Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-01-27
THE FINAL ANSWER.

The National Economist Defines the Posi-.
tion of the Order towards All Political
Parties.
The readers of the Economist have
never been in doubt as to it's position
upon any great question of principle.
1t has been conservative and non parti-
san, but firm and decidedly aggressive
on all reform questions. But there are
some who are anXiously and Impatient
ly waiting to see whether the Econo-
mist will, after the February meeting,
come out and advocate the new party.
which it seems probable will be indorsed
there, or whether IL will urge the mem
bership to make the reform fight in the
two parties. 1t is good time now to
answer this question and settle al
doubt. Once for all, then, let it be
known that the Economist will not
pursue either course. 1t will keep
squarely in the middle of the road
marked out by the supreme council
To advoca te any party is part sanisn,
and the Economist, as the national a d
official organ, has no right to commit
the order to partisan action. The SUI
preme council itself could not do that:
the membership alone have that power.
1t is important that the situation be
well understood before delegates start
to the February meeting.
The whole question as to the future
course of the national organ, the fu-
ture position of the supreme council
and the duty of the national officers,
depends upon one thing, and that is:
''Can the Farmers Alliance as an or
ganization consolidate with or oganize
po itical party?" Unquestionably it
cannot.
1. Because such consolidation or CO.
alition would make such party a class
party, or more properly no party, but a
political faction.
2. Because the Farmers Alliance as
an organization would cease to exist;
the moment it yielded sovereignty as a
farmers organization it would become
something eise.
8. Because to merge with any one
party would drive those belonging t.
all other parties out of the order, and
that is contrary to the fundamental
principles of II \ organization.
It seems to be genera ly conced d,
both by alliancemen and by those mo st
eager for the success of the indeper d.
ent party moveme It, that there can b.
no consolidation of the alliance with
any 20 itical party. Both cannot be
supreme; neither can be snbordina' e;
and therefore to attempt to consolidate
them is death to one This is a sta se-
ment that all must admit; it is abso-
lutely inco 1trovertible.
The re ,og Iition of these facts te IDS
to develop conception of tn, ne ,es-
sity of work on the part OF al lncc OF
fcers and me e.nbers during the coming
year to preserve the order from the dis
organizing effects of fierce political
contest There are two ways in which
political contest has influence upon
the order; one is by direct conflict and
antagonism, and re other is by center
ing so much partisan fee ing and inter
est in tae political conflict as to leave
the ordr neglected and overlooked
These two effects m mlss be felt core dur
ing the coming struggle f1S9: than ever
before. because in addition to the Two
old political parties, which have
neither accepted nor rejected the al
lance demands, there will be new
5lisi-ai party which will accept
and contend for the principles ad-