Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-03-10
DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP.
Il. W. Drinkard Calls on the Mem
hers of the +, Il L.. T.. 10 Stick
TO the Organization.

wish to have published IN your
paper, as | think it has the largest
circulation of any paper III the oonn-
v, the following suggestions to my
brethren Of the +. Il l.. L.
DEAR BgErnREN-lou were told
prior To the Pertle Springs meeting
that the Third Party element would
declare in favor of their party. THIS
kept Il good many mel out OF the
When they assembled the
Party mel had a majority OF
twenty, but were as clear OF official
" endorsing the Third Party as the
Democrats or Republicans could
have been. had they been i'll the ma
ioritv. The st. Louis Conference
was the next are-crow to retard
the growth and hamper the educa-
tional work of the order. The st.
Louis Conference adjourned sine
die without endorsing a Third Party.
To say that a majority of the dele
gates would be Third Party men in
case the two old parties ignore our
demands would he undertaking
their numbers. But | failed to hear
a delegate who did not say that he
would vote with any party that
would make even reasonable con-
cessions to their demands. The
reasonableness or unreasonableness
of their demands are to be deter
mined by the parties interested.
The F. 4 l.. L. is still n~on-partisan
and non-sectarian, Il school to teach
charity, fraternity and unity IN the
interest Of patriotism and humanity.
Brother Democrats, can you afford
to ignore and condemn a school OF
political economy upon the bare as
sertions of political demagogues?
Brother Republicans, after all your
professed love for the Union, "One
and indivisible now and forever
can you consistently oppose an or
der that is doing o than all the
agencies to obliterate Masons and
Dixons line and unite the blue
and the gray aud the black and
white? Brother Third Party men,
do you not understand that you can
not, under the constitution and obi
CATION that you all took upon you
when you became members, coerce
the opinions or votes OF your
brother?
Is the question of financial reform
too profound to be fathomed by the
men who cast a majority of the
votes? Are the American people
to submit to the extortions of trans
portation corporations and never in
quire into their methods? Is it
treason against old partiesto declare
against absentee landlordism and
alien-inyestors? Can we not discuss
tariff reform in a brotherly spirit?
If we cannot do such things, are we
capable of self-government? (For
good government requires the proper
solution of all these questions. }
But suppose it is decided that the
masses are incompetent to grapple
with the above problems, could you
even then afford to abandon your
Union? The social advantages
which the order affords will compen-
safe for all time and expense, be-
sides, you have money in the treas
ury OF Audrain county due to the
efforts of your order. You have
your insurance, your cheaper school
books, you will soon have your
United States Senators elective by
the people. We will also curtail
the power of the executive. Finally
brethren, ''Don't Giveupthe Ship
we are sighting land, and as free,
dom's foes may yet learn that Voa
popuIi, cor Del" Be true to youl
obligations, push the interest of the
order, then go to the polls and vote
your sentiments, but for the sake o
all you hold dear, don't try to DIES.
troy the Union because your brother:
viii not vote as you do; be true t.
the Union and disappoint your enc
mics who have predicted all alons
that you could not vote different,
and maintain your Union. Iol
have proven that you could do sc
heretofore and that You will prove
your fidelity in the future is the de
sire and hope of Your Brother,
Il G. W. DRINKARD,
|, F. & L. U. Lecturer and Organizer