The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-25
rrnvEKsroS OF THE ALLIANCE.


Tn this free country the voters may
organize themselves into as many diueren'
na,,i,s "A they please. There Is nothing
either in the law or the genius OF our peo-
nla % nreveut a third or thirtieth party.
Furthermore. there is nothing in the law
or the genius Of our people that even DIS
courages the peaceable advocacy OF any
form OF government from the widest
dream OF the EXTREMIST free-loTe, church.
hating Anarchist to the severest autocracy.
And the people have the right to choose
that character Of government which they
NAV deem best suited b secure the greatest
good to tho greatest number.
But as the people have already agreed
upon one form Of government and have
AGREED with each other that the terms and
conditions of that government shall remain
steadfast until IL is altered by the will of the
people. TO be ascertained and declared in
certain ways, the man or set of men VINO
try to break through the limitations fixed by
the people themselves is either an open
enemy. OF. AS is generally the case, secret
foe of American Liberty. These men, OF
whom the best that can be said is that they
are agitntors. are almost universally failures
in any useful and productive pursuit ana
take to politics as a last resort Dlscon-
tented themselves their delight IL to make
as many others as possible as discontented
as themselves: but Is il TO be expected that
the rawlings OF such persons shall pass a.
the uttersnces Of truth aud soberness
Shall the personal security and the property
rights of the people be turned over to the
direction and control Of men whose ability
is rather 10 tear down than to build up
The Farmers Alliance was an organization
for the promotion of farmers in their bust
ness. It's aim was to increase knowledge OF
agriculture in all its branches, and. by CO.
operation. TO enable farmers 10 buy ma
chinery. seed, fertilizers. 60, and secure
transportation as cheaply as possible. In
short. to increase the value Of their products
and lessen their expenses.
1t was a commendabie organization. and
as such attracted to its body not only the
best of the farmers, but those of their SYM
pathizers who were permitted 10 join.
To aid in disseminating this useful
knowledge officers aud lecturers were
elected and paid salaries, whose mission it
was to instruct the farmers in the premises
II was distinctly understood as the very
basis of the society that it was TO be non
partisan; il was for business, not politics.
Organized on this principle 1t was faithfully
conducted for some time. The officers and
lecturers, in return for the salaries, mileage
&c, which we're paid them from contribu-
tions made by the farmers no doubt accom-
plished beneficial results for the Alliance.
But in an evil hour the glitter of political
Office, the thirst for power. governmental
power-no pent-up Utica, nothing short OF
our whole boundless continent-came as an
intoxicating vision before the Imagination
of these Alliance ofice-holders. The les
oIution was formed to mako stroke as bold
as Cataine's. and having thrown of their
farmers Rarb and changed their attitude as
thoroughly as did DR.. Faustus when he sold
his soul to the devil, they moved into the
lines of Weaver and the Third party and
called upon their farmer friends to follow.
Non-pArtisan with vengeance.
And what do these deluded leaders ex-
pect? Do they think that the majority of
the farmers of Virginia and North Carolina
are going to abandon these noble, philoso-
phic. patriotic, true and tried principles
which are comprehended in the name Dem
ocratio and accept as a substitute hash of
Isns?
We have nothing to do with the am
billions or decisions Of these Office
holding Alliance Weaverites, but in duty
to our fellow-citizens whose highest inter-
ests are wrapped together we raise warn
ing cry against this abuse of confidence Of
Democratic members of the Alliance.
great wrong has been done them The
result will be that these guides blinded by
their own ambition. will take into the po-
litical wreck which inevitably awaits the
Third party the Farmers Alliance over
which they were placed as non-psrtsan
officers of nom partisan business organ
ization.