The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-04-07
STAND FROM UNDER,
THE PEOPLES PARTY MOVING
TO THE FRONT.
Nothing Mystical or Dclusivc About tho
MOvcmcnt-Thc Inboring Classes Cry
for Dclivcrancc-Thcy Know Who Their
Oppressors Arc and They Mean to Strike.
Sweeping the Country.


Men out on these Western plains,
writes J. u. Frazier. from Los Animas,
Cal, who manage sheep in herds of
thousands, find it necessary, in order to
facilitate their movements, to have a
few old billy goats as leaders. When
they lead, the simple, harmless sheep
follow. Mr.. Billy Goat needs no urging
nothing daunts him-he is onto the
rock pile, or steps with the tread Of the
fearless along the top Of your barn. He
is wound up to 'get there and there
is no misstep or tumblinS to any other
racket. His motto is, "Cict there
Now there are a few things about our
rcfOrmers that we need. and one of them
is few Of these billy goat get there
leaders to break the way. Masses are
ready to follow if there is settled poll
icy as 10 the height we want to reach
the peak we wish to scale. The old
Abolitionists who touched off the maga-
zine that exploded the system Of negro
slavery never wavcred, never doubted
as to the justice of their cause. John
Brown and his men marched into the
jaws of death as fearlessly as the eagle
settles on the mountain crag. They led.
and the masses got there. In 1864 the
question of negro slavery was settled.
save the Union the billy goat leaders
had led us where we didn't want to go,
but we found We had done good thing,
and were glad they had got us there
just So with our struggle now. Many
are still blind about the great questions
before us. ard are simply looking to a
few grand old pioneers who see their
way clear. Many are timid like sheep
don't want to hurt anybody, and while
there are Jt hn Browns who are fearless
and making ready for the fray, some
can not understand why we must storm
the bulwarks Of the old parties and raise
such a hell of a row TO accomplish our
purpose, but both old parties are
anchored on the rock that capital shall
control labor" and it stirs their blood
and raises their holy indignation to
white heat when we insist that labor
shall control the wealth our toll pro-
duces. Whatever differences may exist
between them now, all will be dropped
and they will unite on the side OF capital
against labor.
We may well adopt the John Brown
policy-make the HarpeT's Ferry attack,
and fight for labor. The fire eaters
must be made the servants of labor. and
capital be ruled by the will Of its pro-
ducer5. Nothing short Of this will set
the question between the new party and
the old ones.
We talk of third party" 1t would
be more proper to say first party, while
the two old ones are but the spots that
remain to mark the place where fell the
crown that was to make capital king
over labor.
There is nothing mystical or delusive
about the peoples movement, when
looked squarely in the face. The laboring
classes are oppressed and they cry for
deliverance. They know who their op-
pressors are. and where they are found,
and they mean to strike blows that will
count for their delivcrance. The settle
ment of the great financial question will
bring out the location where the tOilers
and their oppressors each stand. This
question must be ayitated above all
others, in season and out of season, till
every one is forced to range himself on
the side of capital, or on that of labor
When this is done, the fight will become
general. If capital wins, our nation is
doomed, and its day will fade out as
have the nations before US Who made
their wealth owners their rulers. If
labor wins and capital is made to serve
its wants, and honest toll is respected and
guarded, our nation will advance, our
people be happy and prosperous, and
turmoil and strife will cease from our
borders.