The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-02-23
KEEP COOL.

This article is from the Dakota RW-
r0list, Bro. Louck's paper.
1t is singular how nervous some of
our friends seem to be over our declara-
ton that we would support either the
Republican, or Democratic party if they
should adopt and advocate our plat
form of principles. Does any n
imagine that we would have left the
Republican party if they had adopted
our demands? If so we wish to dis
abuse their minds of the idea Had it
been office we wanted we could have
got it inside the party, we believe. It
was principles we wanted The party
would not adopt the principles and We
united with the party that did adopt
them. In a few States Of the Union
the majority of Alliancemen have done
the same thing. We think four States
is all that "a be so counted, viz: Kan
sas, Nebraska, Minnesota and South
Dakota. These will cut but a small
figure in a national campaign. We
want a national victory. We have
enough votes to win if we can induce
all those voters to vote together. One
faction says, we a get all we want in
the Democratic party another says we
can get all we want in the Republican
party, ami the third faction saS we
have no faith that either old party will
ever take up and advocate these meas
ures. Divided in that way we cannot
win. How can we unite these three
separate factions who believe in the
same principles but each want the
glory for their party.
Forinstance, our Democratic brethren
in the South say, we have a Democratic
House; we want to make a test in that
House to see whether or not our party
will vote for our Alliance measures. Be
fore we declare for a new party we
must prove to our people that the old
party is not with or for us. That is
just the position we took in South Da
kota three years ago. A few months
will tell the tale. All, but some enthu-
siast will say, that will be too late.
Until hat fact is demonstrated it will
be too early. We came together in
consultation. The State Presidents
from seventeen States q believe) and
legislative committee. One avOwed
independent (the writer) the balance,
so far as we know, Democrats and Re
This question came up. and
it occupied two sessions. Our position
was that we should vote for those de-
mands regardless of party name. No
doubt to test our sincerity, one brother
"Wil you vote for the Repub
lican party if they adopt them2"
There was a square test; did we love
our party or our principles best9 Our
answer was prompt; Eyes, sir" Then
Democratic brother thought he had
US, and asked, eff the Democratic
party adopts them will you support
it?' Our answer was just as prompt.
Yes, sir" Then we asked them,
4" Now, brethren, if neither the Demo
cratic or Republican party will adopt
those demands, will you support the
party that wil?" and the answer w as
just as emphatic, 1--WE will" We then
agreed to submit our demands to the
three parties and abide the result. To
our Independent brethren let me say,
that we propose to keep the pledge, and
have net the faintest idea that we
will have to change u politics to do
it. Those brethren who are laboring
under the halucination that either the
Republican or Democratic party will
adopt the demands that they are fight
so bitterly at the present time, will
have all doubts removed as soon as
those demands are presented to their
respective conventions. In all past
it has required a new political
party to carry out great reforms. The
presel5t is the greatest that has ever
been undertaken, and in our Judgment
Will prove no exception in that respect.