People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-23

PIE DIS 10 deceive all or US Tor time
and most of us until very recently.
Remembering that we ourselves
were not too quick in accepting the
truth, let us be patient with others
who perhaps have not had the truth
as forcibly presented to them. Now
that the excitement of the campaign
is over, thousands will listen with
interest and Judge calmly of what
they condemned unheard before.
Let us do nothing in the way of
retaliation for wrongs done. Let no
one do this. As we have done moth
ing in the campaign just closed of
which we are ashamed; as we have
neither bought nor sold principles or
votes; as we have sought to main
tain the purity of the ballot-box and
the right of every man, rich or poor,
black or white, to the untrammeled
expression of his political convictions,
conscious that only so can the iber-
ties of the common people of either
race be preserved-as we have done
this, let us take courage and continue
the work of educating others as we
were ourselves educated in economic
principles, having full faith in the
justice of our cause and the ultimate
triumph of our principles before the
country.
No matter what course the incom-
ing Democratic administration may
pursue, the need for fuller educa-
ton of the people upon economic
questions remains the same. If the
Democratic party grants the legisla-
ton which we demand, well and
good; it will then be necessary that
the people be so educated that they
understand the principles underlying
that legislation in order that they
may continue the Democratic party
in power and hold it to It's work of
legislating in the equal interest of all
the people. If 1t fails, as we fear it
will fail, to give the relief needed,
then the people must be educated
and prepared to smash that as COM
pletely in the next election as our
Western brethren mashed the Repub-
licans out there.
This work of education can best
be continued as it was begun, largely
at least, through the Alliance, and [
congratulate you that the direction
of this work is largely in your hands.
Your power to do good to the people
of Georgia is greas. doubt not it
will be used wisely.
You will, [ fancy, find the work
somewhat difficult. It is, in one
sense, to be regretted that the ALI
ance has become so nearly Identical
in the pnblic mind with the Peoples
party. This was, however, unavoid-
able, for while the Alliance was not
and is not partisan in any true sense,
yet, inasmuch as by union of all
industrial organizations of the coun-
try upon a common platform Of prin-
oiples resulted naturally in the forma-
ton of party pledged to carry those
principles iuto effeot,i it followed that
the Alliance and Alliance men and
women would naturally be regarded
as. pledged to and desiring to be
counted with the party adopting it's
principles.
This fact will stand in the way
somewhat of the further upbuilding
of the order by the taking in of new
members for time, but it ought, on
the other hand, to draw still more
closely together those already in, and
as those outside become convinced
that we seek the common good of all,
we may hope to see many added to
our roll of membership.
Whichever course the party in
power may pursue, it can not sup
press discussion. In fact, it is com
PEELED by the condition of the fnan-
ces of the country to lead in the dis
cussion and thus throw open to us
the direct road to the public ear.
Our Alliance lecturers must take
advantage OF this, and every ALI
anoe hall and country school house
should be made place for discus
sing in a friendly and non-partisan
manner the economic questions I'M
DERIVING our theory of government
of the people, by the people and for
the people.
In these discussions the Demo
cratic party should be treated fairly
and given credit for any good it may
do; but partisanship of whatever
kind or name should be denounced
and it's baneful effects pointed out.
No man can be a partisan and a
patriot at the same time. To be a
patriot one must be so far from par
as to be able to see with
equal olearness whatever good may
be in any party.
Our people must be encouraged to
protect themselves from imposition
of all kinds, This right to vote as
their judgment dictates must be
held as sacred, and the man or men
who seek to interfere with that right,
either by bribery or intimidation,
must be held up as unworthy the
nameYof true citizen. And come
veal, come woe to our own organiza-
ton, we must preserve the same
,,ri+v IN II and in ourselves that we |