The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11
SUNDAY,
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.


Only a selfish. designing bad man could
object to the organization of Farmers
Alliances for the purpose set forth in
their plans rs originally promulgated.
The very fact that nearly every arti-
Gle the farmer used was sold by corpor-
alton sr trust, and the price Of nearly
everything that the farmer made for sale
was controlled by corporations and trusts,
made 1T necessary that the farmers should
organize fer self protection, not to say
preservation. .t
The srsanizat ton in the beginning was
very guarded in its admission of members
and made efforts to keep out those who
would seek their own and not anOther's
good.
The organization met with great favor
and rapidly grew in numbers and intiu-
ence, until all over the South it was felt
as a strength and blessing to those for
whom it was organized and to the dis
may OF those who had been using the
farmers as prey upon which to satisfy
their greed fer grain.
But as the influence of the Farmers
Alliance began to be felt for good, GER
tain Of them began to feel their power,
and then came DEMANDS, DECLAR-
ATOMS and ULTIMATE These
were thrown out to the politicians and
political parties Of the country.
Certain politicians and self-seeking,
designing men saw their opportunity to
ride into power and on to fame by fall
ing in with this movement Of the farm
ers. Their only grievance was the fact
only hope OF getting into power was
through some revolution that would turn
the people against those whom they had
been following and create bitter preju-
dices, jealousies and envyings that would
arouse ignorance and stir up the baser
passions.
With this accomplished these bad men
soon became the leaders of the Farmers
Alliance and with their leadership the
cry for recognition in every Primary,
county, District and State convention.
Not content with this a step further was
taken by the organization Of separate
political party and putting up candidates
for every Office from President down.
With the organization Of the Peoples
party the Farmers Alliance began to
disintegrate. The greed for Office and
power was greater than the desire for
equal rights for all and special privil-
eyes for none" And hence it is we hear
so little of the Farmers Alliance now,
Their influence and power have gone.
We have read the appeal of Mr.. w. s.
Barnes, Secretary Of the State Farmers
Alliance Of North Carolina, and could
not resist the retrospect. Some of us tried
to keep the Alliance out Of politics. We
knew the men that were striving to
capture them. They were known, many
of them in the days of reconstruction
were among those who plundered
and pillaEea every trust they could COM
nand.
The Farmers Alliance as first organ
lied helped and strengthened it's people
in every way. Its successor, the Peo-
pies party, has poisoned the minds Of
our people; brought into power ignorant
and vicious men who have only them
selves to serve.
Indeed, the Peoples party has done for
the Farmers Alliance just what has
been done for many another noble or
ganization, made it the stepping stone
for political power to crafty certain
self-seeking men.
1t was so predicted, appeals were I'M
needed. 1t is too late. The Farmers
Alliance has had it's opportunity and
surrendered. The men who pretended to
be its friends, many Of them are safely
landed in public Offices with good sala-
sies attached. No longer are their voices
heard in behalf Of retrenchment and re-
form. No more are they seen among the
people pleading for organization against
corporation and trusts. Their eloquence
is new given to denounciag the Demo