The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-09-17
ed my reception into that body, and .
memory Of the fibre and terturc of the
hands that had pressed mine so warm


memory of the fibre and texture of the
hands that had pressed mine SO warm
ly had come to me.
Oh such hands; hard as if cut out
of stone; many of them drawn until
they could only open half way; their
elasticity and every trace of beauty had
long since departed. They were hands
that told-how eloquently and pitifully
only mothers heart can understand
of that whole system of iniquity per-
petrated upon them by villainous rul-
ers and endorsed by the most vena
government under the sun. Hands
that when uplifted in prayer speak
more eloquently of defrauded lives than
words can ever do. No wonder that in
in that unresisting condition between
| sleeping and waking, when the will is
comparatively imperative, the thought
of these poor hands and of all that
their Disagreement meant, should
| sweep the sensitive nerves of human
syn pathy and moisten pillow with
tears.
And tears. with me, are only for
such moments Let the thought of
these hands come to me in the positive
condition of wakefulness and l have no
| tears to waste. Instead of tears my
very soul throbs with an almost I'M
comfortable wrath; and l feel for the
time-as if nothing but retribattire
rengeance could wipe away such
| wrongs.
And yet, God forbid. do not
truly desire vengeance: but only that,
after all these years of bitter injustice
to the poor and of legislation for the
rich, that better times should come to
all equally. That the lawless rich
should learn, that only through the
Development of their o,rn inmate
pOacer to produce for themselves, can
true ,realth come; and that the poor
and crushed men and women of m
ceasing and unrecompensed toll may
have and enjoy unmolested the fruits
of their own earning. This is justice; !;
and justice is all l ask.
| One point more and | am done.
Who can any longer doubt the SEN
timent of the great bulk of the people.
Party ties have surely fallen away from
them. l attend their rallies where
often 5000 to 5000 people are assem-
bled, and I observe them closely.
Earnest faces upturned to the speaker
catch and eagerly grasp every hopeful
word; but it is only when some allu.
sion-no matter how indistinct-is
made regarding the THIRD PARTY
that tossed hats and jubilant ".whoops"
deafen every other sound and force the
orator into temporary silence.
The people are ripe for the third
party flag, and it cannot be flung to
the breeze too soon. To delay longer
is dangerous. After the fruit is ripe
decay sets in.
The third party fruit is now ripe.
The fact must be proclaimed SO that
the people may know beyond q doubt
that they have tangible foundation
under their feet.
With the knowledge of third party
announced and in working order, a
panic in the old parties will ensue
This will be the first effect of such a
declaration; they are already fright
ened; one more aggressive step on our
part will stampede them. In my
opinion it cannot be taken too soon.
Nothing wins like boldness To bold
ness alone is success guaranteed. Con-
sider this fact, men of the United
States, and let it have its influence on
your immediate movements
For my part know that success is
ours. know it by the united hearts
of the people. know it by the pur-
ity of motive that moves them. And
lastly [ know it by the grim and
dauntless determination that goes hand
in hand with the deep sense of broth
erly love which SO peculiarly Y infuses
their feelings: combination hitherto
unknown in any political uprising OF
the masses -unconquerable love and
sympathy for each other and equally
unconquerahle determination to win
by the ballot if possible-but to win
at all hazards, in spite of the devil and
his cohorts.