The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-03

posed to committing the Alliance to the
support of a new party or of any party.
But they went to Ocala fearful that they
might not be able to hold in check the
enthusiasm of the third party advocates.
The situation which they found did not
tend to allay their apprehensions. There
had come to Ocala not only the ac-
/ credited delegates from the northwest,
but large company of sympathizers
who were ready to shout for new party
at every opportunity. This and other
influences present at Ocala made the
events of the week outside the conven-
tion hall of even greater interest than
the deliberations of the accredited dele
gates. The spirit of the occasion was
indicated in advance by sentence in a
speech of welcome made the day before
the convention opened by President r.
F. Rogers. of the Florida Alliance. He
said:
"The Alliance has revolutionized
American politics, and has filled the
bloody chasm. Let the solid west lead
the way, and the solid south will join it in
claiming and tanning the lion of the east.
The sentiment was rapturously APP
plauded by the great crowd, the Kansas
ans leading the cheering.
\ Ell. l.. Loucks, the Alliance candidate
for governor of South Dakota, made the
response to the addresses of welcome,
and his speech had third party ring in
it. 1t contained these sentences:
1T is our own fault that the condition
of the farmer has become so bad. We
have followed the plow with eyes wide
open, and the political bosses with eyes
tight shut | am glad to have received
SO much conservative advice since we
arrived here, but the trouble is we have
been so conservative in the past that we
have been afraid to act and protect our
selves. Our great fault as farmers has
been our failure to cultivate the most
important crop on the farm-the brain
crop. That is the crop the Alliance pro-
poses to cultivate. When this move
ment began we were told it would be
impossible to unite the farmers with the
laborers of cities and towns. We dis
covered in st. Louis last year that this
was possible, and furthermore, that
every man who labors for a living has
identical interests. The result is that
in single year our movement has be-
come so important that this meeting of
farmers in Ocala is attracting greater
attention than any other convention in
America. Let me whisper it to you now
that there is no solid north, and there
never will be again, and trust and be-
ieve that in 1892 there will be no solid
south"
! President Polk read his annual mes
sage on the afternoon of the day the con-
vention opened. In it he advocated some
changes in the general policy and consti-
tuition of the order, and in its methods of
dealing with public questions. Those
portions devoted to matters Of general
interest are contained in the following
summary:
"The great and universal depression
under which the agricultural interests
of these United States are suffering is,
in view of our surroundings and condi-
tions, an anomaly to the student of i'll
/ dustrial progress. No country or people
in all history have been SO favored and
blessed with opportunity and favorable
conditions for the successful and profit
able prosecution of agricultural indus
tries. Why, instead of the happy song
of peace, contentment and plenty, which
should bless the homes of the farmer
and laborer of the country, should we
hear the constant and universal wall of
hard times? To solve this significant
and vital question in the light of equity,
| justice and truth is the underlying prin-
ciple, the holy mission and inspiration
of this, the greatest industrial revolution
| of the age.
''Never, perhaps, in the history Of the
world have industrial and economic
thought been more intensely engaged
than for the past two years in this coun-
try in the investigation of the causes
which have conspired to place agricult-
ure so far in the rear in the race of
material progress. This investigation,
earnest, sincere and searching, has led
to the general, if not universal, convic-
ton that it is due in large measure and
in most part to the partial, discrimina-
ting and grossly unjust national legisla-
tion. Were it due to false or imperfect
systems Of farm economy we would be
graciously allowed and literally advised
to apply the remedy by improved sys-
TENS of our own devising. But, thanks
to the founders of our government for
the power and privilege of going beyond
the domain of the farm to correct the
evils that affiict us, this great organiza-
ton, whose jurisdiction now extends to
thirty-five states of the Union, and
whose membership and co-workers num-
ber millions of American freemen united
by a common interest. confronted by
common dangers, impelled by COM
mon purpose, devoted to a common
country, standing for common destiny,
and guided by the dictation of an ex-
alted patriotism, will, in the exercise Of
conservative political action, strive to
secure equal rights for all, special priv
ileges to none,' and secure indeed a
government of the people, for the peo-
Pile, and by the people,
mo patriot can view but with feelings
of the gravest apprehension and alarm
the growing tendency, under the foster
ing care of our political, economic sys-
| fans fo tha cantralizafion of fha ,,aonav