Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-07-07
and what do they propose to do with
these demands? They cannot dodge

and what do they propose to do with
these demands? They cannot dodge
them, and must either accept or reject
them. They cannot longer blind the
people with false issues; they must
either take up these demands or step
aside and give away to new party,
born for the occasion, and to meet the
demands of the hour. Logical reason.
ing, after most thorough study of the
situation in both the Northern and
Southern States, forces us to the con-
clusiOn that neither of the old war
parties can possibly take up the de-
mands of the people. Even were they
so disposed, their leaders are so COM
pletely bound, hand and foot, by party
pledges that they cannot, dare not
think OF such thing. The great in
dustrial masses of the entire country,
who have been aroused from their
lethargy to sense of their great
danger and duty, fully compre- .
bend the situation, and are determined
to stand by their just demands.
If the old parties cannot come to them,
they must look elsewhere for relief.
not as organizations; not as Alliance
men, members of the Grange, Mutual
Benefit Association, Knights OF Labor
and other industrial organizations,
but as awakened and aroused citizens
and voters, periodically determined
that this shall yet be "a government of
the people, by the people, and for the
people,"
Now comes the much misunderstood
and misrepresented question: What
will the Alliance do with the new polls
,ical organization, the peoples party?
In thu language of President Folks
paper, the Progressive Farmer, of
Raleigh, N. c., it ought not to take
much wisdom to answer that question.
The new party has adopted the ALI
ance demands into its platform. Does
anyone suppose that intelligent ALI
ance men will vote against party that
adopts those demands and in favor Of a
party that not only fails to adoet, but
resists those demands? The western
alliance states have already gone into
the new party. Will not the necessity
for unity force the other alliance
states to go into the new party also?
We see no way to prevent the new
party from sweeping the country ex-
cept that of the old parties cheerfully
conceding to the people every one of
their just demands, If the alliance
men are to be blamed for going into
the new party, then hungry child can
be blamed for going to some one who
can and will furnish him food. Gentle
men of the old parties, if the time
comes when your ranks shall be broken,
your leaders overthrow and your
heritage taken from you, do not blame
the alliance for your ruin. The people
r,nr fa6 hxy hn ,nt,tc oil
and the various other industrial organ
izations have petitioned and begged and
pleaded and prayed for relief all these
years; and the naughty minions of po-
litical power have spurned both them
and their petitions and prayers. Do
not blame them for your overthrow,
but blame your own blind and miser-
able folly.
The action lately taken by the con-
ference at Cincinnati has made the fu-
ture of our politics so uncertain as to
throw the old party leaders into con-
no fellow can tell Them" into whose
hands they are going to fall. 1t seems
to us that no good can come to these
leaders and the parties they represent
so long as these people stand shivering
in their places, expecting disaster. If
these parties really want to save them
selves from defeat, let them get togeth-
er and throw their corrupt leaders
overheard, and address themselves man.
fully to the work of reforming the final
system. But will they do it? No! AS
we before stated, we consider it an utter
impossibility. Sooner or later each
and every member of the various indus.
trial organizations will be compelled,
by sense of duty, to abandon the old
war parties, whose principal "stock in