Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1891-04-24
MOSSBACK ELOQUENT.


Mursbael stands usaR orator ~
lore } crowd Nothing but II s,ir-
ring impulse, grounded dep in
selt-lnteres,, eau dispeil my cou-
stitutional timidity on public oc-
casions. Ny last attempt in this
line was made something like a
year ago. A meeting had been
called at the Buckeye schoolhouse,
to organize Farmers Alliance
club, lodge, or whatever it may
properly be called. OF course l
had the public spirit to attend.
Most of those [ found there were
Democrats, though the opposition
was fairly represented. One Dem
ccrat, then a candidate and now
al Office holder and a Multum, was
there to dictate. The regular or
ganlzer was from another county,
and knew about as much concern
ing national evils and their rene
dies as [ know about Hebrew. He
set forth the objects Of the AL
lance in all address remarkable
for dullness and incoherence, cud-
Ceiling both old parties freely, but
bestowing the hardest knocks
where they would please most of
his hearers. Finally be called for
remarks. Thinking the public
pulse Indicated nn Alliance land
slide, resolved to be foremost in
drifting with the tide. L was in
the act of rising, when the candi-
date now a Multum began to
speak. He said he had been a
member at another place for some
time, and knew the benefits to be
derived from the order were wide
as the nation. 1t would ultimate
ly triumph, and clothe the farmer
in purple ard fine linen. But he
advised prud ,nce and patience,
saying precipitation and jealousy
are the ruin of parties. He said,
all he hoped the counsel of men
of ability would prevail, and none
would be misled by the vaporings
of blind-horse farmers, who lived
on rented places and chiefly grew
cookie -burrs and plantaiD. AS
he said this he looked my way,
and the boisterous laughter prov
ed tie point wss not thrown away.
l could restrain my eloquence
no longer; it polred out a little
vindictively perhaps at first, but
that was not to be wondered at. |
quote as best [ may from memo
ry:
"Gentlemen and neighbols. 1t
happens that blind-horse farmers
have right to express their opin-
ions in this country. 1t happens
that Solomon Mossback is blind
horse farmer, but it also happens
that he knows what made him one.
He has contributed his worldly
goods to those who to-day regard
him as an outcast. Leaving his
money and land, he has lost every
thing but his independent spirit.
Adversely may crush, but it can
never silence me. Robbed by
radicals, l have been told the
Democrats were to blame. Swim
died by Democrats, | have been
told to seek the radicals for repair
alton. Gentlemen, both the old
parties have razors at the farmers
throat. We talk about the money
power. Why, gentlemen, money
is power everywhere. Whether
you have it or l have it, it is pow
er. And we farmers are going to
have more Of this power-don't
forget that. If l understand this
Alliance movement, it designs to
make the farmer the monarch OF
all he surveys. Into his hands ii
will commit this financial omnipo,
tence, and then let the times fuct.
uate as they will. We want tc
drive the banker into cabin and
the manufacturer into the corr
field. If the nabob business must
be kept up, give it to the farmer
forever and amen. | want to see
both old parties dethroned, Both
ale bad; the Democrats sin by
omission, the Radicals by commits.
sion. The former do nothing, the
latter do too much. If those Radi.
Gals would confne all tariff and
subsidy; to products of the farm
II would vote with them. But
they are too diffuse. What do /
care for New England9 What
does Jack Rutfie there care fol
South Carolina? l say, down with
Harrison! Down with Cleve land
Down with Nest-yes, even with
Fogle He may Ee able to hood.
wink some of you, but l can See
the cloven hoof. [ do not know
who may be the Alliance nominee
for the Legislature, but standing
here tonight, my neighbors,
want to say that | could do more
in a single day for you than Fogle
would in a session. A farmer my.
self, l am always eager to serve
the farmers to the utmost of my
limited capacity"
Here Kisses, contradictions anC
general disorder compelled me tt
desist. TIE public speaker who
will not do violence to his convic