People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-16
No More Politics.

Il can uOJ see Gno necessity VI al
organ for the Alliance that does not
deal in ''politics." What can the
Alliance propose to accomplish for
the good of the laboring man, and
have nothing to do with politics ?
Can a non-political organization,
with non political papers, ever accom-
plish anything for the good of the
tax-ridden and mortgage-burdened
toilers of the country, who are being
systematically robbed by a set of
vicious class laws enriching the few
and impoverishing the many? And
thus it will continue until the people
awake and take different and more
active part in "pohtics." | regard
the whole scheme of keeping the
Alliance out of politics as trick in
favor of the professional politician
and against the people. If any re-
form is needed, who is responsible
for the condition of things that
makes a reform necessary? Laws
that are just and right need no re-
form or change. Had the great
body of the people kept sharp eye
on our law makers, the reforms that
are determined upon and demanded
by the people would not now be nee
essary.
But what is politics? Does it not
embrace everything pertaining to the
State and national governments? To
the making and administering the
laws in the interest of all the people ?
"Politics," proper, is far more i'm
pOrtant than a mere scrambling for
office, embracing ways that are dark
and tricks that are vain. The say
ing is quite current that "politics" are
corrupt, but a little reflection will
show that this idea is not correct
for politics, as a science or an art, Is
not corrupt but men may be corrupt,
and resort to questionable methods
to accomplish their unholy ends.
"P0litics, as a science or an art, is
subject of vast extent and impOr-
lance" A certain class of men have
taken it upon themselves to rule the
country, President, Cabinet, Con-
gress, and else.
The silver legislation, since 1878,
is proof of this, and this same class
of men oppose the Alliance and all
other labor organizations going into
politics in order that they may have
an open field to accomplish their
selfish ends. Perhaps one or two
English capitalists will have more in
fuence in shaping the silver legisla-
ton Of Congress than the whole AL
lance eff the United States. Why is
this
To make the Alliance a fraternal
and business organization, eliminat-
ing the political element entirely, is
to make the chances of reform very
doubtful. The language in the
''declaration of principles endorsed
by the Alliance IS emphatically polit-
zeal. And consequently it has en-
countered bitter and persistent OPP
position from foes without and pre-
tended friends from within. Is not
this language somewhat political
"T0 labor for the education of the
agricultural classes in the science Of
economical government, in strictly
non-partisan spirit" X X "To
develop a better state mentally, NOR
ally, socially and financially. To
create better understanding for
sustaining civil officers in maintain
ING law and order"
The aims and objects to be accom-
plished in the above language are all
laudable and priseWortny. And is
there no politics in it? If not, will
some one having more perfect knowl-
edge of these things, and knows just
what politics, Is, tell us exactly what
the language does mean?
The agricultural classes are to be
taught the science of economical
government. How? Not as a
Democrat or Republican, but Gin
strictly non-partisan spirit" Has
any party ever put out a nobler
declaration of principles than the
Alliance? Is there any subject that
the people need instruction upon
more than they do upon that of an
economical government ?" The sub
iect of finance is Intentionally mysti-
fed, SO that the great body of the
people can be kept in ignorance of
its workings, and thereby be kept in
subsection. But the Alliance pro-
poses to teach the boy that follows
the pillow the science of economical
government" including that wonder
full thing-the "dollar." This sub
iect, above all others, has engaged
the minds of the greatest statesmen
and ablest thinkers of all ages and
perhaps never more SO than at pres
ent. A prominent Democrat, who
went into Congress under Alliance
colors, said in a public speech that it
would not do for the great body of
the people to know the facts set forth
in Mrs. Emery's little book, "Seven
Financial Conspiracies." Though
peoples money was burnt up and
funded into interest bearing, non
taxable bonds, and the silvNr dollar,
at the dictation of English bondhold-
ers, was dropped from the silver