The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-28
THE ALLIANCE AND PARTIES.


idea, and the relation of the Alliance
with parties and politics, have become
paramount with the brethren. Opin-
ions vary, it appears, amongst us upon
a matter which should, above all
others, possess the elements of har-
mOny. In the humble opinion of the
writer the observations which he ven
lures to give below about constitute
the attitude the Alliance should assume,
under certain contingencies or alterna-
tives, consistently with it's pledges and
obligations, in dealing with the two
parties which have heretofore shown
their tendency to move heaven and
earth, and still continue with the same
desperation, to attain supremacy at
any cost.
With regard to any positive identifi-
cation or permanent cooperation of
the Alliance with either party, GER
tainly neither can expect it. Our course
should be to steer clear of any party
that does not uphold our policy and
principles How can we, with the
lights before us, do otherwise? What
assurance has either party given us
that we can rely upon either so far as
to become absorbed in either? What
claims have either upon us other than
point action? Should circumstances
actuate us to deem such a course ad-
visable, upon questions vital to the
very soul of Alliance principles, and
therefore for the good of the people?
We have not forgotten what one Of the
bitterest partisan leaders, a man who
once stood foremost in the Z. S. Senate,
said about the two parties. Here is
what Roscoe Conkling said, and the
only change in either party since has
been for the worse: I'VE have two
parties in this country, and what are
they? They have been going down,
down until they have almost rea ;hed
the lowest depths. What a comment
ary upon the politics Of great coun-
| try! They represent two colossal or
ganic appetites thirsting for Rpoils.
The two parties are like wild beasts
trying to devour each other. The
American citizens are intelligent and
far above the average citizens of thetold
world. They are the prop and stay of
the republic, and have the spirit of free
dom in them handed down from father
to son. They are honest, intelligent
and energetic. The men who make the
laws for them on Capitol Hill do not
appreciate them"
Such being the case we would, in
committing ourselves to either party,
be placed in quandary. How dove
tail with either party; which one shall
we choose to cooperate with? Why,
at any rate, should we act within
either any more than they should act
within us? What claims have they
upon us that we should be subservient
to them? If we start out with de-
pendent attitude our prestige and indie
pendence is gone. Our grievances
must be righted, and if one or both
parties fail to give us relief, or con-
form to our principles, what, then?
The answer is too obvious to require
statement. AS to party supremacy,
one way or another, our principles and
needs are such that it weighs naught
in the balance when such a consider
alton conflicts with our policy. We
owe neither fealty nor homage to either
party. And pray, why should we?
With regard to politics, we've got to
the apron-strings of either party. A
course has got to be pursued that con-
! forms to our doctrines. A mental res
ervation, in case we adopt a dependent
course with any outside influence, is
bound to be held which will bias future
action when called into play. But
unless we go into politics, in some
shape or other, it's hard to see how our
ends are to be reached, and this we
can do with perfect nOn-partisan con-
sistency. We must have some sort of
political slogan. Are we to be non
descripts on the sea Of politics? Must
we be either styled fish, flesh nor fowl,
not even a red herring? So, cOnstrue
it as we may, either in name or
practice, politics is bound to enter
into our deliberations Notwithstanding
how some may cOnstrue our constitu-
tional limitations, which prescription
does not prohibit our connection with
any party to the extent of depriving
us of the privilege of acting, in politi-
cal concert, whenever we find it to our
advantage to do so.
There are no two ways about it,
Il ..-1,--. cot 70 e.,