Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-07-01


Cerity of the Old Political Parties.
1t Is not the province nor the desire
OF this paper, as the official organ Of
the alliance in North Carolina, to die
tate, or even suggest the policy of po-
htical parties. But it is its desire and
it is duty it owes to ninety thousand
alliancemen in this state, to stand
by the principles they advocate and to
guard, as best it may, the integrity and
good name of this great order.
There are some things which should
be said, and they should be said plain
ly, and said now. The members of the
order in this state and throughout the
country are becoming FESTIVE, impatient
and Disguised under what they regard
as Notwithstanding policy on the
part of party leaders and manipulators
towards their principles and purposes.
They demand halt and a new reckon
ing of bearing. They feel that the old
party ship has sprung a leak and that it
must be headed for safe port They
are no longer content TO float aimlessly
among the breakers, when they know
that the vessel Is in imminent danger
of going down. Officers may smile and
shout ''al's welll" but they have not
lost their Senses and they see and
know the danger They are ready for
terrible, desperate mutiny. VIII they
be driven TO it?
We say the situation demands plain,
earnest, dispassionate, honest fearless
talk, and the Progressive Farmer pro-
poses 20 meet the demands of the hour,
In this spirit. For two years or more
the alliancemen of the south and of the
whole country have been constantly
admonished by the leaders of the re-
publican and democratic parties that
they must stand by their party and
seek relief within party lines" What
has been the response of the alliance
men of the south to this appeal? Have
they done it? Have they bolted party
conventions and party nominations?
If so, where and when2 Where, in all
the political history of this country,
have men shown a more loyal devotion
70 party than the alliance voters of the
BouthP Have they not gone into party
conventions, and whether defeated or
successful in naming the nominees,
stood faithfully by the action of the
convention? And this, too, In many In
stances under the most trying and pro-
voIing surroundings? Their principles
and measures were ridiculed and mis-
represented and their leaders maligned
and slandered by the men and the party
press which sought and claimed their
allegiance and cooperation. Instances
conspicuous in the history of the recent
past are not wanting where some of
these leaders and papers, when out
voted in the conventions, ignored and
repudiated their agreement to stand by
the action of the convention and re-
volted and rebelled-bolted the nomi-
nations-because the alliance was
strongest, and actually set up candi-
dates against those who had been Sc
lected by their own chosen convention,
thus establishing independent political
action. How was it in Georgia, in
South Carolina, in our own state?
These matters are fresh In thebminds
of the people. Does not every intelli-
gent man In the south know that for
every foot of ground gained and held
in the south to-day, by the alliance,
that we have had to fight for 1t, Inch
by inch, and at the muzzle of the gun"
against the same men and papers which
were and are constantly exhorting US
TO stand by the party? And how stands
the matter to-day? The partisan press
and would-be leaders are still arrayed
against us, and seek by every means to
weaken and defeat u.s. In the state of
Mississippi, no fiercer or more relent-
less war was ever waged against the
republican party than is going on to-
day against the alliance,
In the north and northwest the ALL
ance has had and is having this identi=
cal contest with the leaders and papers
OF the republican party. Well may
true, honest, patriotic alliancemen stop
and ask: Where are we, and whittier
are we goingP"
They feel that they have been triaed
with; that they have been deceived;
that their confidence has been betrayed,
and their best interests neglected. They
are distrustful of the old party leaders
and of the sincerity or ability of the
old parties TO accomplish the reforms
which they seek and must have. Thou.
sands and thousands of men in North
Carolina and throughout the south, men
who have been faithful 10 party, have
about despaired of all hope and are
seriously considering the chances of res
lief and reform In some other direction.
We are fully aware that these are I'M
pleasant, and to some, very unwhole-
some truths, but from every aonsidera-
ton of policy. of justice, of solf-respsot
and of true manhood, the alliance
should tell them and demand that this
farce of friendship shall end. How2
IL Is for those who have been playing it
TO answer. The time for dallying and
evasion has passed, and the farmers OF
the country should and must know
upon whom they can rely as friends
and allies. Raleigh IN. c. Progressive
Farmer.
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