St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-14
THE ALLIANCE IN PERIL.

HE ALLiANCE IN PERIL.
The Farmers Alliance of Minnesota
| has arrived at a critical point in its ca
| reer. The time has come when it must
| rise above personal politics or bid
| long farewell to future usefulness. 1t
must make the man subServient to the
issue or waste its strength in internal
disSensionS. All its energies must be
concentrated upon warfare for those
great interests represented by the agri-
culturistS of great state, or it must
yield its back to the old man of the sea
for many years to come.
1t will not be denied by candid men,
bers of the Minnesota Alliance that GER
tain views upon the best way of meet
ing important national questions affect
ing the agricultural interests are
held Jointly by the Alliance and
the Democratic party. There is far
greater unity of sentiment between the
Democracy and the Alliance than be-
tween the Alliance and any other party
pretending to national notoriety. Spite
full antagoniSm to agricultural interests
is voiced the loudest in the columns of
strongly partisan Republican journals.
Such facts being admitted. word Of
warning from the GLOBE will not, it is
hoped, be miSconStrued or unjustly
read between the lines for hidden mean
ing or Interior motives. The GLOBE in
speaking of the Alliance is always can
did, fair and above board.
The point which the GLOBE now seeks
to demonstrate is covered by the follow
ing proposition. There is one para
mount economic question, the equitable
adjustment of which must necessarily
benefit every sagriculturist in the
country. 1t is, in fact. the fundamental
financial issue of the hour-the tap root
from which spring many other Ques
lions of interest to farmers, and one
which, if not rightly settled, will I'M
pede the progress of any other measure
for relief that can be advanced By the
Alliance. This important issue is tariff
reform; like BANQUo'S ghost. it will not
down; and the politician who, having
pledged himself to this issue, takes one
backward step, is looked upon with sus
piciOn. Should the Alliance concentrate
its strength upon this one issue, it would
become a political power, compelling
the respect of all parties and forcing
the acknowledgment of defeat from at
least one. The once humble party in
England that made the defeat of the
corn laws its issue, captained by RICH
ARD Golden and JOHN BRIGHT, be-
came the most magnificent body of sue
cessful political crusaders that England
has ever witnessed. AS the Alliance
now exists it is simply temporary
storehouse for ill-assorted job lots of
issues; symposium of theories. Passed
under review. its shifting principles are
as confusing to the minds eye as is
long-continued peering into kaleidO-
scope painful to the optic nerve. The
GLOBE has yet to hear Of one member of
the Farmers Alliance in perfect SYM
pathy with all the manifold issues
raised at Ocala, Cincinnati, Omaha or
Topeka. Where there is so much diver
Slty Of opinion there can be but little
unity of purpose. Without unity of pur-
pose complete, or even partial, success
is impossible.
The success of personal ambition can
not strengthen the cause of the farmers.
The defeat of zone wing" of the Ali
ance in annual convention disables the
entire organization. even as the break
ing of birds wing destroys its physi-
cal usefulness. To the GLOBE as a dis
interested observer, devoid of antipathy,
and in spirit of friendliness, it seems
that there should be in the Alliance no
room for personal struggles, pot-house
politicians or peanut politics. Make
tariff reform the issue until tariff reform
is a fact, and the next issue champiOned
by the Alliance will receive the added
impetus Of successful achievement in
the past. The foremost enemy of the
Alliance is the Republican party.
Can the Alliance strike it at
weaker point than the already crum-
bling walls of protection? Can the ALI
ance more rapidly strengthen itself
than by making tariff its sole issue for
the present? Can it waste its resources
more eXtrayagantly than by dividing in
small groups to fight the windmills of
hundred side issues? The GLOBE sub
| mits these questions to the Alliance, not
AS an authorized exponent Of Alliance
principles, but as friend of
IiiO oiO ioouc upOu WHICH III can
go hand in hand with it in
winning fight. The presidency of
the Alliance is a paltry issue upon
which to dissipate its strength. The in
significance of any personal advance
ment in its ranks becomes painfully
apparent when compared to the vital
questions involving the farmers inter
ests. Let it lose sight of tariff reform,
and it becomes party without princi-
pie, led by crankS devoid of conscience.