The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-11-13
MORGAN ON THE ALLIANCE
STARTED on THE RIGHT LINES Hut swiTC
OFF AND RUINED.


STARTED on ruE RIGHT LINES hut SWITCHED |
OFF AND RUINED.
Senator john I. Morgan discuss, in the |
November Forum 1.-THE Dangers of The Farm
crs Alliance For the object tf the ALL
lianc when it was first estsbl shed he has |
the most profound respect 1t was the frst |
combiDei protest against the increased pow |
Or given hy congress to manufacturing G m !
panies and corporal ons, "many hundre is |
Of thousands of the later being organized to !
handle money and credit with profit. and |
with only limited responsible ity fr losses
and Cefa catiOps.' In thus favoring the |
capitalist any the manufacturer the farming
-. - =
Fthe fndOstry; sxul and genius Of the indus
trial mau have been converted into me rchan-
disc, which he must sell in market where
tho capitsli-t names the price Of labor and
limits the period of employment. Tho States,
more than the Federal government, have
crystaixsd the power of capital and credit
iii swarns of corporations Of every s'rt.
These corporations were intended primarily
for the benefit Of agriculture as the foundation
and support Of all other industries and vo
cations. Their proper regulation AMI re-
str ction by the States would have secured
that purpose- But when congress threw the
weight of national legisla ion in their favor
they became the Oppressors aud desroyers
OF the agricultural class and of other indua-
trial peop'e. 1t is for the removal Of this
unjust discrimination that the appeal for
relief has become almost a frantic demand Of
the sufferers
The farmers have tcen slowly but steadily
forced into this attitude by their common
aversion to oil forms Of class legislation.
In the earlier years of our national existence
''the greater portion Of the wealth of the
country was in possession of the agricultu-
ralsts. Agriculture in sll its crops was then
our great controlling and commercial pursuit.
In tho last ba'f century all this has changed,
and the farmers are industriously seeking
for the causes and the authors Of the revolu-
ton that has placed them under mortgage of
the money power. This inquiry agitates
them, aud if it drives them into inconsidera'c
action the fault is nc, theirs, but lies at the
loor OF the various dangerous abuses from
which they are suffering
The system which gives the American
market exclusively to the American manu-
iaciuicr bears heavily OH agriculture. "a
nigh Price home market for what they must
'uy and q low priced foreign market for
What they must sell impress the farm ers
with conviction of serious injustice. This
tc'ling is greatly aggravated by the fact that
ihe men whom they pay such tribute buy
he farmers products nj prices fixed in the
pauperzed European markets.; The jus,
purpo g that the farmers had in view was to
work the feeling of The country against the
discrimination made hy congress in favor OF
capita lists. corporations and special manufac-
cduuc te the farmers in the theery and Il. =.
Tory OF constitutional government in the I'm I.
90 States" Their mistake was i'm relying up-
on the wisdom of their owu members. cal
most every man in the United States who h n d
oirncd any character as n statesman legisla
''r' luilst OF financier was excluded from
tie Alliance,' and its policy was regulated
ny nj n OF imperfect educs ton AMI OF little
experience In government, and too often by
mere char'atans and demagogues." This
'Ins anu Still is the great mistake Of the
Farmers Alliance, The rcso utions adopted
7erc tn, work Of self seeking politicians
Ihcy did not come from the convictions of
ie great body the alliance membership
N the contrary. they violate, at the South
ne liked political faith of the great majority
"t the farming classes" The novel AMI
lausib'e schemes and the third party move
'nent were devised by the leaders to capture
ne public Offices, 1t was not possible"
says SENATOR Morgan, '.thus to reyolutionize
public opinion of a sudden, and the effort
most usefuf stnt1 ItsaJEesmers' Alliance its
Ihcy are retiring from it, and their n,ascceo
are filled with waits from the wreckarre r'o ~
nn INC many exploded schemes that have
Perlsned through public condemnation"
lna lit is melancholy thought" Gays Sena-
tor Morgan, "that their pure purposes and
principles should be thus abused by selfish
politicians who have crept into its sacred
eouDsels."