The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-10-20
THE COMING ELECTION.
MUCH IMPORTANCE ATTACHED
THERETO.
C1d Pn:tcs in Thcir forts to lrivc
Their Voters Back Are BE cOmi ng les
perste Significance of the Igs Argu-
ncat-A Word to Young Mem.
Tho Battle Of '02.

More Importance attaches to the cleo
ton of 1892 than to any election within
the memory of Oldest citizens. We do
not regard it SO on account of the can
,lidates before the people. nor on ac-
count of the parties that have pre-
sented them. All the candidates are
rcsentative men and men of ability
as,:Onest men no doubt SO far as men
count honesty in q political sense. And
the parties are all patriotic: none of
them revolutionary. and in the hands
of any them. the Government, SO far
as that is concerned will live.
Both men of all parties admit that
corruption has crept into politics, that
Legislation is often secured by bribery,
that there is a growing tendency to
aristocra'y. dangerous. If not checked,
to free institutions, and that selfish
powers have arrogate1 TO themselves
too great share of public Legislation,
until the powers thereby secured have
impaired the equal rights Of the peo-
pie before the law. threatened the
prosperity of the masses, and even be-
gin to hint defiance of the Government
itself
Against this evil tendency the reo-
pie have protested. They have re-
solved and threatened. They have car
ried their protests and resolutions in.o
their political parties, all in firm but
respectful language. As last resort
they have made n move to carry their
threats into execution, and have put
up a national ticket to enable them to
give voice to their resolutions and de-
manls 1T the ballot box, and thus re-
buke those of their official servants.
who refused to hear their simple petit
tions.
Suppose when the day Of voting
romes, only GleaSer vote shall he
cast for the party of protest, the Peo-
ple's party. That will be saying to
the politicians: "Gcntlemen, when
you do what We do not like. we will
resolutc against you and threaten you
like thunder, but when it comes to
voting yor may count yourselves sure
Of our votes!' The votes are all the
politicians care for. They can laugh
at our resolutions and at us, so long as
10 not back our resolutions and pro-
test with our votes: and if we continue
to vote for them they have right to
.'hiAA' -ic ~ uo tAtS h.tNc uouc. We
give them the right.
TN the contrary, should the Peoples s
party, the party of protest, receive a
heavy vote, vote drawn from both of
the old parties, that will show to the
politicians that the people still under
stand their over, and have the will to
exercise it u. the polls: that they will
rebuke the parties when the parties
refuse to hear them, the political ear
will quickly turn to the people to
calmly hear and promptly obey.
SO the real question in the elec ion
of 1892 is: "Shall the people or the
parties rule?@ 1t is test as to whether
the people mean what they say. and as
20 whether the politicians and Office
holders Nee! tc ray any attention to
those whose votes gives them the
offices. 1t is test vote, and hence
the most important one in years
Reader, Low is it with you? Will yo,l
vote go to give the politicians full
power, or will it say that the people
must rule? The success of this etfor
does not depend upon the election 0
candidates. but upon the strength o
the vote. the Willingness of the peopl
TO emphasize their resolutions at th
polls.
No man ne:l be afraid of losing hi
party if he votes once against it, not
bit more than father need be afrai
of losing his child if he chide it. Hi
party will be glad to welcome hir
back whenever it reaches point t.
deserve his return: and it will the
thank him for the rebnke that brough
it to its senses and saved it from ruin
Progressive Farmer.