The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-24
FEDERAr1No THE FARMERS.

10 AceAA AACAo A1AOF CAAACt1t 10 NY III lnCtLS
exclusively political in its scope and sig
nificance. Many students of political
and social economy already see in it the
first manifestations of new and perma-
nent force which will reshape social and
industrial systems, besides revolutioniz-
ing our politics. Edward Bellamy, the
father of nationalism, writing to The
Agriculturist, says:
"The fact which constitutes altogether
the most significant aspect of the far
mers' uprising is that it attacks the in
dustrial, political, commercial and social
system on lines SO radical as to be revo-
lutionary. This is the characteristic
which broadly distinguishes it from any
mere political overturn, and compels its
recognition as a part of the present
world wide movement of the masses for
a radical change in the industrial system
"a movement everywhere SO alarming
to those who do not understand it, so
inspiring to those who do" He pro-
ceeds to point out that it must inevitably
result in the great national party of the
people, (which is destined in the near
future to establish a nobler and happier
civilization in this land" Mr.. Bellamy
points out that mot since the war has
there been political campaign carried
on with so much moral enthusiasm as
the Alliance campaign just closed, or,
more properly, l may say, just begun,
for it is the sheerest nonsense to set
down, as the politicians would like to
do, the farmers movement as mere off,
year demonstration.
Mr.. Bellamy's expectations may be too
sanguine, but aside from the ultimate
effects of the farmers uprising it should
be welcomed as one of the healthiest
signs of the times in American politics.
1t promises stimulus and an antidote
for the dry rot of political neglect and
Indifference among the urban citizens of
the country. The blase indifference or
disgust with which. rapidly growing
class of voters have turned their backs
upon all things political has to an alarm
ing degree encouraged corruption and
misgovernment. The evil has grown to
be one of the greatest public dangers of
the day. If the farmers movement will
awaken the American people, or large
proportion of them, to a proper perform
ance of their political duties we may
freely forgive it any mistakes which it
may make in policy and the application
of principles.
But Mr.. Bellamy is right in saying
that the farmers movement is not con-
fined to a mere political demonstration.
1t means the rapid accomplishment of a
purpose, which all the national farmers
organizations have been approaching,
and which has but recently been stated
distinctly-the federation of the farmers
of America in gigantic organization,
to be known perhaps as the American
Association of Agricultural Organiza-
tions. The purposes of this movement
are social, economical and educational
as well as political. The result of the
recent election is accepted as demon
strating the feasibility of great practical
combinations of wealth producers even
when the individual members are widely
scattered. Accordingly, the effort will
be made to bring together the agricult-
urists of the country in great defensive
and perhaps offensive league. Already
the leaders of all the great farmers or
ganizations have declared in favor of it.
Even the most conservative of the farm
ers' organs, The American Agriculturist,
indorses the movement. The great scope
and utility of such combination is thus
set forth by The Agriculturist:
''The Grange or Patrons of Husbandry,
the Farmers Alliance, with it's northern
and southern organizations, the Farmers
Mutual Benefit Association, the Patrons
of Industry, not to mention several lesser
societies, are each and all striving to ad-
vance the farmers condition, socially,
educationally and financially. The Far
mers' League supplements these orders
by carrying the farmers wants into ac-
tual politics. field not usually touched
upon by the other organizations, several
notable instances excepted.
'"The first class of organizations work
for essentially the same object, but in
different lines, under different forms,
rules and leaders. They therefore COM
pete with each other to some extent
The rivalry is usually a friendly one,
and when this is true no harm results
Still jealousies and ambitions exist to
such an extent, and the fundamental
principles or pervading spirit of our va
rious farmers societies are SO diverse,
that the attempt has thus far failed to
unity all these forces into one grand Or
der. Nor is it at all likely that the de-
voted Patron of Husbandry will give up
the Grange to unite with the Alliance, or
vice versa. And if all were to amalga-
mate into one body only the union
could last but a short time, owing to the
diversities just referred to. Such alb
sorption into one order would also de-
stroy the incentive to work which the
existing rivalry promotes. But there is
simple and practical way in which
unity can be brought about among all
these influences in SO far as their work
is identical.
''Let us initiate the example of the
American Association for the Advance
ment of Science, one of the simplest but
most powerful levers for promoting scien-
tific work. Form the American Associa-
ton of Agricultural Organizations. Let
its active board be composed of executive
officers of the various national orders
among farmers, including the American
Association of Agricultural Colleges and
Experiment Stations. This representa-
tive body could devise ways for general
cooperation on all matters upon which
the various orders could agree. Meas
ures upon which it was impossible to
harmonize the respective bodies would
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