The Colfax chronicle., 1891-06-20

Wltus "A mc0tluk composed mainly
of farmers, the bono and sinew Of
our land, men that have largely
supported, educated, and made you
what you are. What were their
sentiments? Only three out of the
whole delegation opposed the third
party movement at that time.
Now, Mr.. Editor, do not jump Ia
the conclusion that / was in favor
of the independent or third party
nomination that was gotten up
in Natchitoches after the Demo
cratic nominating convention was
held in Alexandria, for / was op-
posed to such q movement at that
time, from the fact that through
our own free will we had gone into
Democratic primaries and conven-
tions, and through q feeling of self
pride l was perfectly willing to
acquiesce with the results of the
Alexandra Congressional nomina-
ting convention, and urged all un-
ion men to do likewise. Most of
the Alliance men of the South
having been allied with the Demo-
cratic party 80 long, it is through
q great deal of reluctance that they
are led to believe that true Demo-
cratic principles are now being ad-
vocated and demanded by the ALI
ance, as well as by other labor or
CARNATIONS of our country. The
farmers think their demands are
reasonable and just, and should be
discussed in q friendly spirit by
non-union men of every calling in
life, but instead of discussing the
evils of our country in cool, calm
and dispassionate manner, they
seem to rather sanction the course
lately pursued by the CHRONICLE
and other strong partisan papers,
that is to criticise us, call us
cranks, and seem to- think the Al
lance men and members of other
labor organizations have no right
to assist in debating the policy of
our government.
A large per cent of the Alliance
men, as well as others, in order to
harmonic their little differences
and better accomplish their purpo-
ses, appreciate the necessity of or
ganizing the Peoples party, hence
the Cincinnati conference. And,
to 60 q little further, Mr.. Editor,
we note with pleasure that Hon.
L. l.. Polk, president Of the Ma
tional Farmers Alliance, has called
a mass meeting in each of the Con-
gress districts in the United States,
to meet in September, for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the sentiments
of Alliance men relative to the
third party movement The said
Congressional mass meetings will
call parish and county meetings
for the same purpose; and, after
seeing the results of these meet
ings, if you are really ignorant of
the fact that decided majority
of tho union men of your country
is in favor of the Peoples party,
we imagine you will some day be-
fore the beginning of another year
be found in your editorial sanctum,
after surveying the situation of af-
fairs, exclaiming, "My, Lord my,
Lord |! why have my people forsa-
ken mel Is it because they wanted
to assist the old party leaders in
debating the policy of our govern
ment, and we heard them not, and
called them cranks and many other
hard namesY' A hint to the wise
is sufficient You, like others, Mr..
Editor, would possibly like to dis
courage the third party movement,
thinking to split the Democratic
party would have q tendency to
weaken our efforts in defeating the
lottery amendment Icannot think
it would, from the simple fact, if q
citizen is q Democrat, Republican
or Peoples party man, he can have
the pleasure of voting against the
lottery. If a majority Of the un-
ion men of this State do or do not
indorse the Peoples party, / feel
safe to assert that but few If any
will vote for the lottery, from the
fact that they know it would be q
disgrace to the order to do so; be-
sides they are aware of the fact
that they, as others have been,
would be turned out of the order.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in the kindest
of feelings, / must take different
view to Whist you do of the senti-
ments of q majority of the union
men of our country, as we'll as
some non-union men, for I think q
large majority of the union men
of this country is ready to say,
a;nk or aurim live or dia snrxiua