The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-07-31
THE GOOD CROPS.
Why They Will Not Make Po-
litical Slaves Of Farmers.
THE INSULT OF THE POLITICIANS.


What Has Already Been Gained by Co
op~eration-The Dangers Of Misgovern-
ment at Last Observation-Disclosures Will
BE No Return to Old Party Folds This
Fall.
Copyright, 1891, by Reform Press News Asso-
citation. New York;
The greatest insult which the politi-
clans Of the land are putting upon the
farmers today is the declaration that the
political revolt will disappear with the
harvesting of good crops this fall In
other words, these enemies Of the people
say that a temporary bit of prosperity
will cure the farmer of all desire to re-
form the gross abuses of government
of which they have long been the princi-
pal victims. 1t is a great satisfaction to
reflect that the politician is deceiving
himself in his assumption even more
than he has deceived the Indifferent and
Disguised farmers in years past.
For how happens it that the politician
has come to regard the farmer as his
plant tool? 1t is true that for many
years farmers as a class took no active
interest in politics. They voted, a fair
proportion of them, but they voted ac-
cording to tradition rather than accord
ing to their Judgment. They voted one
ticket or the other because they had al
ways voted that ticket, and because the
men who made politics their business
continued to urge them to vote that
way. But they cared mighty little for
the issues which were perennially
brought before them. 1t became Il mat
ter OF Indifference to many. They re-
tanned some sentimental regard for the
old party with which they had all their
lives been enrolled. They did not for a
moment realize how vitality their ma
terial interests were affected.
Nine farmers out Of ten have believed
until not long ago that their welfare was
not materially affected by political af-
fairs, except in the size of the tax bills
they were called on to pay every year.
If these did not grow too large, they
were content to let the dirty business of
politics alone. How many farmers i'm
agined that their everyday life, their in
come from crops and stock, the cost of
living were directly influenced by the
government at Washington and at their
state capitols?
They have learned the lesson of op-
preston and disagreement. They have
found that their tax bills are the least
important levy which the government
really puts upon them. They have dis
covered that politics are of as vital con-
Germ to them as any other feature Of
their affairs. And having found it ont.
does anybody suppose they are going to
submit to deception and robbery and
misgovernment again? The farmers OF
America are not fools. Undoubtedly the
leaders Of the old parties would gladly
reduce them again to accomplishing in
difference. But it will take more than
the price Of n good crop to do it. They
know now what the trouble is. They
know, too, that the remedy lies in theil
own hands. They propose to have no,
only a good crop this fall, but political,
independence, too, now and forever,
And political independence and intel
ligence are going to bring other goot
things in their train. Although 20
litical reform is the first and for thu
time the most important Of the aims o
the great cooperative movement of TIN
agriculturists Of the land, other grea
objects are to be accomplished. Co
operative buying and selling are alread,
done on a large scale by the Alliance il
well organized states, and many thou
sand dollars are being saved by Allianc
farmers. There will soon be a wise ant
methodical cooperation in the raising o
crops, SO that there will be a better pro
portioned production and a greater va
riety of production throughout the conn
try. The productive capacity of lan'
will be materially increased by the sam
agency.
The delegates to the national conven
ton at Ocala last December gained nc
only political information, but the,
gained an insight into Florida's peculia:
form OF wealth, which is soon to multi
ply the productiveness of the farms o
the land. The Alliance men of Florid;
will soon send to the Alliance men Of tn
west not only political greetings, but til
stimulating products of the vast newt.
discovered phosphate beds which viii
help make the agriculturists independent
of the monopolistic money power.
In these and scores of other ways pc
litical and other cooperation will in
crease the farmers independence. AM
yet the politicians pretend to believ
that, having gained this much, the farm
er is promptly going to abandon his nev
organization and sink back into helples
oppression. The fact is success thus fa
has only stimulated the farmers appe
tite. He has tasted the benefits Of OF
%ganization and the last thing he will d
is to give them up. Success will nc
make the farmer a fool. Prosperitywi.
not make him sacrifice his independence
THE party whip may crack in vain. H
will no longer dance under its lash.
you don't believe it, Mr.. Politician. wa:
till he goes to the polls once more.
; II. r. CHAMBERLAIN
Since MI. Cleveland has announce
himself as opposed to the free coinage {
silver, and thus placed himself, wit