The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-09-24

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s9S more. Nothing sat
(AH MGA isles. The news
- s -: paper is the favorlte
medium. Editors, like men of other
professions, must serve their patrons
what they like. Horrid crimes, electro
cutions, scandals and improbable stories
are detailed to the public, and the
average reader smacks his lips and
declares the menu par excellence.
AT this time perhaps the most gen
orally sensational subject is the Far
mers' Alliance and the third party.
If in attempting to dissipate from the
minds Of those who believe it, that the
Farmers Alliance in the South will
go into the third party, the writer
should "add the last straw to the
camel's back" and like the recent rain
machines, himself explode in the air
without effect, he may be excused on
the ground that the editor is the Judge
what he serves.
Much, yes nearly all, that is said in
party papers on this subject is, purely
sensational. The writer thinks he is,
and has been from the earliest existence
of the Alliance in North Carolina, in
a position to observe and appreciate
the spirit that actuates Alliancemen
and he believes he is safe in saying
that he knows there will be in the
approaching campaign no general
influx of the Alliance members into
the third party. TO carry party into
the Alliance, or the Alliance into a
party, would be in direct conflict with
the very first sentence of their declara-
ton of principles, and no American
citizen was ever more in love with
the Declaration of Independence, than
are farmers attached to their declara-
ton of principles. There may be some
cranks in the Alliance, even wolves
in sleeps clothing, as there always
have been in any society, or institution,
but in the main they are strudy, honest
determined men. Their education
for the past four years has been such
as to lead them to think and act for
themselves. No safer condition exists
than when men think.
As Alliancemen there can exist no
party. All are earnestly striving for
reform. They do not ask, they cannot
ask, from what party is relief to come.
Such course would be to stab the
most vital point of their organization.
AS citizens their sphere is as different
as is church and State, and they make
all the better citizens for the training
they get in the Farmers Alliance
Does any one expect less OF church
member or of a business man than
that the one carry his moral training,
and the other his business experience
into his citizenship? Would he not
be poor student indeed who would
spend much time and many dollars
pursuing certain course of study, and
then when discharging his duty as
citizen would fail to profit from what
he had learned? Farmers know, as
we'll as other men, the necessity of
organization and united action.
In the South the Democratic party
is chiefly composed of members of the
Alliance. They are no less Democrats,
because they belong to the Alliance.
Are you poorer church member be-
cause you belong to the missionary
society, or to the Y. NJ. c. A? Are
you any less a Democrat because you
belong toahe Chamber of Commerce
the Press Association, the Bar, or the
Printers Union? You sacrifice no
principle in the one for the other. The
platform of the Democratic party, and
the demands of the Farmers Alliance
are almost identical. If they were
not the same there would still be no
use in deserting the party with which
they have always affiliated for some
thing new and untried as long as there
are able and capable men within the
party who not only endorse, but seek
to promote every demand the Alliance
has put forth. The Alliance has no
concessions to make, or principles to
surrender, as is sometimes limited at
by the peace makers. Indeed there
is no war, unless it be upon the part
of few who do not understand the
Alliance and imagine themselves os-
tracised and their rights prescribed.
Farmers go into political conventions
just as LAWYERS, doctors, merchants,
bankers, ar. manufacturers do. If
by reason Of their superior, or inferior,
if you choose, schooling in the sense
Of economic government, they take a
different view of political affairs from
that generally accepted, it is not only
their privilege, but their duty as citi-
zens, to stand by their convictions
and use every honorable means to
promote them. In doing SO they do
no more than other well-meaning meu.
Suppose, in advocating what they con-
ceve so be right, they do insert few
new planks into the Democratic plat
form, has not the like been done be-
fore? And is that any cause for serious
contention and division of forces? No
men have been nor to-day more loyal
to Democracy than are the farmers of
the South While this is true they
have political and moral right, in
deed it is nothing short Of duty, to
set forward and assist in executing any
proposition that in their judgment is