Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-06-09
The Old Parties and the Alliance.

The Old Parties and the Alliance.
Evidence is accommodating daily to
prove that the two old parties have
entered into an agreement, offensive
and defensive, against the alliance and
it's demands. AS result it will take a
bold man, actuated by honest inten-
tions and loyal to principle, TO remain
an office-holder In either party and con-
tinue even friendly to the alliance and
its efforts at reform. The party lash is
being used at the present time without
mercy, and the effect is being witness
ed on every hand. Senators, congress
men and governors who hold their
Offices by reason of the supposed and
they held to the Alliance and its
purposes have been forced to renounce
all interests In or utilization with
the order. The Thumbscrew OF
partisanism is being applied, and the
result has been so far, with but here
and there an exception, an AFFECT sur
render. Nothing car be expected now
only from such as were nominated and
elected upon the express pledge of sup
porting the alliance demands. There
will be no middle ground permitted by
either party. and the people will be
sorely disappointed in those whom they
trusted without written pledges to aid
them in their contest for better condi-
tions Party lines are being drawn
closer than ever, and this too by mu-
tual understanding between the leaders
of the old parties. In this effort they
are aiding each other, for on its re-
suits their life or death depends. An
effort is being made to drive every
man out of either party that will not
wear the party collar. In this effort they
are succeeding beyond their ex-
pectations among the politicians and
Office holders. In order to bring about
this concert of action, all issues are to
be dropped excepting the tariff. This
will be the slogan, if possible, for the
coming campaign. The democratic
age of silver and are trying to prove
that it was never practical or desirable:
and If it was. it must now be subOrdi-
nate to the question of tariff reform.
There is not single demand made by
the alliance that either party will ac-
cept and place in their platforms.
There is not a single demand of the al
lance that the party leaders will con-
sent to bring before congress. The
fight is on between the alliance and the
partisan leaders of the two old parties,
who seem at the present time to have
absolute control of these organizations.
How long, and to what extent, the rank
and file of these old parties will permit
the political tricksters and machine
politicians to dictate to them is the all.
absorbing question. If the people con-
tinue to blindly follow wherever the
politician may lead, and submit ton the
continuance of the present rule or ruin
policy. the educational feature of the
alliance should be pushed with increased
vigor. II the people have not learned
the necessity of intelligent independ-
ence in economic thought, and to de-
many the rights and privileges which
are its natural reference, the work OF
the alliance is far from being complete.
Senility always waits upon ignorance,
and the party lash is never so effective
as where the people have committed
their political ideas to the keeping Of
the politicians. The test is now being
made between the politicians, who want
to perpetuate their power, and the peo'
pie, who want better conditions. The
result will be watched with great in
terest by all reformers throughout the
world.-National Economist.