THEALLIANCE.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
BY TI1B
ALLIAIICB PUBLISHING CO.
Lincoln, - - - NeDiaska.
J. BURROWS, : : : Editor.
J. M. THOMPSON, Business Manager.
In the beauty f the lillies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom
That transfigures you and me.
As He strove to make men holy
Let us strive to make men free.
Since God is marching on."
v Julia Ward Howe.
Laurel crowns cleave to deserts,
And power to him who power exerts."
A ruddy drop of manly blood
The surging sea outweighs."
t -a Emerson.
M He who cannot reason is a fool,
He who will hot reason is a coward,
He who dare not reason is a slave."
EDITORIAL.
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
NEW CLUB OFFER.
THE ALLIANCE TILL JAN.
1st, 1891, TO CLUBS OF
TEN FOR FIFTY
CENTS.
It is of the utmost importance that
every member of the Alliance should take
this paper. The most important politi
cal contest ever known in Nebraska is
about to open. The Alliance is one of
the important factors in this contest.
The most mendacious lies about it are
abroad, being printed and sent broad
cast througout the country. The actual
facts about it can only be known by
reading its organ. .
In addition to this it is the medium
through "which the State Agent commu
nicates with the members, which makes
it necessary to them in a business point
of view.
To put it easily in the reach of all we
offer it to Alliances in clubs of ten or
more until Jan. 1st, 1891, at 50cts per
copy.
Or, five subscriptions in one order, one
year $4.00.
Or, we will send that remarkable
book, Caesar's Column (paper covers)
and The Alliance one year for $1.25.
We will f urnish special edition of The
Alliance to localities having no local
organ, with one-half to one page of local
matter, at extremely low special rates.
These can be sent by express or mailed
from this office to lists turnished, as de
sired. Our First Year Completed.
The second year of our paper, The
Tarmeks' Alliance, begins with this
issue. The first year of a paper is sup
posed to be the crucial test of its vital
ity and probable continued existence.
We therefore congratulate ourselves,
and if it would not be too presuming,
would be glad to congratulate our pa-
trons, that we have passed our first
year safely. We have, so to speak, cut
our eye-teeth, are fairly out of the
nurse's hands, and well on the road to
a career of usefulness and prosperity.
It is certainly a good omen that in the
last week of our first year, impelled by
the necessities of our business, we have
bought a magnificent new printing ma
chine, upon which The Alliance will
be printed as soon as it can be received
from the" factory aud set up. This is a
new Cottrell two involution four roller
table distribution cylinder press, with
all the latest improvements. While
this is quite an expensive machine, its
price with engine, etc. being something
over three thousand dollars, we have
thought it would be the cheapest in the
end. When it is set up, with an Otto
gas engine for motive power, we will
have in- The Alliance oflice by all odds
the nicest printing outfit in Lincoln.
We intend to keep the promise we
made at the outset, viz: to give our
readers the best, most fearless and most
reliable paver printed in Nebraska. If
our friends of the Alliance will give us
for the next six months the same ratio
of increase to ; our list which we have
enjoyed for the past six, we will be able
to fulfill this promise. Of course it
must be .understood that we are now
more,, than willing. But its fulfillment
depends upon our patrons themselves.
The day our list is doubled we shall
double the size of our paper.
To those men who came forward so
nobly and gave us their help when we
needed help the most, and when they
had no assurance that our paper would
continue three months, we cannot ex
press Hhe gratitude we ieei. we are
bound to you by the closest ties. To
the thousands who have since come to
our support and given us words of good
cheer, we send greetings and love and
profound thanks. We ask a continu
ance of your confidence. We stand for
your qause. ' Mistakes we ma make
many and grievous. We are all liable to
error. But we shall never betray you,
and never turn our backs upon you
The sublime words of Terence, which
we have adopted for our motto "There
is nothing which is human that is alien
to me," express in simple words a pro
found conviction. With every advanc
ing year we come more and more to
realize that the very elixir of life, the
fullest realization of all earthly happi
ness, is found in" the practical daily ap
plication of the golden rule "Do unto
others as you would that they should do
unto you."
We took the conduct ol this paper
unexpectedly and unwillingly, well
knowing the care and labor it involved;
and all the time have hoped that cir
cumstances would soon relieve us. But
THE
time seems only to increase our care,
instead of lighten it. We seem not to
fix our own destinies. "There is a
power that shapes, our ends, rough-hew
them as we may." Every day seems to
take us farther and. farther into this
work, and make , more remote theday
of our release. We accept it now as a
destiny, and from this day on our whole
heart will go into it. Stand by us as
we will stand by you, and we will build
up a brotherhood the ties of which
shall be as dear as those of blood ties
of mutual faith, and confidence, and
help and friendship.
Few men fully realize the nature of
the conflict that is dawning upon us,
and no man knows the issue of it. But
one thing is certain, the day is soon
again coming when the finest and no
blest and sturdiest qualities of men will
be in great demand, and we fear when
the coarsest and basest passions will
have full play. "Let us all go in train
ing for that hour. The strife is to lift
up instead of tear down. The training
we most need is to lift up our own
hearts and broaden our own sympa
thies. But muscle as well as brain and
sentiment may be needed God only
knows how much. '
We did not intend to drift into any
general discussion, but only o say that
The Alliance and its editors will be
found in the advance guard of this fight
for the rights of the people. We be
lieve we deserve your confidence, and
we ask it. The Alliance will stand
by you, and fight your battles. Do not
let it die for the want of the trifling
amount of your subscriptions.
Mr. Burrows and the Peoples' Conven-
tion.
It is being stated in some parts of the
state that Mr. Burrows was opposed to
the People's Independent convention.
To those who read this paper no re
futation of this statement is necessary.
Mr. Burrows signs the call, and is
heartily in favor of the movement. He
believes that the machinery of the old
parties is so corrupt and so completely
under the control of the railroad power
and the machine politicians, that they
are no longer fit agencies to voice the
popular will. In nation as well as
state a ' new party is necessary, and it
will be only by persistent refusal of all
who believe this to, longer remain in the
old parties that will establish it.
Mr. Burrows was opposed to a call
for a distinctively Alliance convention,
for the reason that he believed it might
produce an unfortunate division in the
Alliance. But when the movement
took the form of a Feople's Independ
ent convention he was heartily in favor
of it. It is not distinctively an Alliance
movement. Every Alliance man can
choose his party. But at the same
! time it is evident that a large majority
of Alliance members support it.
Richards for Governor,
L. D. Richards js being boomed for
the repuplican nomination for gov
ernor. The organs of the anti-monopoly
republicans who traded for eight
days in the date of the convention are
dumb as oysters, and utter no protest.
Now let us have some facts. Richards
was made chairman of the republican
state committee because he was a rail
road man, and because the railroads
could rely upon him.
He has been in
railroad employ for the past ten years,
as a right of way man and attorney.
He is a banker and a man who in his
associations is everv way opposed to
the farmers' movement. Put forward
by the railroad organs as the leading
candidate for governor, the Bee and the
other blatant sheets which are dying to
save the party, but incontinently d m
the people, have no word of counsel or
of opposition. This proves conclu
sively that their professions are false,
and that when the time comes they
will trade away the people for their
mess of pottage.
A notable thing in this campaign is
the breaking out of little newspaper
boomlets for ' unknown men. These
men are lauded for their great qualities
as leaders, their devotion to the state.
their constancy to the cause of the
farmers. A little investigation shows
them every time to be railroad cappers,
railroad attorneys, right oi way men;
and a little further investigation would
probably show that their boomlets were
started with a railroad pass or a five
dollar bill.
It is just possible that the farmers of
this state will name the next governor.
At any rate, it is perfectly safe to pluck
up all these little boomlets by the roots.
Capturing Conventions.
Some of our friends are very fearful
lest the railroad cappers will capture a
People's convention, when one is held;
and some have even protested against
holding such a convention on account
of this fear.
These gentlemen are in favor pro
bably of holding an Alliance convention,
in which none but those selected by the
Alliance should take part. If this were
not against the spirit and constitution
of the Alliance, as it is, it would be at
least unAmerican. It is not customary
nor desirable for single classes nor se
cret societies to nominate candidates
for political offices which all have an
equal interest in, and all are requested
to vote for. Such conventions and
nominations should be open and free
to all the people alike. The fundamen
tal principle of the Australian ballot
law is that nominations are free and
may be made by any one.
As for the fear that railroad cappers
would capture a People's State conven
tion, it is childish and absurd. With
the feeling now existing in this state a
people's convention will be the largest
convention held this year. The cappers
who would attempt to capture it would
be flattened so thin that they couldn't
be used for toilet paper. When the
people's convention is called if the peo-!
pie do not rally to it so grandly that no
- danger of capture would exist there is
I no need for such a convention.
.FARMERS' ALLIANCE: LINCOLN, NEB.,
THE DECLARATION AND CALL.
Ten Thousand Names Filed.
As we go to press Ave find ten thousand
names signed to the Declaration of prin
ciples and Call for an Independent Peo
ple's Convention. In a very buisy sea
son of the year, without any special ef
fort to circulate the petition, ten thou
sand sturdy Nebraska farmers have de
clared that they will no longer trust
the old parties, and ask for a People's
Convention to nominate "pure and
honorable men" for state ; officers, and
pledge themselves to work and vote for
such men. , .
This call has not yet come before the
people of the towns. It has been circu
lated in only two or three towns of the
state. But wherever it has been so cir
culated the business men have almost
invariably signed it. There is no doubt
whatever, if these "petitions could be
circulated in the towns, that ten, yes
twenty thousand names would be added
in a few days.
No such spontaneous demand for
political action was ever before made.
The Convention will be called, let no
one doubt that. Many of our friends
are urging cogent reasons why it should
be called early before any other state
convention. One of these is, that by
such a course all suspicions of any col
lusion with either old party would be
allayed. We regret that such suspic
ions exist. Another reason is that the
people are impatient for this movement
to be started. These reasons will be
considered, and it is possible that the
convention will be called quite early.
But sufficient time must be taken to se
cure the concurrence of all anti-mono
poly factions and elements of the state.
Good policy demands this. We must
have unity and harmony. There must
be no division in our ranks.
A. U. L. convention is called to be
held here June 25th. All who attend
that convention should unite in this
movement and sign the declaration, and
we have no doubt will do so. And the
result will be that Nebraska will lead
in a movement that will crystalize into
a grand party of, by and for the peo
ple. God speed the day.
At the present rate there will be twen
ty-five thousand signers to the call by
July 1st. . Push the work. We repub
lish the call this week.
The American Bastile.
It is only a little while now to the cen
tennial anniversary of 1793, the memo
rable year of the French Revolution
the year which saw the storming of the
Bastile and the beheading of Louis the
Fifteenth. The Bastile, a grim iron
barred fortress in the heart of Paris,
stood as the matereal expression of
eghteenth century tyranny. Thither,
on the mere order of an irresponsible
King, were haled without trial men
who were in his way, men who opposed
the existing order of things, men who
advocated new ideas, men who dared
to have opinions, aspirations and con
victions, and to utter them. Often, too,
this irresponsible power was used by
favorites of the monarch to wreak their
vengeance on an unfortunate enemy or
put out of the .way a successful rival.
In short, the Bastile was used bv the
"ins" as an engine of oppression upon
the "outs," and as a force to suppress
free thought and overawe men who
longed to be free.
The day came in France when the
last drop of blood had been taken from
an exhausted people when gaunt want
stalked in all portions of Paris, and
when famine strode unappeased through
all the land. Aristocracy and privilege,
by farmed revenues and government
monopolies, had done their fateful work.
"A poor woman gathered leeks in the
public highway to save her children
from starvation, and by some chicane
the state took every third leek under
the name of a tax." The hour came
when the people had no more to dread
and no more t6 lose. It was then, in
the desperation of despair, that they
massacred the Swiss guard and behead
ed Louis the Fifteenth. Marat sent to
Marseilles saying, "Send me a thousand
men who know , how to die," and the
men marched because they had nothing
better to do than to die. It was then
that they stormed the Bastile. It stood
there, the frowning tangible expression
of the tyranny they were trying to de
stroy. Within its dungeons were
immured men who had suddenly
disappeared from their streets, and
never been seen again. With cannons
and battering rams . and sledges and
pikes, they opened its doors. They
killed the guards. Maddened and fren
zied, but still with a sort of shrinking
horror, they drew back the bolts of its
dark dungeons, and led into the light of
day the poor victims of man's inhuman
ity to man. The light of God's sun has
never shone upon such another scene.
Poor ragged dazed wretches, foul with
vermin, clothed in dirty tatters and
bloody fetters, were led forth, supported
by their avengers, to look again upon
God's blue sky and green earth. Some
were maniacs, some were demented,
some came only out to die. . Men men
created in the image of God immured
for eighteen years in a loathsome dun
geon, witnout a Knowledge oi any
crime charged or committed, and with
out the shadow of a trial. What should
be done with such a suburb of hell?
Raze it to the ground! and razed it
was, - till not one stone rested on an
otheramid blood and murder, and
vile ribaldry and a license that smote
the day with horror. ; ,;-;
That revolution was a cyclone of ter
ror out tne air was purer aiterwara.
The memory of that day and that Bas
tile will haunt the sons of France for
thousand year, and no more suqh pris-
ons will pollute her soil for many and
many an age.
But free America is budding a Bastile
to-day .which is as purely the creation
of the spirit of tyranny, which will be
as surely the instrument of irresponsi
ble power, and which will as surely
crush out and blight the liberties of
freemen as did that mute and horrid
pile in Paris. That Bastile is our Uni
ted States Supreme Court. There is a
power in this country that works "like
a mole i' the earth" a power immense,
secret, cunning, unscrupulous. That
power is the railroad and money power.
Its representatives are the railroad
kings and millionaire bankers of the
east. . Its concrrfisses are little conclaves
D -
of half-a-dozen railroad presidents who
concoct their schemes in'some private
railroad office i or some bank parlor.
Its executives are the subordinate rail
road officers who enforce their decrees.
Its courts are the courts of the United
States. This power is deliberately and
surely packing the Supreme Court of
the United States, to secure the undo
ing of all the great work which it has
done for the people in older years. Can
the steady change in the tone of this
court, and in the character of its deci
sions, have escaped the people? Al
ready the granger decisions are re
versed. Already tfce power of a state
to regulate its own internal affairs has
been denied. The legal tender decision
will next be attacked. From the day
that Jay Gould demanded the appoint
ment of Stanley Matthews to the Su
preme bench it has been manifest that
the railroad autocrats appreciated the
power of this tribunal, and determined
it should be their own and from that
day to this that object has been steadily
pursued.
These judges occupy their positions
for life. They are not removable by
the power that appoints them. From
their decisions there is no appeal. They
are gradually building up a system of
udicial law to take the place of statute
aw. rom the power conferred upon
them by the constitution to say what
the law is, they are usurping the power
to say what the law shall be.
In the darkest pages of history there
can be found no blacker tyranny than
udicial tyranny.
We warn our countrymen now of this
impending danger. The day will come
when the barred dungeons of this
American Bastile will have to be in
vaded, and its victims led out shudder
ing into God's sunlight. We warn our
countrymen now, that no tyrant ever
sat upon a throne, no usurped tower
ever lorded it over an oppressed peo
ple, that was not able to command .the
highest courts of law as its instrument.
There is only one case in English his
tory where a court stood out against a
tyrant; and in that : case an irresistible
rebellion of the people was already in
v
progress.
A Success.
W. I. Huxtable, secretary of the
board of directors ot the Hansen Farm
ers' Alliance Co-operative association
which has been doing business nearly a
year and a half at that place, reports
their business in a prosperous condi
tion, and denies any knowlede of an in
tention to close up on account of losses,
as has been asserted by the enemies of
co-operation. Their affairs are on a
safe basis and they are able not only to
sell members good goods , cheap, but
pay a reasonable return on capital in
vested. They find their trade increasing each
month and are much encouraged at the
outlook for the future.
Read Powderly's Letter.
Read Mr. Powderly's letter about the
U. S. Senate. -Ah, it is refreshing to
hear a brave man tell the truth. "In
the U. S. Senate there are but four or
five men -whose first
instinct is not to rob the plate as it
passes by on Sunday. Should the min
ister intrust the plate to one of them to
pass around he would do well to oblige
the bearer to carry a bell-punch also."
Don't fail to read the letter.
A HINT ABOUT PLATFORMS.
The Work of John M. Thurston.
The Kansas Non-Conformist says: The
question, "How in h 1 did you fellows
happen to steal the Union Labor plat
form," was asked of one of the Sixth
district republican delegates a few days
ago, and here was his reply:
".None of us liked the d d plat
form, but it was printed out in type
writine and sent to us from John M.
Thurston, Commander of the National
Republican League, at Omaha, with
orders for us to adopt it, and we couldn't
do anything else."
lhe same remark: was heard trom the
lips of three different delegates from
another county and the statement came
in such a way that it cannot be ques
tioned. Johh M. Thurston is president of the
grand clan-na-gael organization that
elected and now owns Harrison, lead
ing members of which were conspicuous
in the Coffeyville outrage. It is an
oath bound secret organization that
knows no loyalty except to the one
grand principle of getting office
and drawing salary. You will
hear more later.
This is a fine pointer, as to what may
be expected in this neck o woods when
the railroad gang begin to get in their
fine work in the republican conventions.
About six years ago the committee on
resolutions in a Nebraska state conven
tion proposed to report to the conven
tion a sort of mild , anti-monopoly reso
lution, to pacify the growing anti-mo-nopely
sentiment among the people.
John M. Thurston, who was a mem
ber of that committee, objected, say
ing. -"It you give those fellows an inch
they'll take an ell." We are indebted
to Mr. Rosewater for the above infor
mation. John M. Thurston will have the plat
forms of the difierent conventions writ
ten out in type-writer, and they will all
go through all right. They'll be anti
monopoly to the core. John M. has
changed his tactics. He will promise
furlong now to keep "those fellows"
from taking an ell. But his promises
are like those of the devil to Christ.
There is danger now, however, that
"those fellows" will take the ell, and
something more.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21,
Glory for the Senate.
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
On the 18th inst. the U. S. senate
passed a bill for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. This was passed by
the . decisive vote of 42 to 24. Of the
42 ayes 28 were democrats. Senatoj
Allison of Iowa voted for his Wall
Street masters, and against the bill.
This is a great victory for free coin
age, but may after all result in nothing.
We open our forms ' to announce
this. .
ALLIANCE BADGES.
We present herewith an
illustration of the badge
mi
which is being made in
Chicago for the Nebraska
Alliance. It is a very
pretty thing, in the form of
a scarf or bosom pin. Its color is gold,
and red, white and blue. It is about
half an inch wide and six-eighths of an
inch long, and is a very neat and orna
mental pin.
Secretary Thompson will furnish this
badge to Alliances at the rate of $17.50
per 100. Single samples, sent by mail,
20 cents each. '
We Sire now hoping to make a still
better contract in Chicago, in which
case the price will be lowered. - Our
first contract was for $15.00 per hun
dred. It was then raised to $17.50.
But we are now expecting to make a
contract at $14.00.
Independent Convention of the Third
Congressional District
At a conference of the Farmers Alli
ance, Knights of Labor, Trade Uuions,
Labor Clubs and other labor organiza
tions of the Third Congressional Dis
trict, held at Grand Island, Neb., May
29, 1890, in which 24 counties were rep
resented, it was decided to issue a call
for an Independent1 Congressional
convention to be held at Colum
bus, Neb., July 15, 1890, at 2 o'clock
p. m., for the purpose of placing in
nomination an independed candidate
for congress in the Third Congressional
District of Nebraska.
The basis of representation shall be
as follows: The representation to the
county conventions shall be one dele
gate to every twenty members or major
fraction thereof, and all Sub. Alliances,
Knights of Labor Assemblies, Trades
Unions, Labor Clubs, with less than 20
members shall be entitled to one dele
gate. The representation in the Con
gressional convention shall be one dele
gate to every 10 delegates or major frac
tion thereof to the county . convention.
A full delegation is desired.
James Beswick, Ch'm.
J. G. Painter, Sec. Kearney, Neb.
Broken Bow, Neb.
A Remarkable Fact Which is Ignored by
the Press.
The subserviency of the party, press
to the railroad power is shown by the
way they ignore the uprising of the
people which is now going on in this
state. Over ten thousand voters have
signed the declaration saying that they
have no confidence in the old parties,
and asking that a People's Independent
Convention should be called. This is a
remarkable fact. There never before
was such a spontaneous demand for in
dependent action. But the party press
is silent about it. As a matter of news
it would seem as though they would
give it to their readers. But, they
are in the habit of supressing and gar
bling news for party purposes, and this
case is no exception.
The Omaha Bee and the Louisiana
tery.
Lot-
The Omaha Bee is too poor to give up
the patronage of that infamous swindle
the Louisiana Lottery. It is undoubt
edly a swindle of the first water. Its
immorality and demoralizing tendency
is not disputed. Not one dollar in one
hundred thousand that is taken by it
from the laboring men of the north ever
finds its way back to them. And yet
the Bee, the great friend of the laboring
man, opens its columns to the advertise
ment of the infamous fraud. We make
no distinction, as far as responsibility
to the public is concerned, between ad
vertising and editorial columns. The
editor who will debauch one will de
bauch the other.
Ashby in Indiana.
We publish this week an interesting
letter irom .national juecturer Ashby,
who has just organized a State Alliance
in Indiana under the northern jurisdic
tion. In all the northern states in
which the Southern Alliance organized
there is a call for re-orgamzation.
Kansas, and probably Missouri, will
soon have a Northern State Alliance.
Indications are that the National Al
liance will soon be stronger than ever.
We have an interesting report of Mr,
Ashby's speech at Fort Wayne which
we may publish next week.
The Confidence of the People.
The confidence of the people or the
lack of it in the efficacy of anti-mono
poly work within old party lines was
finely illustrated at Wahoo on the 15th
inst. The anti-monopoly republicans,
under the leadership oi one oi the im
mortal fifteen, called a republican anti
monopoly convention, to take action,
first, to save the party, and second to
rescue it from monopoly domination
Just three republicans responded to the
invitation, and the corpse was duly
mourned over and interred.
Just call an Independent People's
Convention in old Saunders, and no hall
in the county would hold the delegates
Bradshaw Relief Fund.
York. Neb., June 9, 1890.
J. M. Thompson, Business Manager Al
liance Pub. Co., Lincoln, Neb. .
Dear Sir: Yours of June 9th, 1890,
with draft of $20.00 inclosed for Brad
shaw Relief Fund, received. In behalf
of the people of Bradshaw accept
thanks. Respectfully yours,
N.M. Ferguson, Treas.
' The above sum was made up in The
Alliance office.
JS90.
POLITICAL
S. SENATORS SHOULD BE
ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
If The People Could Only See the U. Sv
Senate as it Really is They Would
Go to Washington, Whip Every
Scoundrel Home, and Lock
The Doors until Honest
Nv. ' Men Could Be Sent
There.
T. V Powderly In the Journal !.
We make declarations in platforms;
we assert that certain things are wrong
and that other things are right, we
denounce parties for going wrong and
demand reforms on every hand; but the
key to the deor is earned in the pocK
et of the man who never attends onv
conventions, and when he will it the
door is locked to prevent the egress or
ingress of beneficent legislation.
The possessor ol that Key is tne unw
ed States Senator. He does not owe
his election to the people, and does not
care what the people think of him. He
is alwaj'S a wealthy man, and is eleetedi
first in the caucus of the railway mag
nates of his state, or of a number of
states: then he is nominated, after much
show of opposition, by the caucus of his
party anti if that party is in the ma
jority, he need not ask the representa
tives of the people wno are memoers ot
the opposition to vote for him-; as he
gets there withont their votes. If he
lacks a few votes, or is afraid of kick
ing in his own stable, he buys a few
from the other side, and then takes his
seat in the United States Senate.
We know that this is done. We wit
ness the degradation of our highest of
fices, the debauching of public officials,
and turn away to enquire after more
important matteas, such as "Who worn
the last game of ball?" It seems almost
impossible to stir the people up to any
sense of duty. It was Napoleon, I be
lieve, who said, "Keep the people
amused and they won't think of watchr
ing you; keep them laughing, audi they
wQl starve without murmuring." We
have lately seen the purchase of base
ball clubs. It has come to pass that
some of our base-ball nines have fallen
as low as some of our state legislatures
and have sold out to the highest bidder.
Wealthy men now own clubs ot their-
own, they control columns in the great
papers of the day, and they keep the
eyes of the bright, enterprising, intel
lectual, cultured American people
turned toward the diamond field durine
the time that they are taking the rest ol
the land, while they are bribing Legis
latures, while they are corrupting the
ballot-box, and, in fact, while they are
robbing the people right and left. But
we laugh, we are amused, ana while a
thief is sliding into the United States
Senate we sit on the edge of a fence and
shout: "Slide. Kellv. Slide!""
Oh! we are a great people, for when
we get tired of existing wrongs we- pass
a set oi resolutions, and then let the
matter rest until a few more nails are
driven to the head in the lid of our na
tional coffin. But we are a practical
people?
lhe first clause of bection 3, Article I
of the Constitution of the United States,
reads: ' , . .
The senate of the United States shall be
composed of two senators from each' state,
chosen by the legislatures thereof,, for- six
years, and each senator shall have- one- votes.
That one section, or clause, takes the
power out of the hands of the people,
and so far has it gone that to-day we
hnd a number of puffed-up- monopolists
sitting in the senate who owe their elec
tion to the money they stole from, the
people while practicing viliiany in pri
vate life. We see a lot of sleepy, drousy,
fat headed old men snoring away their
uuic iii iuc oeunitj wuuuuii itixv urst im
pulse of sympathy for the people in
their whole anatomy. We see them at
war with each other in an attempt to
discover who told what they did in se
cret session. In the United States Sen
ate to-day there are but four or five men
who can lajT claim to any kind of states
manship and whose first instinct is not
to rob the plate as. it passes by on Sun
day. Should the minister intrust the
plate to one of them to pass around he
would do well to oblige the bearer to
carry a bell punch also. If the people
of this country could see and know the
United States Senate as it really is, and
as the press asserts that it really is,
they would leave off work for a fort
night, go to Washington and whip every
scoundrel home, lock the doors and
hang out the sign: "To be opened
again when honest men can be found to
sit inside, and when they will come as
the representatives of the people and
not as the mouth-piece and tools of mo
nopoly." If I am wrong in making
this statement, then blame the entire
press of the land, blame the leading
men of the land and every one who has
had "any experience with the senate, for
they know that every just measure that
comes up from the people must pass the
ordeal of fire and nave its best parts
singed, or reduced to ashes, in the cru
cible where gold alone can stand the
Senate. And this state of affairs will
continue so long as that body is allowed
to come from the legislatures instead of
from the people.
Article 5 of the Constitution of the
United States has this to say:
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both
houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
amendments to the constitution, or. upon the
application er the legislatures of two-thirds of
the several Btates, shall call a convention for
proposmgr amendments, whioh in either case
shall be valid, to all Intents and purposes, as
part of this constitution, when ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the several
states, or by conventions in three-fourths
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratl-
ncauon may be proposed by the Congress.
We often hear of the proposition to
abolish the senate, but never have had
a practical suggestion from those who
would do so. Jb or myself, I have no use
at all for the senate. One house should
be enough to do the work, with a little
help from the people themselves. But
we should go slowly and carefully, so
let us try the plan of electing the sen
ators as we do congressmen and consta
bles. Shall we ask of congress to propose
such an amendment? No.for they would
not be likely to do it, the people are
not yet alive to the necessity for it, and
two-thirds of the states have not that
kind of a legislature that would ratify
the action taken.
The agitation must be begun in the
several states, and must be made issues
in the legislative campaigns. Every
candidate who comes before the people
should have these twin questions put to
him: "Will you favor the passage of a
law, or constitutional amendment, that
will place the election of United States
senators in the hands of the people?"
"Will you favor the passage of a law
that will guarantee the voter absolute'
secrecy and protection in making up
and voting his ballot."
Not only should the questions be asked,
but the candidates should be defeated if
they did not sign the following pledge:
T, ,do solemnly promise to vote for
the Australian system of votingr, with such
amendments as will still further protect the
voter and prevent Intimidation, bribery the
exercise of corrupt influence and scrutiny of
whatever kind or character at the polls. I
shall assist by voice and vote the passage of a
law that will delegate to the people the right
to elect United State, senators, the same as
members of congress and the legislature are
now elected. I will not sit In caucus of any
kind on either of these questions, and will
hold myself responsible only to my consti
tuents for my actions on these measures.
THE
u.
rtNLet the work be begun at once in all
the states, and have it understood that
there will be no-cessation until ue have
abolished the American House of Shy
locks, by plaeing their election hi the
hands of the people.
The party that adopts a platform some
thing pIter the following pattern, ami
shows a desire to act up to it, will have
my vote:
Whereas,. The-right of the people are beinjr
trampled upon by syndicates, trusts and mo
nopolies.
VWhereas, The-natural opportunities of the
"American people are belujf narrowed down
and restricted by artificial means.
Whereas, The food that we eat is a subject
for speculative traffic and the enpucity of the
American. people is not allowed full oi fair
play. Therefore
Resolved That we-favor the paspago of the
Australian system of voting in all the States.
absolved, That we favor the election of
United States senators by the direct vote of
the people. m
Kesolved, That the railways of the nation
should be-under the control of the represeu-
haiveof the-veople of the nation.
KeBOlved, Thatthe telex raph, telephone and
ether- means of oonMrountettting intelligence
should not be in the hands of monopolists,
but; should and will, be in tbe hands of the
people.
Resolved, That the land should not be sub.
Ject to speculative traffic, and should pay tax
es ror run vatue ror use; tost the improvements-
of ttie- industrious workman, shouKl
not be taxed, while the drones, who bold land
for purposes of speculation, escape without
sharing- the- burden of responsibility with
other citizens.
Resolved, That we will vote for no man who
will, not publicly announce bis determination
to work for- these measures, and at tbe
same time- pledge himself not to enter a cau-
eusonaay of these issues.
If we adopt a short platform like that
and work for it with a will where we
have a fighting chance of success, and
wherever we nave a ehance to elect a
legislator, state or national, we will win
more- reforms in the next three years
than if we formed a national party and
carried, the. country.
The Remains of Gov. Thayer.
About convention time Gov. Thayer's
corpse will be found quite lively, aud
will very likely dictate who the next
republican candidate for governor will
be.
A WELL DESERVED TRIBUTE
American Tillers ot the Soil Sustained
the Nation's Credit with Their Hard
Earned Dollars and Defending
the Stars and Stripes.
Amherst Mass., June 15. The bac
calaureate sermon before the graduat
ing class at the Massachusetts agricul
tural college was delivered to-day by
Prof. C. S. Walker. His topic was:
"Duty of the Educated Farmer." Prof.
Walker said: "Heretofore, in all parts
of the world the farmer has been no
match for his adversary. He never
held his own against soldier or priest,
against politician or statesman. In
ancient times he was a slave; in middle
ages a serf. In the nineteenth century
he is a slave, serf, peasant or proprietor
according to location. American farm
ers, as a class, are face to face with a
crisis. They, have subdued a continent
and furnish raw material for our fac
tories, bread for the operatives ami
manhood for our civilization. They
sustained the nation's credit with their
hard earned dollars, rescued endan-
gered liberty with their conscientious
allots, and defended time and again
the stars and stripes with their loj-al
blood. Vigorous in lody, strong in
character, striking in individuality, lov
ers of home, massive in common sense,
fertile in resources, devout believers in
Providence, the farmers of America will
never allow themselves to bo over
whelmed by the fate that sunk the til
lers of the soil in India, in Egypt, in
Europe. From all parts of this land
the farmers are coming together. Or-
Sanization and co-operation are won
erful ideas that have awakened them
as never before. They are grasping
hands with a grip that means somcthinir,
comparing ways and means, uniting up
on ends to be gained. Ihey demand for
themselves and children an education
equal to the best. They Insist upon a
fair share of the profits of American in
dustry, claiming that no state can exist
f 1 ? 1 a 11 S il . ! .1 a
in wnicn uiiers oi me sou uear me most
buraens and share the least of the bless
ings of advanced civilization. But they
are in danger of making mistakes in the
struggle that will turn back the progress
of the movement. t They demand lead
ers. To supply this demand is the im
perative duty of every educated farmer.
Whatsoever of bodily vigor, mental
power and moral heroism the educated
farmer' may have acquired from ances
tors, jcollege or university, ho will need
that he may consecrate it to the great
work of strengthening his brother farm
ers of America, so that they shall ever
remain the immovable foundation of
this the only republic whose empire
has not beem rapidly undermined.
Eligibility of Rejected Candidates.
Question. Can a Subordinate Alli
ance admit to membership a candidate
who has been rejected by a neighboring
Alliance, where neighboring Alliance is
the nearest to candidate's home, and Ins
fore the space of 0 months is passed as
per constitution?
The above question was submitted to
Pres. Powers, and he quotes the consti
tution in reply. It will be seen that
the two sections quoted, taken to
gether, cover the whole ground, and
that a person rejected by his nearest
Alliance is absolutely ineligible in any
other.
"A candidate for membership in the
Alliance who has been rejected is not
eligible for membership until 0 months
thereafter, and his application must be
made to the Alliance nearest his own
residence." Art. x, Sec. 1 and 6, State
Constitution. J. H. Powers,
Presideut.
Resolutions Passed by the Geraninm
Alliance No. 998.
Whereas, The manufacture and sale
of oleomargerine has increased year by
year in spite of restricting laws, bring
ing down the price of butter; be it
Resolved, That our congressmen bo
requested to pass laws to entirely pro
hibit the manufacture and sale of the
oleomargerine.
Resolved, that a cony of these resolu
lutions bo sent to the FaumErs alli
ance for publication.
Mat Koupal,
Sec. Geranium Alliance.
Hon. J. B. Weaver in Nebraska.
General Weaver, the well known la
bor advocate of Iowa, who so ably rep
resented his district in congress for
three terms, and who is always found
on the side of the people in their de
mands for justice and freedom from
oppression has made a line of appoint
ments for Nebraska, and will be at the
following places on the dates named.
Lincoln, June 25th, Hastings, June 26,
Beatrice, June 28, Ord, June 80, Broken
Bow, July 2, Grand Island, July 3, and
Wahoo, July 4. Our readers in the dif
ferent localities should see to it that
each of these meetings are well attend
ed as the General will have very inte
resting facts and figures to present at
these times.