The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-28
a REFORMED ALLIANCE.

when tho Farmers Alliance enters upon a
distinct political career and puts itself IN op-
position 10 the Democratic party IN the oouM
il must necessarily array itself against the
best interests Of this section, and drive from
II all intelligent and patriotic citizens This
il has already virtually done IN Texas ana
Mississippi. In thcformer State the Alliance
last week ordered the expulsion from the or
der of all men who refuse 10 countenance'and
support the sub-Treasury scheme, ana IN the
latter like action is confidently expected.
This means that the Alliances lin those States
are close. secret and oath bound societies, as
proscriptve and intolerant as the Old Know
Nothing party-which received its death
blow in Virginia and not only that, but they
are oath-bound organizations, directly ar
rayed against the civilization and the life
itself Of rhe South.
Should the Southern Alliances place them
selves in this position there can be but onere-
suit. Theintelligent, thoughtful and patriotic
element must withdraw from them and re-
organize upon more healthy principles.
Apart from all else, organizations in the South
opposed 10 the Democratic party cannot DO
anything except enemies 10 their section. 1t
is tho Democracy which. since the war. hos
always stood like a stone wall between the
South and her malignant foes. 10 was that
party which brought her through the horrors
of reconstruction saved her twice from being
bound hand and foot by force DIS
and handed over, helpless and hopeless
10 the tender mercies OF Northern
Radicalism, whose chief end and object has
ALWAYS been Southern degradation and humil-
iation. Il is that party which has lifted the
South from the Slough of Despond into
which she was cast by the war, placed her
upon her feet and enabled her to reach the
point of prosperity and influence to which
she has, with so much difficulty, attained. For
Southern men to desert that party, therefore.
would be 10 strengthen the implscable enc
mics of the South, and this would not only be
suicidal but would smack very much of trea-
son.
There could be no possible objection to an
Alliance reorganized as has been suggested.
An organization of farmers opposed to the
wild and impracticable schemes such as the
sub-Treasury. and formed only for mutual
protection and improvement. without any
foolish and unnecessary oath binding secrecy,
would receive the hearty support and COM
mendation of every one. since such an
organization would be of substantial benefit
10 our agriculturists, and therefore TO the en-
tire body polite But any society, oath bound
or not, which seeks TO dismember and demon
alize the Democratic party IS inimical TO
every Southern interest and the Southern
people could no more afford to countenance
or permit such party TO live than they could
the Republican. since. in fact its only effect
would be to eventually accomplish Radical
supremacy.
1t is hard TO imagine that Virginia farmers
would, under any circumstances submit TO
be so led by the nose by ambitious schemers
and demagogues as to give blind adherence
to any organization at the expense of their
individuality: and it is absolutely impossible
10 believe that they would ever consent to do
this when such o course would not only mean
unconditional yielding up Of manhood, but
complete surrender to their ayOwed enemies
When the Virginia Alliance forces its mem
bers to this, as the Texas Alliance has done
then it will 90 all to pieces and a new one,
such as we have outlined, will be organized
This will be demanded by self-protection,
and the preservation Of society, for the Demo-
cratic party is essential TO the growth, peace,
order and contentment Of the South.