The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-08-07

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Il. c. sNAVELY, PRESIDENT OF PENNSYl,-
WANNA ALLIANCE.
men of the soundest integrity, broadest
discretion and wisest Judgment that the
Alliance a supply. They will be called
upon to decide the most difficult and
perplexing problems, to resist the most
insidious temptations and to detect the
most skillful plots that man can devise.
All manner Of influences will be brought
to bear upon them-social, financial,
political.
The most important matters which
will come before them are such rs must
be decided by their own unaided judg-
ment. It will be impossible for their
constituents to give the delegates ad-
vance instructions upon these points.
Most of them are points which will not
be raised publicly until the national
council meets. The general question of
political utilization, while it does not
seem much complicated or difficult OF
solution, will hardly be the principal
issue before that convention. 1t is the
generally understood purpose of the Al
lance to refer that question in its en-
tirety to a special convention to be held
in February, 1892.
But the same question will come up
in all sorts of forms at the November
convention, and it will be impossible to
ignore it utterly. The various delegates
will be pretty well informed no doubt
about the sentiments Of their constitu-
ents on this point, and they will know
how to act. But when corporations and
trusts and the money power in all sorts
of DISCUSSES throw bones of contention
into the convention, will the delegates
understand the object of such maneu-
vers and deal with them accordingly:
It will require shrewd, cool, level headed
men to detect the real motives of the en-
elny. Be sure that only men Of those
qualities go rs delegates from your state.
4 II
Perhaps the most difficult question OF
all that will arise at the November con.
v%ention will be that of discipline in the
order. This is a painful subject, and
Ole which l do not propose to enter into
in detail. But there are one OF two
principles involved which must not be
lost sight Of. The assaults of political
and other enemies upon prominent mem.
bers Of the order are becoming more and
more savage and bitter. Most of these
attacks are utterly without excuse, anG
based solely upon SANDER. But it would
be a miracle if in an organization with E
membership Of millions there should not
be q few traitors and %scoundrels. NJ
order ever existed in which these rascals
were in smaller proportion. But those
who are in the membership must be
dealt with fearlessly and inpartially
The safety Of the organization requires
it. To neglect this plain duty will be tc
expose the Alliance to a greater dan
ger than II outside enemy Gun brine
against it.
know some of the changes that viii
be brought against two or three promi
nent Alliance men in the supreme coun.
Gil. They are very grave charges anG
the evidence in support Of them which
have seen is very serious. 1t cannot be
ignored. 1t must be dealt with calml,
and judicially. The Judgment upon il
must he made fairly and without preju.
dice. The most fatal policy Of all would
be one Of suppression and concealment.
The evidence is-some of tin posses
sion of persons outside the order who
are really its enemies. IF through mis-
taken leniency the offenders should BIZ
allowed to go unpunished, if proved
guilty, the facts would be used for the dc
]struction of the Alliance as an organic,
ton.
speak plainly because | know it viii
soon be argued that the Alliance canno
afford to take the risk of washing it!
dirty linen. 1t can and should. 1t viii
be all the stronger before the peopl
when it has purged itself Of traitors ant
internal foes. The expulsion of one 0
more such men, no matter how promi
lent in the order, will raise the Allianc
to still higher dignity in the eyes of al
honest men. 1t may bring a temporary
shock to some, but it will be far bette
than to submit to the traitorous under
mining which would sooner or later be
tray the organization to it's enemies.
is well then for the Alliance men in stat,
conventions to make up their minds f.
do their stern duty untiinchingly whel
che time Let them send men t.
the national council who will not hest
tate to apply the scourge wherever jus
tice shall require it.
Let no one see encouragement in thi
warning. The Alliance is far purer thai
any political party on earth. Most o
the attacks made upon it are lies pur,
and simple. The old parties have n
code of morals. No man is too vile t.
be included in their ranks. If he is ;
smart trickster he is elevated to honorct
leadership. The Alliance and the new
party will not copy Republican an,
Democratic methods in this regard
They cannot afford to. To do so woult
be to invite defeat in all their undertak
ings. The principle which most Of al
should seek demonstration at the hand
of the new departure is that polite