The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-01-09
ALLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
1.-THE Farmers and the Coming Rev.
Olution,"
discussed From the Baptist Pulpit by
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., of
New York City.

KeV. Thomas Dixon, Jr., according &c
his usual custom, before the delivery OF
MS sermon. discOursed to his largo con.
gregation in New York city. Sunda,
morning, on the following review OF cur
rent events:
The farmers have always been the fore
most representatives Of conservatism
Ihcy have overwhelmed the voice of tb,
OF The restless, dreaming city again and
agoin. On this rural content or stupidi.
", men who believe in the divinity of
that which is have long reckoncd with
certainty.
AT last the farmer has broken the smell
that has bound him He has smashed
the traditions of centuries. lie has brok
en- the dashboard, kicked out of thc
shafts and is running away. The men
who have driven him with tight rein from
the'r traditional seats are being hurled
into the ditch and ground beneath the
| wheels. 1t has been so sudden thcv hard
~ know what has struck them. Some
say 1t is cyclone. and will soon blow
over. They think it is too severe to
last. Old man Tradition rubs his hands
iorces smile through his chattcrinp
teeth. says he knows it is cold day now,
Dut then he looks for warmer weather TO
morrow aud things will move on rs usu
NJ. Bays he has seen granger move.
meuts" before, you know, and NOTHING
ever came of it. Aud yet while he rctniis
70 you these stale observations, YOU will
note that from the restless uncertain man
ncr IN which he glanccs ut the darkcu
ing SKY ne Is not sure of his own proph
"cy.
The trouble is, the people have begun
10 'hlnk-thc masses Of the pcopc-thc
nid farmer, the patient beast of burden
throught the years of plenty and pros
Perity Tor Others who have rcaped wha,
nc mas sowed When masses of people
hcgin to think, il shakes the world
IL Is this mighty movement of the
masses that is shaking, to-day. the vcry
foundations of the civilization of tI,,.
nineteenth century, and even now draw
ing in dim outline the new civilization Of |
Inc nineteenth century. The time was
when oil eyes were fixed on the greot end !
powerful. Kings aud mobiles and mighty
warriors only could make history. Poets
sang only Of them and for them. Iiicrn.
lure Iawned in the dirt at their feet. The
poet spoke thankfully of the crumbs that
fell from their table, and was proud to he
called slave of the great.
To-day all of this is changed The ewes
non 5hs stsry q r5satTH 5naT conalflssn thsn
millions into new life. They are them
selves at last becoming conscious Of their
capacities and needs, aud with their ca
pacities as the lever and their needs rs |
Tie fulcrum, they arc tuggng away a
the very foundations of social, economic
and political life. Our civilization, to
day. quivers from foundation to fla"
staff beneath these assaults.
The nations of earth all feel this new |
power.
The Gar of Russia shivcrs in his pal |
ace, puts Il new lock on the do 4, adds |
another regiment to his body guard, and
trembling awaits the next explosion IL
see whether he is dead or alive.
The Emperor of Germany, seeing the
handwriting on the wall, hastens to
'make friends of the mammon of I'M
righteousness.
The drum beat of the Salvation Army
echoes around the world, calling man.
kind to the rescue of the submerged mil
lions OF England all the earth.
The Farmers Alliance of America is n
gigantic wave of this world wide move
not only fhss is p%ssi holds d in it. hands
tor this generation--it holds the hopes Of
unnumbcred generations yet unborn.
Their organization is superb. II is thc
strongest social and political machinc
| built in America in the last twenty y,ais.
| They arc determined TO lift up the toll
| iur hosts and maka their life worth the
| living. They are teaching and will teach
move Cmphatically than ever, that il is
| j,,Si aS honorable to hcw wood and draw
water and plow a mule, as to make laws.
practice medicine. run bank or IA rail
road They have doubtless many crude
| ideas i,s vet about law and finance. But
whose fault is it that they are ignorant
They will learn as they go along. Ab-
surJ demands will take reasonable shape
in the red hot forge of public debate and
education. DemagOgucs will mislcad for
a time; but they will kill two dcmagoeucs
where they nourish one. Their only
danger lies in the possibility OF selfish in
trigucs in politics. in which their lofty
principles will be forgotten in mad
struggle for immediate power. Holding
fast TO their principles they will sweep
this ration ultimately in triumph. They
rep, escnt the gtandest moral issues Of the
age. Standing firmly on those issues,
they are as sure TO win as that God is,
and that good shall ultimately triumph
over evil.
Let the demagogues, dcadEcats and
Dummers, who are tying ever 10 learn
which way the wind blows that they may
trim their sails 10 meet it, take warning
The cyclone has only begun. They hac
better seek shelter.