The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-21
Condition of the Alliance

The impression is growing that the
alliance is not as strong as it was. Men OF
prominence who have had opportunities
recently for forming opinions with regard
20 its condition, but who are not members
Of it. say that it is losing its foothold both
in the north and in the SOUTH. At Balti-
more the other day Gen Wade Hampton, Of
! South Carolina. said that his observations
led him to believe that the order in the
south was disinte grating, aud he expressed
the opinion that it would entirely disappear
within the next four years. His opinion is
based upon the character of the demands Of
the alliance and the fact that the people are
naturally hostile to secret political organ
izations. The demands are not likely to be
very generally accepted because they are
not such as command the approval Of rea-
son. The sub treasury scheme, for instance,
cannot be successfully defended against
attacks, and the more it is discussed the less
alliaucemen are inclined to favor ii. Gen.
Hampton pointad out that the governor Of
South Carolina had in a great measure
broken away from the alliance and is now
catering to the conservative element.
Gen. Hampton, however, is very natu-
rally prejudiced against the alliance, and
what he says with regard TO il would not
have so much weight if it were not sus-
tsined by the testimony Of others. A grow
ing lukewarmuess among the members Of
the order is very noticeable IN a number Of
the southern states.
Aud this condition Of affairs is not con-
fined to the south. Gen. Hastings of Penn
sylvania, who has been making republican
speeches in Ohio, was asked day or two
ago about the alliance in the latter state.
He asserted that 1t was going to pieces. Il
have been right among the
alliancemen, he said, land
they ere going hack to the old parties.r
The election, which is close at hand, will
show whether or not Gen. Hastings is well
informed with respect TO the alliance. There
are good reasons for thinking, however, that
be is. Very little is being said about the
Peoples party and the alliance in the cam
paign that Is going on in that state, and that
is a pretty good Indication that the alliance
is not very active.
The alliance leaders of course talk differ
emily, but then it is not reasonable to sup
pose that they would admit that the order
was not prosperous. They will insist that the
order is growing greater as long as there is
the least excuse for doing SO. Many of them
have not got out of it yet all they hope to.
and they will struggle to keep it alive as
long as poslble.
In this state it is about as great az ever it
was. but it has not the aggrsssiveness it
once had. Its failure to have the Ocala
platform adopted by the legislature indi-
Gates that. Its leaders talk as ezcouragingly
as ever they did. but what they say lacks
the force and influence it once had.
II it should disappear soon. as pre-
dicted by Gen. Hampton, it would be due
to the introduction Of politics into it. If it
should eliminate politics it might still
be of great benefit to the farmers.
However, there ia no probability that it
will do that. There are too many politi>
clans in the order who are looking for polit.
ical preferment. and who expect to get it
with the alliances's help, to permit Of its
pursuing so wise course.