The Russellville Democrat., 1891-09-24
BRYAN AND FIsHBACK.
Alliance and Democratic Reme-
 dies for Existing Ills.
Three Hours of Solid oratory.

J. E. Bryan, representing the Farm CTS Alliance, and W. NJ. Fishback the apostle of unterrified and unad ulterated democracy. The theme discussed was the ills of tae body polite. Each speaker presented al agnosis from his own party's stand point, and recommended remedy for the existing disease. The one ad yised the new, dangerous, untried and drastic compound known as the sub treasury and land loan nostrum, the other the old proprietary democratic panacea, low taxes, tariff reform and free silver.
 Mir. D. Porter West of Dover, in- troduced Mir. Bryan, who led of very pleasantly, giving lengthy histor- ical sketch of the Alliance organlza- tion, ,and describing It's wonderful ev olution from handful of oppressed and observation-disclosures in 1877 to it's present enormous proportions, em braclng organizations in thirLy-eight States, and reaching across the con- fines of the United States is spread ing all over Canada, England and Germany. He claims membership of 4,000,000. Reading the declara tion of principles he declared that in teaching the science of government the mission of the Alliance was po- litical. This declaration was in the nature of surprise to those demo- craLs who joined the order with the understanding that it would in no wise cohict with their polincal, re- | ligious or social relations. He de. nied the newspaper charges that the Alliance was an oath bound secret cabal, but affirmed that instead it was a beneficent institution, with a motto proclaiming "order, peace and good will to men," He handled the financial problem sklllfully, and re ferred frequently to the doctrines enunciated by Jefferson, Benton and J Jackson, eulogizing the era of pros perity and good will enjoyed during the reign of democracy in their day. He touched the tariff with the gloy- ed hand of a consistent protectionist, and dwelt with characteristic in consistency upon "the blighting eff feet" of national banks, a product of the same party he affiliated with when the law was enacted under which these same national banks rose and fourished. Referring to free coinage, he incidentally con tended that it did not matter what constituted the circulating medium so it had the. govern ment's seal of approval upon it. Il. lustrating this point he read from manuscript an incident of Tennessee Legislation in the year l7S9, whore the County of Franklin Tn (mock) legislature. assembled, enacted law authorizing the payment of all of fcial salaries in deerskins, coon skins, minkskIns, etc, He closed with an earnest defense of the Ali ance demand that tue government establish subtrsasuries to loan mon- ey to tue people on real estate at ? per cent. interest. He failed to state what sort of security would enable that class unblessed with land to SC cure loan, the very class admittedly which stands most in need of finan cial assistance. His discourse, lasting two hours, embraced four sub divisIons-th alliance, national banks, free silver, sub-treasury and land loan schemes. It was noticed that the speakers welltold anecdotes es eliclted the only applause heard while he held tue floor. The enun citation of his peculiar doctrines was listened to with respectful silence.
 At the close of MT. Rryan's ad. dress, MT. West introduced Col. Fishback, whose we'll chosen and timely address made a most favor able impression.
 COL. FIsHBAcK's REPLY.
 If any one has come out today to hear me abuse the Farmers Alliance he has mistaken his man. believe the Farmers Alliance to be one of the best of the institutions fer farm CTS that has ever been organized in this country, and if there had been 8 lodge near me should have joined it long ago. There is need that i farmers meet and discuss the needs of the country, and join in organiz ed effort to remedy the evils which atliIct it. That there is something wrong in the economic condition of our country no candid man will deny. That agriculture has suffered and is suffering greater depression than any other pursuit of life will be readily admitted. That this depression should exist along side unprecedent ed increase of wealth in the Nation at large should arrest the attention and challenge the investigation o every thoughtful, patriotic citizens of commonwealth. That this para doxical condition should have beer brought about during the past thirty years, while a certain theory of gov ermental administration has prevail ed, may well suggest the inquiry whether the two have the relation o course and effect, or are merely coin cident.
 CONTRAST.
 Before the war one theory of gov ernment prevailed for fifty years Since the War another theory ha obtained without interregnum. Be fora tha War nnder tha nld theory