties must always rest, and no class recognizes
this more clearly than the class which is in
possession Of the soil and which derives
livelihood from its cultivation.
The Democratic party in the past has been
the firm protector and guardian of all our
people in these rights. Upon this party the
Southern people still rely with mistaken con-
fdcnce 1t is hardly probable that the acn-
cultural classes Of this section will be seduced
from their allegiance 10y the appeals of West
ern Alliance leaders who are secure of local
self-government and the domination of their
own race whatever the issue of a national
election. Moreover the leaders of the Alliance
movement in the South are men of too much
political shrewdness TO leopard the at
tainable objects Of their organization
by throwing their influence in favor
Of a new national party They know very
well that the members of the Alliance will
not be antagonized in the Southern States in
any local election if they shall show that they
have numerical preponderance. All offices
will very properly be turned over 10 them if
they have majority of votes. but III a ma
tiona election the strongest and most I'M
finching opposition would at once spring up
if the Alliance were to break away from the
Democratic party.
In the South a more reasonable view of the
purposes of the Alliance prevails than in the
Western States In the judgment Of the mass
Of its membership in this section, the Alliance
is political only to the extent of securing such
general legislation as is considered 10 be neces-
sary TO the prosperity Of the farmers, and il is
seen that this legislation can be obtained by
working inside the old party lines This
has been proven in Georgia, Tennessee, and
Alabama, and still more notably in South Car
DINA, in which Commonwealth the Tilman
movement claimed to be more essentially
Democratic than the opposition wing led by
Judge Haskell
Let the Alliance in every part of the United
States devote its best energies to the accom-
plishment of the principal object which it is
seeking TO carry out. namely, the improvement
of the general condition of the American
farmer by the promotion Of the cooperative
principle, and by the most unremitting en-
enlargement Of the virtues of economy and
industry. Politically. it should give its un-
divided support to the Democratic party. as the
supreme mission Of that party is to change the
tarif system which has done so much TO bring
agriculture to ITS present state of depression
by closing the markets of the world TO our az
ricultural classes, and raising the cost Of every
article which their business compels them TO
buy.