Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-29
The Alliance and Pensions.

The Hon. John Livingston president
of the farmers alliance of New York,
is in Topeka. The New York alliance
is not controlled by southern briga-
diers. Its leaders are loyal to their
government and loyal to the interests
of the old soldiers who saved that gov
eminent for them. Mr.. Livingston
made a speech in Topeka Saturday
evening, in which he revealed some
correspondence which ought to bring
the blush of shame to every old veteran
who has aided in foisting upon loyal
Kansas the southern alliance. Last
fall herculanean effort was made by
the southern alliance leaders to induce
the northern alliance to join in the
Ocala convention. The southern lead
ers imagined that all northern men
were as easily duped as Kansas repub
licans, and they opened up their plans
and future schemes with much detail.
They had seen Kansas republicans
swallow their southern doctrines with
much apparent relish. The average
Kansas republican had heard Polk and
Lease and other rebels denounce our
extravagant pension laws, and had
cheered the denunciations to the echo.
They imagined that alliance republi-
cans of New York would as soon for
get the heroes of the war as their Kan
sas brethren. In accordance with this
idea, Col. Leonidas }. Livingston, the
president of the Georgia state alliance,
wrote letter to Mr.. John Livingston,
president of the New York state ALI
ance. The letter is dated October Is,
1890, and reads as follows:
II was right nobly received at Tope-
ka and we have strong hold there.
Their alliance men are initiated into
our methods. But since my first visit
there l must take stronger ground
against the infamous pension swindle,
for saw lots of lazy, healthy bummers,
able bodied, who should be at work on
the farms, and would be were it not
that they are supported in idleness by
a pension. They are no better than
our ex-cOnfederates who are compelled
to earn their living by manual labor,
and are therefore a much more self
respecting lot of fellows. Had our
southern alliances the power, as we
expect to have in the near future, we
will abrogate all pension laws. The
war was over more than twenty-five
years ago and our southern people
won't stand that swindle any longer.
II will have sent to yO1 next week
the Southern Alliance Farmer contain
ing a letter of Pat Calhoun signed
Georgian my candidate for senator,
that will give you his views about the
federal soldiers somewhat more mod
crate than mine. Yours etc.,
81. F. LIVINGSTON.
The author of this letter, it will be
remembered, was one of the leaders
and shining lights of the Ocala con-
vention. This letter ought to open the
eyes of every loyal man who has been
induced to join the southern branch of
the farmers alliance. 1t doubtless con-
tains the views and desires of all south
ern alliance leaders. 1t is in accord
with the public utterances of southern
democracy which controls the southern
alliance everywhere. While there may
be no immediate danger of "abrogat-
ing all pension laws" there is great
danger of a democratic southern ALI
ance congress doing all within its
power to'render pension laws nugatory
and making it well nigh impossible fol
any old soldier, however worthy, to get
a pension. Is it not little remarkable
that any old veteran would ally himself
with a political party whose leaders
announce that Had our southern ALI
ance the power, as we expect to have
in the near future, we will abrogate al
pension laws2''