Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-19
"I,hc Band of Gideon,

THE Band of Gideon"
A highly interesting story was giver
out in Washington yesterday by a mar
in a position to know. 1t sheds new
and startling light on the campaign
now being waged in the South and
West in the name of the farmers al
lance. 1t reveals the existence Of an
oath-bound order within the alliance
known as the Band of Gideon
This band, as the story goes, was or
ganized by DIR. Macune and others at
the meeting two years ago. Itwas otli-
cered at that meeting, and is said to
embrace in its membership at present
all or nearly all of the alliance leaders.
Its object is to strike the two old par
ties wherever they may be in control.
The plan of this secret society, as laid
down by DR.. Macune, was simple. 1t
contemplated the raising Of q political
legion of 800 men in each congressional
district in the Union, whose object
should be the spreading of the alliance
party.
The oath presented is OF the most
sweeping character, and concludes as
follows
$50 all of which l most solcmnly
swear and sign my name, binding my
self under no less penalty than that of
being held up to the contempt of all
mankind. And l further pledge my
life, my liberty and my sacred honor /;
and should | wilfully break this oath, |
hereby surrender my body 10 the just
vengeance Of the members of this or
der
A candidate for admission to the ord
er is thus addressed when he presents
himself:
"You are about to enter an organiza-
tion that depends more upon the zeal,
fidelity, and devotion Of its members
than upon their numbers. 1t is bound
together by solemn compact, to
which each member. joins in Il pledge of
secrecy and loyalty strong as can be
expressed in language. The object is
to secure q small band, devoted to the
cause Of humanity, the members of
which can be depended on to act to-
gether in any emergency, forsake every
other cause, and defending the prin-
ciples of this and with their lives, if
need be.
THE people are in bondage and they
cry for deliverancc as Israel did 5000
years ago. Just as they were driven
from their homes, driven to resort in
caves and mountain Businesses through
T. Il 1T,Jio,,itoz.- ORG hD
people forced to yield their inheritance
to satiate the greed Of monopoly.
There is now impending revolution
which. unless checked, will astonish
the world and money pow
cr on the one hond, and struggling hu-
manity on the other. The masses have
been patient and forbearing, while the
votarics Of money have been arrogant
and proud.
AS God chose only 300 toredeem Is
rael, demanding of Gideon that each
should be honest, faithful, true and de-
voted. so may we be successful if we
follow out this divine precept and ex-
ample. 4 vast multitude can only be
controlled by having few acting as
one man; for Just as Gideon invaded
the camps Of the OIidianites under pro
lection of secrecy and silence, so must
we 90 forth to fight our battles. We
must quietly band ourselves together
and invade the camps Of monopoly.
With the information we can gain of
their weakness and vulnerability, we
will be enabled to successfully over
come them. More depends on the fl
deity of this band than on great num-
bers. This three hundred, whose pu-
rity of purpose and abandonment Of sell
fish ambition and preferment are 50
firmly established that neither the
riches of Cresus nor the kingdom of
the world can move them, will sue
cecd"
The present officers of the band are
not known, but the organization is de-
clared to be in a fourishing condition
and busily at work in the present cam
paign.