The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-09-11
= ID. LANDER. Editor.
The Alliance Rally.

of the speakers discussed anything
but political questions, we would be
glad If some friend would send US a
synopsis of that speakers speech.
We do not think the Alliance as an
organization ought to be held entire
ly responsible for this. For the A.
lance, as an organization, had de-
olared by resolution that they did not
wish to hear the political Demands"
but the "principles" of the Alliance
discussed. Neither should the vote
the audience gave in favor Of hearing
this political speech be charged to the
Alliance, for nOn-Alliance men con-
stituted the larger part of that vote,
and they didn't care whetherit cured
or killed the Alliance.
But what the Alliance ought to be
held responsible for, and is held re-
sponsible for, is for inviting such
political rapscallions as Mcdowell to
address them.
When Mr.. Amis told Mr.. Nc
Dowell that decency should deter him
from intruding his political opinions
upon a Union that had particularly
declared they did not wish to hear
him, Mr.. Amis told him the plan un-
vanished truth.
More than that, il Mr.. Mcdowell
had had the good Of the order at
heart, he would not have wantOnly
Ridened q breach that he kneW was
already threatening to disintegrate
the order. But Mr.. Mcdowell is q
candidate for the United States
'Senate-as absurd as that may ap.
psar-on the su6-treasury plank, and
he was here to advance his cause, and
ne cared not whit for the good Of the
order wheB the good Of the order
stood between him aud the goal Of his
ambition. Even In that view of the
case, however, 1t was short sighted
policy, and the seed he has sOwn-
win bring forth thOrns TO plague
him.
After listening patiently to Mr..
Mcdowell for two long hours, we
candidly admit we do not know what
he Is for. He 10 for the sub-treasury
principle; but he is against the
Picker bill, and the Vance bills, and
against class Legislation and patsr-
nslism; and when he is against these,
what there is left OF the principle he
Is tOi, we do not know. He had as
we'll say he ia for living, but against
breathing.
He Is against the National Banking
system, because, he cOntended la
bOriOusly to prove, 1t Was paternal-
ism and class legislation He ac-
euses the Democratic Congressman
OF Inconsistency in voting for this
law (which they have never dOne)
aad then crying "uncOnstItutional"
and "class legislation" at the men
ton OF the sub-tressury. And yet in
the very next breath he proposes to
do the same thing in principle, by
supporting the sub-trea+ury and de-
nouncing the banking system. This is
a specimen of the gentlemAn's logic.
Another sample. He says that his
order In the sense of educating the
masses in the science of economical
government, aud thereby prOmulgat-
ing political ideas, is political; but
that in the sense of interference with
any mans vote, it is not. And yet he
has at other times and places declared
that the Alliance had decided in IA
vor of the Ocals plaJfOrm-which it
has-9nd that the majority must con-
troll, and those who would not submit
~ Ina
tors to the cause" Reconcile these
statements IL you can.
Taking him at his word-just for
the sake OF argument-Mr. Mellow
ell is q Democrat. In his star cham
Der proceedings, in his secret sessions,
where he teaches the ''science of eco
nomic government" the "science" is
Democracy, of course. Then, is he
not q secret political factor, working
a sainst the Republican party? II he
is, the principle is just as wrong as If
he was working on the other side.
But suppose we take his strictly
non-partisan view of the case. And
we will admit that Mr.. Mcdowell
teaches his "science" just for the
love of hearing himself talk, with no
Interior motives whatever. And we
will admit that when the election
day comes ell the Alliance men go to
the polls and vote with their same
old parties as heretofore. Then what
good has the Alliance done the farm
or? We can all see what good Is de-
rived by Presidents Polk and Nc
DOwell, and Lecturers Macune and
Terrill. Their fat, juicy salaries ans
wsr. But what good has the farmers
derived?
There was nothing In DIR. Hsr-
Wells rambling talk" worth men,
tiOning.
One of the surprises of the day was
the scintillating ideas sprung upon
the audience by Mr.. w. b. Gordon.
We had all these years supposed Mr..
Gordon to be = straight Democrat, and
we were disappointed aud surprised to
hear him pronounce tariff reform q
fraud. We knew he had been trained
in the old Democratic school, and
that fer one or more. years he had
assoeiatsd with Democratic Congress-
men In Washington, where he held
an appointment under one of them,
and We were surprised that for all
these twenty years he had harbored
such severe criticisms on them as he
gave forth. We had supposed that
he had observed their struggles there
for the constitutional rights of the
people of the South, and their brave
battles against hopeless odds for an
economical government and "traifi
fOr'fevenue only" and his statement
that their tariff cry" meant keep
us in office a little longer" was 3
revelation to US, and q disappointing
one.
His ideas OF Allianceism, he said,
he had gotten from the political
press, aud that he did not believe
half he read In the political press. II
the only information he has upon the
subject is unworthy of belief, it fol-
lows. as a logical conclusion, that Mr..