The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-05-13
A MANLY PROTEST..

sub treasury anu UHe lduu lodli
schemes and,the secret order organiza-
ton. The resolution was adopted by
the Alliance. This virtually commits
that body to the Peoples party and
all it's vagaries. AS a result of the
adoption of this resolution by the Co..
Alliance, Mr.. John Diamond writes a
letter which is published in to-day's
ReUieau which must commend itself to
all right thinking men, be they Re-
publicans, Democrats, or conscien-
tious Alliance men. 1t is a timely
and manly protest against the control
of the Alliance by worn out political
hacks, who are simply seeking their
own personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and
have no care or use for the Alliance,
or interest in the farmer further than
this,
From the first the FREE PRESS has
contended that if the Alliance was
properly conducted it would prove
beneficial to the farmer, but if allow
ed to fall into the control Of dema-
gogues for whom the two old parties
have no further use, as powe for
good it would soon crumble to decay.
From all accounts it would seem tina t
the order has fallen into the control
of Just such men who are bent upon a
"rule or ruin" policy, They are not
willing to trust the masses for fear
of defeat and so carry everything in
sight with high hand.
Speaking of the resolution in Ques-
tion before the County Alliance, Mr..
Diamond states that he was aston
ished that his proposition to refer the
matter to the subordinate Alliances
was rejected. Had it been so refe r
red and adopted, he states he would
have no cause for complaint, but he
objects to the dictation assumed by
two or three. Continuing he says:
What has Mr.. Morrison ever done
toward building up the Allia nee that
he should assume such mastery
over its policy? He was with the AL
lance only for the money in it. His
support Of S. M. Owen, two years ago,
was half-hearted, and when asked to
publish a notice of that gentleman's
meeting in Mankato, he failed to do
it.
This is picture of only too many
who have assumed a leadership in
that organization. They are simply
there for "the money there is in it,
and when they have sucked the orange
dry they are ready for something else.
They are always willing for some one
else to do the work of building up, as
they only desire the fruits .therefrom.
Referring to the endorsement of the
secret organization scheme, Mr., Dia
mond says:
The farmers do not need to hide
themselves behind locked doors and
OathS to secure redress of their
wrongs. The whole thing is repul-
sive to their nature, repugnant to ey-
cry patriotic impulse, and sooner or
later must breed conspiracy if not
downright treason to the government.
Secret political societies are inimiCal
to free government, and the farmers,
whose life, business and general sur
roundings all tend to freedom of
thought and action, should be the last
people in the world to give encourage
ment to anything Of the kind.
More truthful words were never
spoken in regard to the farmer. His
life is free and open, and this natural
ly leads him to attack any wrongs
which he may feel are being commit
ted against him, in public manner.
The scheming demagogue fears Gods
own sunlight upon his plans and so
desires to hide behind bolts and bars.
He looks upon every man as schem-
er like himself, hence he fears to trust
the open public. Followed back it
will be found that it is the politi-
Cal hack and demagogue who desire
to hide behind locked doors; agitation
of great wrongs always seeks the open
field for a full and free discussion.
In regard to the Alliance party Mr..
Diamond comments as follows:
No party was ever inaugurated under
more suspicious circumstances than
that of the Alliance. In it's first con.
test it polled nearly third of the
vote of Minnesota, and in this county
elected its entire ticket. Its organi
ZatiOn was complete, with the great
est promise for the future; yet in thi:
state, without the semblance of au
thority, half dozen or so of schem
ing, designing men, scarcely one {
practical farmer, stole its prestige
and perverted its aims and objects
transforming it into secret, oath
bound political organization, will
cardinal issues antagonistic to thu
best and safest interest of the farmer
Less than that number have done tn,
same thing in this county, and from ;
farmers organization it passes int
: control of political adventures VIII,
have no interest in common with tn
farmers. 1t is case of usurpation AM
tyranny unparalleled in the history O
political parties in this country. Tn
farmers are given the alternative of
passive submission or of returning t.
their old party affiliations. The lat
ter, l immagine, the majority will dc
This is severe arraignment of tn
Donnelly's, Fish's, Morrison's. etc,