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About The farmers' alliance. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1889-1892 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1891)
THE SOUL'S ERRAND. Wr Walter jUelsa. tbe ntrM prrrUxitio as hccuijoo. Go col, the body's pet", - Cpoo a thasklws errand: Tesr not to touch the best. . The truth (baa be thy warrant ; Go, sine I needs mtut die. And five the world tbe lie. Go, tell the court St glows And shines like rotten wood; Go, tell the church it shew, What's good and doth no good; ' XI church and csnrt reply. Then give them both the lie. Tell potentate they live, Acting by other'! actioni; Holloed, unleuthey give; Not strong, but by their factions; If potentates reply Give potentates the lie. Tell men of b'.gh condition. That rule affairs of state, Tbeir purpose is ambition. Their practice only hate; And if they once reply. Then give them all the lie. Tell them that brave it mest. They beg for more by spending, Who, in their .greatest cost, Seek nothing but commending; And if they make reply, Then give them all the lie. Tell seal it lacks devotion. Tell love it is but lust, Tell time it is but motion. Tell flesh it Is but dust; , Ar.ih lnem not n&y ' or thou must give the lie. Tell age it daily wasteth. Tell honor how it alters, Tell beauty how she blasteth. Tell tavor bow she falters; And as tbey shall reply. Give every one the lie. Tell wit how much it wrangle , In treble points of elceness;. Tell wisdom she entangks Herself in over-wiseness; And when they do reply. Stragbt give them both the lie. Tell physic of her boldness. Tell skill of its pretension, Tell charity of coldness, Tell law of its contention; And as they do reply, 80 give them still tbe lie. Tell fortune of her blindness. Tell nature of decay, Tell friendship of unkindness. Tell justice of delay; And if they will reply, Then give them all tbe lie. Tell arts they have no soundness, But vary by esteeming. Tell schools they want profoundness And stand too much on seeming. ' II arts and schools reply, Give arts and schools tbe lie. CD . Tell faith it's fled Use city, Tell how tbe country erreth, Tell manhood shakes off pity, Tell virtue least preferretb; And if they do reply, Spare not to give the lie. When thon hast, as I Commanded thee, done blabbing, Although to give the lie Deserves no less than stabbing, t Yet, stab at thee who will, No stab the soul can kill. ' BACK TO THE LAND." ' To Uie land, to tbe land! From Its dust we have sprung; And still to Its verdure our footiteps bave ClUDS. Fair childhood bath I ported In innocence fay Where the Held flowers 'brotder with beauty tie way. From garden and wlldwood the lover hath sought Brigbt blooms meet to offer tbe queen of his thought. ad beautiful age, with sweet brow of calm, ee:sUie light breeze of evening breathe blessing and balm, While she roams in the Fait with lover and child, And sml e the blue skies as of old tbey bad smiled. Shall Hope's blossoms wither a drop from tbe band, And Memory darken? No! back te the land! . In the dew of the morning the long furrow shone. While blithe In Its wake tbe glad sower press ed ca. Kejctotag in faith of the harvest to' come With plenty and peace for the loved of bis home. But the toll of the bondsmen tie largesse re . turns, Bavrth's seed time end harvest that dull tillage spurns. Bhall Monopoly's tool to his "quarters" slink back. With the bloodhounds of slavery stlH on his track? Shall the vision of home be a maddening dream the brain hath forgotten to hope or to . scheme? Shall we barter our birthright, a&d prodigals - stand, "Wil husks for our vintage? No I back to the . landl fireat storehouse of Nature, accursed be the day : That locked from earth's children thy treat- urea away, . And gave to the grasp of tbe robber the key Tkat was meant but to open and leave thy wealth free. But the hoar hath sounded; the great clock ' of Time Bath marked on the dial the death stroke of crime. The strife of the sges is on; shall we dare To falter and palter our trust to foreswar? BhaU we traffic in souls while our geld is piled high? Or, in Poverty's shadow, shrink, craven, te Ale? , Oar heritage beckons: rings forth tbe com mand, ; ... Goyeo and posstss it!" Sack, back to thetaadt Baa Luis Obispo, CaL. Frances M. Miua. Antelope County Alliance. Eum. Neb.. July 87. 1881. EnrvAB Alliance: At a regular acwCiosof Antelope County Farmers' Alliance held July 13th, 1391 tbe follow lrrotleere were elected: l iW, II. C Bartholomew, Crelgh-Vice-rreeideut, S. C. Farirchilds, Or.1 W'y-TreM , L. H- Suiter, Lecturer, 8. 0. FnSrchild.. Oak sfatoT Chaplain. George Clark, Elgin; IioOTkrr. f . C. Taylor, Ciearwater. J, Ml. tKnXAJi, JKs. Co. feecy. FARMERS OPINIONS. A NOBLE ADDRESS FROM A NO- CLE WOMAN. Are Womon Intewsttd in the Struggles of the Bread wmnners? Peoria Alliance. No. 1127, July 29. 1891. PrjiK Suites or Ixdcstkt: Did tbe friendly suggestions and invitation, which apppeared in these columns some week since, catch your eye? I have Manned every issue since, hoping to see a response; bat it seems all are waiting for an example. Now, that Bro. Bur rows asks for addresses, to which he can send samples of this, oar paper, I ac cept both invitations, and hope I shall not be alone in it. I cannot make my reform papers (this Aixianos is one of them) go around to all my friends in tbe east, as many are needing them at home, and some issues of our Alliance pipers are toe dear to part vith for tbe valuable facts and figures tbey contain; but this has been my plan to "spreaa tne iignt ever since before last lau s election. Now, mothers, wives and sisters, u you do not feel competent or willing to un dertake the task of reasoning much on the disputed question, you surely must be interested in this noble struggle 'of our voters, to banish poverty, oppres sion and corruption from our land. This is only to be done by extending tbe educational influence of the industrial organizations. You can each week bad some time to read articles devoted to reform if yen will. Or this, talk with Alliance men occasionally until you bave an understanding of their objects and plans, and I feel confident you will not fail to catch the enthusiasm which fires the minds and hearts of our lead ers, and thousands of noble, humane and generous souls in ail tne states. Have you thought bow easily you may help on the great work now ripe for this feneration' You can carefully save every reform paper that comes to your souse, jwen ao not minx, or eise nave cot time to do this. Aid your husband er brother in displaying the best arti cles to visitors; loan them, give them, send to your fneuds at a distat.ee, as our editor suggests, and when possible, mark tbe best writings. Has not every Alliance one or two active workers in woman's ranks? Oh, ves! surely there is; then take up your pen, sisters, and give us a few notes of encouragement, with something of your personal views and hopes. We have eight (I believe) lady mem bers, while ethers not in the Alliance are evincing an interest in politics, (tbeir bread and butter they now see) such as 1 never saw before. How it makes my heart ache to hear a mother say, "I don't see but what we are getting along all right; everything seems veil enough; I don't wan't to bother my bead with it." The essence of ignorance and selfishness it seems at first, and yet, many such have really j kind and sympathetic hearts. Tbe trouble is they allow the narrow limits of borne, whetber pleasant or other wise, to shut out from reason and ten der hearts the miseries and axieties of those less fortunate than themselves. Let ns not be daunted by such replies, but try every tactic of our sex to reach their dormant sympathies. "Woman's tongue" of such great renown, should not oe easier silenced because it engages to defend equal rights and justice ta all. Spread the glad news of the "people's party," and tbe grandest gathering, of the times; circulate the Cincinnati platform, and find addresses there given. I notice with pleasure that many Alliances are endorsing that plat form. I think county officers and dele gates should see to it that every sub Alliance discusses every plank of it thoroughly, and prepare to give it hearty endorsement soon. We must do it right earnestly if we are to win in 1892, not only that Alliance men may be in line to vote for the right, but to be able to bring In recruits for the tinal conflict. They will be needed sorely, and great as the necessity is to win the state battles, to elect a "man" for the now dishonored position of judge of the supreme court of Nebraska, it is yet more Important that we secure a third- psrty president (and thereby cabinet officers) wholly in svmpatby with the people, as also incorruptible congress men. Since state laws cannot give an In crease of currency, nor accomplish the government ownership and operation of railroads, the only permanent cure, let us concentrate our energies to make the campaign of "93 a brilliant page in history. Dear sistere, I plead with you. spare a little of your precious time, for these burning questions, l ours for equality, MRS. A. .LUCAS. Tbe Ohio Convention and Honest(?) John Sherman. Crawford, Neb. Editor Alliance: At the Ohio re publican convention "Honest" John Sherman said, "the demand for free coinage of silver without limit is a de mand that the people of the United States shall pay for silver bullion more than its market price a demand which ought not to be made by the producer of any commodity. There is no justice or equity in it, and if granted by the United States alone would demonetize gold." ; D There is a neatly veiled admission in this paragraph. For years these hoary headed hirelings of the gold aristocracy bave sworn that the cause of the fall in the price of silver bullion was due to increased supply, improved machinery, etc., but like all schemes which depend on falsehood and sophestry for their support its advocates sooner or later disclose their own villainy. The scoun drels who have sold their country, and for 23 years have been delivering it are now doubling on their tracks for cover at every point. If remonetization and free coinage will advance tbe price of silver then demonetization and limited coinage is and has been the cause of the fall in price. At tbe commencemt-ut of this war on silver four or five of the great nations of the earth demonetized it. Its market value quickly fell off one-fourth Its demonetization in the United States in 1873 was procured through means and methods which stamp John Sher man, Jira Blaine and their companions in crime as traitors to the people. And from '.he throats of these hired puppet oi tne tola bona plutocracy went up bowl against tbe worthless and danger ous white metal. With palid cheeks they pointed to its mpid decline in Dries iind rsottirratulatt d the neeula on having such able financiers at tbe bead aa to toresee this rapid decline ana de THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE, LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, AUGUST C, monetize it just before it fell. Now, "llenest John," the people are about to repudiate yon and your criminal finan ciering. You need not be surprised if the desperate efforts yon are making to discredit one metal should teach tne people to discard them both. The bot tom fact which underlies this silver war is this. Through boundless villainy and criminal legislation, by nullifica tion of the constitution, a burden of debt has been placed noon the nation, the states, counties, towns, cities and individuals, the interest of which if it must be paid in gold valuation will ab sorb every dollars worth of wealth which can be produced. Anl this is tbe scheme; the debt holders prefer to hold bonds, notes, mortgages, stocks, etc., which will absorb the nation's wealth rather thaa to own the land, or own tbe slave that til's it. For under tnis modern plan the slave must pay the taxes and all other expenses, feed and clothe himself, and the rich get tbe profits of his toil and land with out a care. And you, John Sherman, have been one of tbe principal in struments to bring this about. Now, what keeps up the price of gold? Be cause it is universally used to stamp money on. Let half a dozen nations demonetize it just as they did silver, and its market value will drop more than silver did. This being true, aid your conclusions at the head of this letter being correct, then tbe people are now paying from 80 per cent to 40 per cent more for gold to use to print their law created money on, than its real value. And you wish to shove this speculative price still higher by excluding silver from tbe mints, and give to gold the ab solute power in tbe domain of money metal, and every notch that gold goes up forces labor and its products down, and this, yoa understand, is the "finis" of your scheme. Prices must be so low that interest, taxes, dividends, etc., will take all tbe production and the debts will be paid and humanity be free from your cursed thrall. It means that we must psy all these law created debts in gold which we never own, but must borrow, and then toil each succeeding year to get it back from you to pay you again. This Is the treadmill of financial slavery, but it shall cease The people are fast learning of these gigantic schemes of robbery, so beware. Fraternally, H. G. Stewart. Where do We Belong. Editor Alliance: Is the indepen dent movement simply a matter of ex pediency for two or three classes cf citizens, or does it offer moral and real national questions to voters who are not farmers; and does it want recruits from non partizan citizens? I ask for information and not to provoke discus sion. I am a young voter who would like to take some Interest in politics as any American citizen ought to. Yet my experience thus far has been far from encouraging. I can see little that politics offers to any one who cares for the best interests of the country and its masses. One of of our leading reviews recent ly contained an article appealing to young men to enter politics. The writer was a partizan of one of the strong national parties. He spoke of tbe apathy oi the rising generation toward politics and lamented tbe fact. Mr. Editor, I cannot see how young citizens can be blamed for lack of inter est if their observations have resulted like mine. How can any man, young or old, enter politics when tne issues oi the dominant parties are to "get into power and hold their jobs." we nave been oewiiaerea oy tne blowing of trumpets in '.he great na tional political ranks concerning an is sue that neither party dare to touch in earnest, l his has gone on lor a nail score of years, and nothing has been ceomplished. In our own state we have seen a certain party sacrifice a part of its ticket because it suited a certain faction to do it. In the guberna- rial contest, one of our leading dames criticised the decision of tbe supreme court because that decision would be detrimental to the party under whose rule the judges had been elected. Who can have faith in a party when its or gans care more for parties than for jus tiee, and will plainly say sot rrom what I can observe it seems to me that many young men, intelligent and even patriotic, take no part in poli tics because they do not care to enter the ranks of wire pullers and pig weed patriots. . .Now. Mr. h-ditor, wnat aoos tne mae- pendent party have to offer to an earn est young voter? It seems to have life at least, mere are men in u wno soern to be trving to wreck it in their blind ness. Is it going to catch and bold the honest and substantial element of the country? riease answer u you nave space to spare. uurjohn. Good Words from Sheridan County. Rcshville, Neb., July 27, 1891. Editor Alliance: We have had two notable events in the independent movement in tbia county this month. The first was Hon. O. M. Kern's char acteristic and eloquent speech to a large and appreciative audience, mostly farm ers, their wives, sons and daughters, on the 8th. The second was that of As sistant State Lecturer B.F.Pratt on the 25th. Both were powerful speeches in their educational effects, creating in tense enthusiasm and greatly augment ing both the volume and velocity of the reform wave which is rapidly washing tbeold party ignorance ana prejudice from the minds of the great, common, patient, wealth producing people of this section. Brother Pratt is the right man in the right place powerful in mental and physical proportions, with his ex- naustless wit, wisdom, logic, illustrative anecdotes and sarcasm ingeniously blended he holds his audience securely for hours. He is now engaged with Bro. Hull in visiting and lecturing to all Alliances in our state, and great is tbe amount of good which must cer tainly result from their efforts. At the conclusion of his lecture Here, to what was called an open Alliance meeting, arrangments were started for another meeting in this county at Hay. springs, to De addressed by mm on Monday the 27th. From there he will go westward to other counties. L. P. CCMMINS. Resolutions Passed by the Nance County Farmers' Alliance in session July 25, 1891, and ordered published: Resell ed, That tbe Nance county Farmero' Alliance endorse the Cincin nati platform and pledge to the new people's party our earnest support. Besolctd, That we pledge our united support to the candidates to be nomi nated by the people's party, both state and county, in so far as they are capable and honorable men; but hearlily de nounce any seeking office through po litical chicanery, in opposition to our own declared principle o "lettheomce seek the man." W. P. Hatten, Sec'y Nance Co. Alliance. Speech Mala by Mrs. Daniel Jones at the Dodge County Alliance Picnic Mb. Fbemdek r. Ladies and Gextle- HEX: On the 18th of April, 1775, tbe cannons of Lexington called a new born nation to regenerate the world. The people rose as one mm, and turning their ploughshares, that tilled the soil, into swords to defend it, they threw themselves npon their unjust oppressors and proclaimed the immortal principles of self-government that made tyrants tremble and every generous heart palpi tate with joyful hope. At that moment a new name was in scribed on tbe catalogue of great nations. Tbe long and bloody, but, successful Revolutionary War broke the chains of slavery, and offered to the astonished world the most sublime spectacle of an cient or modern times the fusion of all races, tongues and the one political re ligion of Liberty. And on account of the victory of our forefathers over op pression we are assembled to-day to celebrate tbe event. To the voters of America is entrusted tbe holiest treasure that man was ever enjoined to guard the liberty of our country and tbe protection of our re publican principles and institution. How well it has been preserved in tbe past, the proud position which she holds in the rank of nations tells more elo quently than words. Whether we shall go on from victory to victory depends upon you who bold in your hands the power to make her what you will, and whoie votes must decide her destiny. A selfish consideration or party interests or reckless strife for power at the cost of principles, is unworthy of men to whom so much has been entrusted. A wise citizen will study well and carefully the principles of all political parties of the times, study and under stand thoroughly the platform of his own party to be sure it is right, and be able in every possible way to aid it and secure its success. And he will be equally familiar with tbe platform of the party he opposes, to know if it is wrong, where it is wrong, in what in jurious to tne country, and how he can best work to defeat it. No man has a moral right to give bis vote to advance a measure that he knows is wrong, or that he does not surely know is right. It is a lamentable fact that men rush to the ballot box and deposit their votes by thousands, when a large majority are so ignorant of the first elements of their duty as jcarcely to know which party the man for whom they bave voted belongs, and to know nothing, ab solutely nothing of what his life has been, or whether he has any real claim upon them for support or merit which quali fies him for the office to which he is being elected. We are far from asking that every man be a professional politician, but that, knowing from his boyhood that he will one day be called upon to take this position, and that he cannot avoid a cit izen's responslbilities'bowever he may neglect a citizen's duties. In voting a man cannot confine the consequences of bis act to himself, but it extends to all who come under the influence of those whom he heipn to elect. As the welfare of others has been entrusted to you, it is only just that you should cultivate your knowledge upon everything which concerns you as a citizen and voter. Another point of vital interest is, tLat you have no right to be careless or in different upon these matters. You bave no right to sit down and fold your hands while the battle between right and wrong rages around you, ana say it matters not who is victorious. You have no right to close your eyes to dan ger that threatens your country, and say you are neutral, for neutrality is either cowardice, treason, or ignorance. Never forget for a moment that the majority rules, and if the majority is on the side of tbe wrong. wrong wiU triumph. The people have it in their power to rule for good. Farmers, a new party has been started called the People's or Independ ent party, to correct abuses existing in the old parties and to give the farmers and laboring men equal laws and rights with the banker, money loaner and millionaires. Too long have you been considered "country ialces" clod hoppers, with no mind of vour own. Only last week the editor of a Dodge County pa per told me that the farmers were not capablo of running this government, that tbey were Ignorant and uneducated, and that the majority of them would not take any newspaper to become posted upon the affairs of the day. He said last fall if the Alliance had put a yellow dog on the ticket for governor they would not have any more sense than to vote for it. Sir, I said, if the farmers voted for a yellow dog that dog would do them no harm. But what did you drt Ynn pner. venr tMa fnr flnrprnnr rBoyd. and thereby defeated the wishes of the people an l proved a traitor to tbcni. Sir, I think the farmers would have had more sense in voting for a yel low dog then you did In voting for Gov ernor Boyd. One great wrong we wish to see crushed is the railroad monopolv. In 18G7 the government loaned the Union Pacific railroad $33,513,000 six per cent bonds and gave it an immense land giant for tbe purpose of building up the west. The road has been used to enrich the managers, and its high rates have been such as to oppress the settlers along its route. According to the re port of the attorney general of Nebraska the freight charges on this road are 50 per cent higher than on Iowa railroads that have received no government aid. This road although paying in ten years a.io aaa Aim : J?: J .1 . over $28,000,000 in dividends to its stock holders, has never paid tbe coupons on its bonds. These the goveriment have been compelled to pay, and now tbe principal and interest. And the nn paid coupons now amount to nearly JG6.000.000. Now farmers is not this class legislation? I think you will all say yes. Horn the AlLanc demands tne government to foreclose its lien on the road, and tnat no favors oe granted u The question before tbe people of this country now is. shall Jay uouia oe per mitted to run bis railroad trust. Who owns the United States, JayJiouldor the people? Is congress under tbe con trol of millionaire, or are they the servants of the people? Again the Independent party wants a change in the banking system of our country; for they are completely dis gnsted with paving high rates of interest to bankers who ought not to have any more special privileges from the gov ernment then tbey have. "Acts of Congress" have brought great prosperity to railroad corporations by granting them large amounts of . public lands, and lending them tbe national credit, through the medium of bonds. The prosperity of a class of citizens in Wa1! street has been very csrelnlly guarded by ' Acts of Congress" which gave the Secretary of tbe Treasury power to put out many millions of dollars to pay as premiums in bonds to rescue tnee per sons from their gambling debts. But when tbo pec pie presume to suggest that tbeir own prosperity might be fos tered by an "act of congress, they are insulted by tbe party in power. "Now what the People 's Party demand is that money shall be issued upon land secur ity as now upon bond security. ' Under the present system the government taxes the people for the amount of tbe interest on tbe security (tbe bonds) and the bankers charge them interest on the loans they make of the money they pro cure on the bonds, tbe whole amounting to about 14 per cent. Now the Alliance plan is to issue the money direct upon tbe land, tbe interest on such issues to be paid to the government by such owners of land as receive the money. Can any fair-minded man see anything wrong in this plan to solve the financial question. With our national currency restricted as it is and issued upon a false system, it is certainly difficult to see how we can get along without a continuance of the mortgage system. But whh the contraction of currency and the mort gage system carried forward as it has been for the past ten years, its inevita ble ending would be universal bank ruptcy. 1 hey would be about like Pat who fell into a well and while trying to get out would climb three feet and fall back four. At last stopping in his en deavor, he scratched his head and said, "Bedad at the rate I am climbing how long will it take to get to the top.'." Farmers, two hundred and seventy years have we been toiling in this coun try. We have conquered the wilderness, peopled the solitudes. We bave removed ed forests, opened highways, established commerce and builded a nation that leads all others in agriculture and man ufactures, with half of tbe railroads of the entire world. Yet with all we have done, we find to-day our profits are di minished, we find our wants multiplying and our profits divided. Our statesmen are drifting away from the people, and we find that tire masses are going gradually downward while the aristocracy are going upward. The men and women who builded this coun try, the men and women who in justice owned this country are to-day under the weight of a debt that is absolutely impossible for them to relieve them selves of under ordinary conditions and. yet these men and women are denounced because they are endeavoring to obtain justice. Attend tbe Primaries. Cambridge, Neb., July 20, 1891. Editor Alliance: Will you please urge through the medium of your pa per the extreme necessity for independ ents to attend the primaries when they are held. The railroad cappers of this the 14th judicial district openly assert that they will capture the independent judicial convention of this district if possible How can this be done but through the primaries ana county conventions. I he old party wire workers failed to beat us at the general election last fall, and they wui try to beat us before election this fall. All independents should at tend the primaries in full force if they wish to lay the foundation for success in November. Tbe republicans have given up all hope of electing a judge in this district on their own ticket, and will use every possible means to force one of their corporate tools upon the independents. Kespectiuhy your, W. J. H Still Falling to Pieces. Brainakd, Neb., July 29. 1891 . Editor Alliance: I would just say our Alliance No. 869 is still gaining in numbers. Our members are enthusi astic in favor of the independent princi ples and can be depended upon as true Alliance men. - We heartily give our support to the State Alliance paper. We say thanks to its editors for the support they have given us in defend ing the rights of the laboring people I cant write suitable for publishing; would it X could. i ours, S. H. Dakmell. Resolutions Adopted by the County As sembly of the K. of L. for Dodge County. Omaha, Neb., July 27, 1891. Whereas, We believe some action should be taken to draw the working people of the country and city nearer together so tbey may come to a clear understanding with each other; and, wherbas, All working people s in terests are tbe same whetber in city or country, ana, hekeas, v e are greatly in need of the proper literature tor the education of the people of umaha on tne econo mic questions; therefore be it Resolved, That we the members of the County Assembly of K. of L. of Douglas county, JNeb., do Hereby ast the secre taries of the different Farmers' Alliance organizations throughout the state to coiiect such papers as The Farmers' Alliance, Nebraska Independent and other reform papers from tbe members after they have read them and forward the same to this Assembly; be it further Resolved, That this Assembly appoint a committee to receive such papers and distribute tbe same to tbe different la bor organizations in the city, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to The Farmers' Alliance and Xebras ka Independent for publication. I). Clem Deayer, County Master Workman. A.Miller, County Sec'y-Treasurer All papers can be sent to IX Clem Deayer 832 Soutft 19th St, Omaha, Neb. Independent papers please copy. Fillmore County Alliance. Resolutions passed at a regular met t Ingof tbe Fillmore County Alliance held July 14, 1891. . Resolved, That this County Alliance tender its thanks to their representa tives of the last legislature for the faith ful discharge of their duties to this county. Resolved, That this Alliance fully en dorse the action of the Cincinnati Con ference, and are in hearty sympathy with the objects therein set forth. Resolved, That we take immediate ac tion in regard to forming a Creamery company for the members of this Alli ance and the iarmers at large. Resolved, That this Alliance is in fa vor of taking some steps whereby a mutual insurance company may be formed. G. M.Piehson. County Sec'y. Missouri is certainly a wonderful state. When a man steals a horse or a cow the mob gets out and bangs him with neatness and dispatch, but when the state treasurer. Noland, stole t40,- 000 from the state, trial was put off nearly two years and then he was only sentenced fcr two years in the pen. On, it makes a great difference whether you are a successful politician or omy a private. Superior Guide. 1891. The Difference Editor Farmers' Alliance: To the farmers themselves, the righteousness of their cause is reason sufficient for its popularity; but to most ether classes the secured recognition is accounted for only by the vast numbers that have been enlisted. The fact that ridicule is bow confined mainly to the comic papers does not prove that the city bred man has lost any of his feeling of superiority over the country man, and the farmers have still an open question in this fan cied superiority. It will not do to dis miss it with a "pooh," for it is a subject that might stand for discussion and ac tion in any Alliance meeting. I speak of it as fancied superiority only from a farmer standpoint; if the higher calling and living does not exist, then wby not? He of the city, however poor, cannot help coming in contact with forms of life and living that must be diligently sought by the farmer. He is thrown in the way of art and science, often by no virtue of bis own, he is rubbed against cultured people as well as those indiffer ently polished, and he meets questioners every day that send him to the papers and to libraries perforce. We live in thought, and every mo ment of our lives jaust be thought out before it can be lived out. Yoa cannot even go out and feed the pigs without first thinking, "I will now ' go out and feed the pigs." "We should count time by heart throbs; be most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." If tbe farmer will give no thought to things higher than his pigs and pota toes, can any thing extraneous make him any better than s serf? Does he de serve to be any better? The treasuries of art, science, literature have not much in common with the stable and the field, for while nature is always superior to art, the natural man in the same sense is a wild man. We do not question that every man is ef royal birth in this country, but we are obliged to inquire if birth alone is sufficient to qualify one man to be the equal of every other, What then, gives rank? The answer in the words of William Matthews is, "Un less a man has trained himself for his chance, tbe chance will only make him ridiculous. A great occasion is worth to a man exactly what his antecedents have enabled him to make it." Ah! then, are we in training? Why should a copy of Shakespeare be a scarce article in tbe farm house? Let us ask any news dealer bow many of his Century customers are from the country. A farmer would even be called hard names if he drove to the city some pleasant evening to hear and see some great tragedy or drama. Pro vision stores and meat shops are prime essentials to every community, so that purely animal nourishment shall never lack, but provisions for the higher na ture, for tbe real life to which eating and sleeping are but adjuncts, is made a secondary consideration. ' What farm er has a real pride in his collection of engravings; indeed bis walls would generally be bare, not to mention the possession of a portfolio, were it not for the women of the household. Bless these women! you cannot suppress their instinct anywhere. And then the farm er says he ha: no time for such things, no time to provide for his own pleasure while he is so busy making it possible for others to live in a world of which he only catches faint glimpses. This same farmer that passed tbe eight hour law now getting so much attention, passed it against his own inclinations, because his heart went out to his fellow laborer in the cities. He considered carefully the reasons for its justice; that the laborer might have time to spend in cultivating himself and his family, that opportunity might be al lowed for more enjoyment than can be gotten from bread and beer. Is the great unselfishness of these farmers not really phenomenal? Thus refusing to avail themselves of their own measure which is certainly one of the most hu 'mane eyer passed by any legislature No one needs these short hours of labor more than the farmer, who is placed at some disadvantage because of his dis tance from tbe usual sources of culture If he cannot make a living on so much labor then this must become the ulti mate end of the Alliance. Those out side of the order can know nothing of what is discussed in its meetings, but tne Alliance papers cucaiu bo nine ou these lines that a conclusion is very naturally drawn that if the Alliance has no higher aim than to obtain a lit tie more of such things as any animal enjoys, its period of usefulness will be brief. .Life is not worm tne living as a mere existence. A very proper ques tion for these times and for all times is. "How may we live more nobly, how may we thins, more, now may we act best." J. a. THE ALLIANCE OF CHASE COUN TY "GOING TO PIECES." The "Pieces" are very Large, Imperial, Neb., Jnly 8, 1S91, Editor Alliance: Notwithstanding the fact that a bountiful harvest is de manding the attention of our farmers, representatives from all Alliances and precincts in the county met in County Alliance yesterday. After the usual routine of business the customary pro gram was postponed and the audience adjourned to a tent provided for the oc casion, and listened with marked at tention to a well timed and appropri ate address from Brother Hull. The general expression is that Bro. Hull is a tremendous power for good to our cause, and a fearless expounder of the nature and causes of the existing evils Our enemies are trying to make it ap pear that interest in tbe Alliance is abaiting. that our numbers grow less rather than greater. The secretary's report shows that at the present time tbere is over ow mem oers in our county, wane mere months ago, cent. were less than oou six A gain of over 20 per The following resolutions were passed unanimously: Whereas, The republican and demo cratic parties, so called, of this state, baring joined themselves together for tbe annuiitation oi ail independent peo dIp. and said parties being owned soul and body by the corporations; therefore be it. Resolved, By the Chase County Alli ance in regular meeting assembled, that we nrge upon all independents to stand, firm in the cause, and furthermore, in asmuch as all manner of schemes are being used and resorted to by member of said parties to disrupt and cause dis sension in tne ranks of the Alliance, we therefore urge all Alliances to be on tbe lookout. Watch! watch! Sift every report and watch! e furthermore recommend the pas sage of resolutions recomended to be passed by the Lancaster County Alli ance July 10th. C. L. Brainard, Secy. Cheyenne County in the Same fix. Editor Farmers Alliance: Pur suant to call, tbe Cheyenne county Al liance met in Sidney, Nebiaska,- July !4th and 25th. The following were elected as officers for the ensuing term-. P. Waitman. president: J. Hebert. vice-president; Flora A. Wilcox, secre tary. There was a very largo attend ance of delegates several driving a dis tance of from 75 to 100 miles. We had by far the most enthusiastic meeting- ever held in Cheyenne county combin ing the prospect of a most bountiful crop with the prospect of a successful People's ticket. We of the drouthi stricken district have mucn reason lor rejoicing. F. A. Wilcox, Secretary. Dundy County to tbe Front With a Full Harvest and a Good Crop oi In dependents. Stratton, Neb., July 27, 1891. Editor Farmers' Alliance: As I never see anything in your paper con cerning this county, I thought I would drop a few lines. The crops in these parts looks immense, thanks to some of our Alliance brothers of the East in sending as seed and feed. The wheat and rye crop is about all harvested, and will average twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) bushels per acre, and corn could not look better. Farmers are all in good spirits for the campaign to elect an in dependent ticket this fall. The Dundy County Alliance met according to call, July 23, with a full representation from. every order, but one, and elected the following officers: J. B. O'Neal, presi dent; J. S. McPberson, vice-president v James Burbam, secretary; W. K. Swaisgood, treasurer; C. W. Phelps, lecturer. There is a greater interest taken in the independent movement this fall than there was last fall. I think Dundw county will be solid in '92. James burham. Secretary Dandy County Farmers," Alliance. Resolutions Adopted by Hopewell Alli ance No. 844. Whereas. We believe it is the duty of every honest reformer to see to it that nothing but pure and stainless men be nominated lor state, county and township offices this coming fall. There- lore be it, Resolved, That we the members of Hopewell Alliance No. 84 i will not sup- Eort any man for office of trust wh as not worked and voted with us at tho last general election, and who does, not stand squarely on the Cincinnati platform, nor will we support any man who will not pay his honest debts, and who will accept free passes, bribes, fav ors or wbo is in debt to sucn an extent that he is influenced or controlled by- bankers, lawyers and 3 per cent sharks. IjrEO. JJISCHEL, beCy. Resolutions Adopted by Center Alliance: No. 806. Alliance No. 806 deem it necessary !to ufe all the means in our power to keep traitors out of our camp, and that we will not support any man for office who undertakes to controll the primaries to secure his nomination. Resolved. That we wi'l not support any man for office who was not con nected with the independent movement at the last general election. Ci.DITHaKAND, JHHN a. 15ARRY, Sec'y. Vice-Pres. Six Months' Failures. The total number of mercantile fail ures in the United States during the first half of the present year was 6,037. It shows au increase of 571 as compared with the corresponding period 01 1890, and beats the record of all previous years, except 1885, which in the said, period exceeded this by 69 failures only but this in turn exceeds 1885 in the amount of liabilities by tbe sum of $23, 000,000. As the process of wealth-concentration- is remarkably well illustrated by the progress of bankruptcy, we submit to our readers the following table, which shows the number of failures in the United States for the first six months of. the last twelve years: Year Failures Year Failures. 5,461 5,072. 5,254 . 5,918. 5,46& 6,037 1880 1881 19S2 1883 1884 1885 2,393 3,256 3,649 5,296 5,444 6,106 1880 1887 1888 1899 1890 1891 Tha number of failuaes has nearly trebled since 1880; it is nearly five times as large as it was before 1870. At the same time there has been a large and steady decrease in the average liabilities of bankrupts. Taking successive periods, of five years, we find that the average amount of liabilities per failure was 840, 735 from 1871 to 1875, inclusive; 819,583; from 1876 to 1880; $16,383 from 1881 to. 1885; and $12,928 from 1886 to 1890. As we expressed it elsewhere: "Such is the law of our present industrial or der. Second and third rate houses be come, is a class, weaker in means and credit, and the number of competitors that monopoly, in its irresistible march onward, is able to freeze out, is con stantly growing larger. On tbe other hand great houses become stronger and panics are less frequent. But let a panic come, we shall then see a battle of giants in tbe railroad world, for instance, a Vanderbilt and his men-at-arm against a Gould and his compeers; the like of it in each of our industries; in the end, closer, tighter, bigger, heayier monopo lies everywhere. , But in times of de pression like tbe present giants must be content with the slaughter of pigmies. Tbey slaughter them mercilessly, to clear the ground for the next titanic en counter, regardless of the industrious ant, the puny laborer, who creeps under the feet of all." We advance no theory. The fact is there, glaring, as we state it. In tbe great panic year, 1873, whea giants fell, there were only 5,000 tail urea, but tbe average liabilities of each were !M4,0O0, whereas in the "pros (lerous" period 18861890, tbe average number of failures per year was over 10.000, but tbe average liabilities of eacbi were less than 13,000 The People.