The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18

means that you must also leave behind you
in your future com munications with farmers
strip you OF your honors as easily as It did OF
your tailor-made garments. All men Except
the nigger) ere free and equal.
THE odious bandags that obscured your
and while 1t teaches an Allianceman that he
must not expect bis path way through life to
be sprinkled with the ottar Of roses, will be
a special reminder to you OF the offensive
manner that you spoke OF our leaders and
friends during your recent campaign. The
conductor will now convey the candidate be-
Ing the high and mighty hister for further in.
structions, while the brethren will please
sing.
"On Jordon's stormy banks stand"
The H. and NJ hister was squatting between
the handles OF plow stock. Without furth-
er ado the candidate had an iron hook fasten-
ed In the seat OF his pants, TO which rope
was attached and thrown over beam above.
With a steady pull by two sinewy Alliance.
men, the dist tinEuished gentleman was soon
dan CLING in the air. with hands and feet vain
ly clntching at the floor.
"Now hold the candidate in that position,
where he can better appreciate the beautiful
lessons inculcated by the Alliance remark
ed the G. and Nj. H. at is needless for the
partially initiated brother no longer clutch
at the floor. He has already had some exper-
ience at resignng and the wisest thing he can
do is TO put into practice that virtue and be
resigned to the position we have placed him
in, and not postpone this matter until he gets
"That book" Ihe High Hister explained,
illustrates the firm hold the Farmers ALI
air shows the folly of candidate trying to
gain his equilibrium while in the mighty
grasp OF our order. 1t also illustrates our pol
itical power to elevate or lower man at will.
T,t,1 Ill ,tnI, In hno ir fc n hnr "a
folly Of a candidate trying to reach for office
through politicians. The candidate can now
be released and carried before the Supreme
Spanker for further enlightenment; and
the brothers will sing, "On Greenlands Icy
Mountains as notice that the candidate IL
beginning to shiver In the cold air OF the
roOm."
The Supreme Spanker sat upon a bale OF
hay. He ordered the bandage removed from
the candidates eyes. remarking that he had
perhaps progressed far enough to stand the
light of the Alliance; and, besides, he was to
60 through anot her ordea! that required all OF
mans faculties to endure.
The seeker after light was then led up to
barrel, and in u twinklins stretched over 1t.
Bring forth the sub.treasury plank" COM
the new brother that II Is not a rotten one.
but made of good, sound timber. Let the
high Executoner do his duty like good and
true Alliance man, while we will all sing:
g"Once was blind, but now I see."
Forty times that plank rose in the air and
came down with a mighty thump, before the
writhing victim was released and carried be-
fore the Supreme SpanKer again, to have the
lesson he had Just received explained.
"You have passed through one Of The most
beautiful and edifying chapters in the Alli-
ance mode Of initiation. You have publicly
asserted that we had only one plank In our
platform, and that rotten one. I feel as.
sured that you are now prepared 10 correct
this statement. and assert that our sub treas
ury plank Is one of the soundest that you
have ever felt. We have several other planks,
as we can prove TO you entire satisfaction, II
so desired. Oh you say you are satished
Well, be careful In the future how you speak
slurringly of something you know nothing
about. Now carry the candidate, Brother
conductor, for other useful lessons, and while
he is on the move let the members sing:
"This is the way long have sought"
The Great Drencher had on table before
him three black feathers and goblet ha
filled with what appeared TO be old Bour'
AFTER his long .fatiguing pilgrimage our
brother is doubtless In need OF rest and re.
freshments. Place chair that he may be
seated"
This was done. but by some slightof-hand
the candidate made miss, and landed on the e
floor.
"My unfortunate brother, you have now
pa igns. Just as Il man thinks he has found q
nice, comfortable seat, the Alliance slips il
| from beneath him, and painful indeed is his
disappointment. ] spoke just now OF re fresh.
ments, and had prepared nice mess OF corn
| for you but now discover In your recent
anxiety to explain that famous speech you
made before the Alliance convention. that
you have already eaten all OF the sub.treas'
! ury crow except a few tail feathers. But here
! Is glass OF Jeffersonian Democracy. accord
| ing TO the Episilc Of the Romans, that you
the last of the cask and please swallow the
same. Well, If you hesitate, have TO order
the grand eXecutioner 10 show you another
one of the plankS in our platform. An, you
| find the liquid is en- caSed In glass. SO tnat II
| will not wet your parched lips. That, my
brother, Is modern Jeffersonian Democray
! II Is very nice 10 look upon. but like Dead
| Sea fruit, is taSteleSS. This shows you that tc
depend on Other classes than the Alliance
and the organized Democracy for of1ice and
| honor Is to partaSe Of phantom political
lunch.
"This, my newly-made brother ends the
! first degree in the Farmers Alliance. trust
the great and beautiful truths you have seen
! illustrated to-day will make lasting imprcs
sion on your mind. The brethren will now
| Join hands. and while they march around the
new member sing.
"Once was lost, but now 1 am fund"
Thus ended one Of the most entertaining
ceremonies ever performed in our State.
| 1t Is to be regretted that every Alliance man
| in Georgia could not have witnessed the
snatching of this distinguished brand from
the fire built around it by the politicians
| Athens Banner.