The People's party paper. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, August 19, 1892, Image 5

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PEOPLE’S I‘AUiY CLUB NO. 1. Synopsis <.f Address by J. L. Priscol, Tuesday Evening, August 16. [This Club meets every Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock, at No. 27 £ East Alabama street, Atlanta, Ga.] Ihe phrase, “something better,’’ may strike i-ome readers as being new in American politic*, yet it is as old as the government it.-elf. Hamilton, the father of modern republicanism, sai l in 1797, speaking of the consti tution : “It is a shilly-shally thing, and only good as a step to something better. ’ Had the apostle of central ization lived to the present time, he would have seen his dream realized ; American manhood shorn of its proud prerogative; youth stunted and starved in the midst of plenty, and helpless millions toiling unceasingly that the pampered few could 101 l in luxurious ease. The idea of the early plutocrats was, that money should rule; that manhood was to be encouraged only as it advanced the interests of the moneyed classes; that the constitu tion, to use Hamilton’s own words, was only the “ best thing that could be extorted from a reluctant nation, and that in the future the Federal Government may triumph over the State Governments and reduce them to entire subordination.” The dem ocratic idea, of which Jefferson was the exponent, was the very antithesis of this. The people, according to this theory, were best governed who were least governed ; manhood was something infinitely superior to money, and that the dream of the statesman should be to benefit all the people alike, granting “ equal rights to all, special privileges to none.” The great leader of the first great third party, Thomas Jefferson, with the honest yeomanry of the country at his back, triumphed, and the eter nal principle of justice, reigned su preme until the war unhappily placed the Hamiltonian idea in power. What was the result, in the South especially ? Circumstances forced all the white people into the democratic party, in order to maintain white supremacy. The democratic party —the grand old party of Jeffers-on and Jackson; the party of “equal rights to all men and special privi leges to none ” —became thoroughly saturated with ail the worst features of federalism, whigism and knownoth ingism. The democratic party to day, in the South, furnishes as many defenders of the National Bank rob bery, of the tariff robbery, of the manufacturing trusts and monopolies, of the land robbery, and as many apologists for the Pinkerton thug element in oppressing the poor man, as the republican party, which is the lineal descendant of federalism. What is the consequence? The people, who by their bravery tri umphed in war over the plutocrats of England, and by their industry created the fabulous wealth which is the envy of the effete monarchies of Europe, are forced into “NOT A REVOLT, BUT A REVOLUTION” against the power and the encroach ments of a modern plutocracy more grinding and oppressive than the power thrown off 116 years ago— more oppressive because it carries with it the name of the people. How are the people met by these purse-proud, plutocratic would-be masters, when they ask to have their burdens lightened ? Why, the dem ocratic masses in the South are mot in the same spirit by their leaders that the republican masses are met in at the North by the republican lead ers. Some, adopting the tone of the haughty master, say: “ Work more and talk less.” Others pooh ! pooh! their demands as shams and absurdi ties. Others, again, make promises which they deliberately break, and laugh at your simplicity for believ ing them; while still others say with a sarcastic leer, “ O, you cannot legis late a man into affluence; if we give you anarchists all you want, the lazy and the ignorant w’ould let it slip through their hands, and they would soon be as badly off as ever.” But the crowning piece of impudence is wdien they tell you that you are about to turn the State over to NEGRO DOMINATION. It requires very little effort to an swer these assassins of liberty. The men who wrested the State from the vultures who came to despoil it at the close of the war, are not going to turn it over to a greedier set of vul tures in 1892. The government has been legislating the masses of honest toilers into poverty, and the pam pered few into affluence ; that must be stopped, for the tiat of the people has gone forth. The men who have been so prolific in promises and so barren in performance —in a word, who have so deliberately deceived the people —shall be relegated to the rear; they have been “ weighed in the balance and found wanting.” When they say to the American citi zen, “ work more and talk less,” the proper answer for freemen to give to so insulting a command is, “ Yes, and by the eternal, the first duty of a freeman is to hurl you from the trusts you hive so oasely betrayed, and ihe next is to secure the fruits of our own labor.” Some of the weaked-kneed will say, “Oh, you can do nothing; you are weak and divided ; money will rule,” etc. To such 1 would say, you do not know your own strength; if you are divided, it is time to unite ; money is powerful, but a united people— the creators of all wealth—are irre sistible, The people of France had the same fallacies ding-donged i i their ears, and the blind Bourbons lulled themselves into fancied repose when they heard the mutterings of an outraged people, but they waked one fine morning to a realization of the fact that the people of France—the despised, patient beasts of burden— when goaded past endurance, were as able to smash the cold-blooded authors of their woes, as the reader is to smash an egg shell. “ Oh ! ” they tell you, “the grand old Democratic party is the best channel through which to seek re dress ” —that is in the South. Tn the North, they say, “ The Republican party must be the redresser of your wrongs.” The truth is, the profes sional politicians on both sides are too intent upon their own schemes to give your affairs a passing notice ; many of them acknowledge your wrongs, but they deny the remedies ; you will find still others who think more on the rounding of a sentence than the suffering of the citizen— men who sit in open-mouthed admi ration of their own eloquence, but whose ears are closed to the shrieks of suffering humanity; whose eyes are closed to the acts of the robber, to the work of the assassins of liberty will never come to your relief. “ Who would be free, Himself must strike the blow.” I read in one of the mouth-pieces of plutocracy, the other day, of a masterly presentation of democratic principles by one of Georgia's gifted sons, in which the writer described it as a “ delicious rill of exquisite poesy and eloquence.” Now, 1 sub mit that democratic principles need no defence; they are as unassailable as the rock of Gibraltar. The peo ple do not want delicious rills of poesy and eloquence; what they do want, is honest, brave, conscientious men, who will execute their will, not assume the role of masters ; who will return to the Jeffersonian practice of meting “ equal and exact justice to all; special privileges to none;” and preach less of eternal principles. J. L. Driscol. Middle of the Road. To the Members of the FarmersjAlliance and Industrial Union: For years we have been studying po litical economy, “The Science of Gov ernment,’’ from a strictly non-partisan standpoint, the only correct method of arriving at the truth in politics. With unparalleled unanimity and enthusi asm, we have united on a series of de mands which have been adopted, af firmed and re-affirmed by our supreme council, our State, county and subord inate Alliance. Last February, at St. Louis, they were endorsed by twenty other great labor organizations. These demands are the result of many years of patient study and discussion of the labor problem. We believe they are just and essential. The time has now arrived to test whether we are going to be practical or not. The only way to secure the enactment of these de mands into law is through political action —legislation. We have passed through t he stages of discussion, reso lution and demanding. These are all preliminary and necessary to the final act of voting. Unless followed up by our ballots, all that we have done will have been in vain. The difficulty that now confronts as an organization is, that whilst we are a unit in our de mands, we are not, as to methods of seeming them. We all must agree on the common sense proposition that the only way of securing them is to vote for them. Unfortunately, our partisan ship, in some cases, has proven stronger than our allegiance to our principles. When we first made our political de mands, we, to that extent, became a political organization. In doing so, we did not become a political party, nor do I think we, as a class, ever should. So long as other classes and professions remain organized as classes or profes sions, we, too, must perpetuate and strengthen our organization. But hav ing, as an organization, made certain political demands, we have correspond ing duties to perform. When we re quested the several political parties to adopt our demands, there was an im plied promise that if they did, we would support them; if not, we would oppose them. We have been met with the contention that this would inter fere with our political freedom. Be fore taking the obligation, we were assured that it “will not conflict with the freedom of your political or reli gious views.” The Alliance has been an educator. Our demands are our “political views.” Instead of inter fering with, we urge our members to Island by and support and vote fortheir political views. It is the only honest and consistent thing we can do. If you believe any other platform of prin ciples more important than ours, then they are your political views, and it is your duty to support them in prefer ence to ours. Our demands can only be crystalized into law through the medium of a political party. I lay down three common-sense propositions. First. It is always nec essary to follow up a political party after they have promised, to compel them to keep their promises. Second. It is very improbable that any politi cal party will enact our demands into law unless they first proinise to do so. Third. It is utterly ridiculous to ex pect a political party to enact our de- i mauds into law so long as they are fighting them. The man who has suf ficient faith to believe that they will, has enough to remove a mountain, but faith even of that kind will never move a political party. They live on and are moved by votes. Our first duty as cit izens is to examine well the promises of all political parties as contained in their platform of principles, and then follow it up by their record to learn which political party is our partv. One political party having adopted our demands,it would be in direct con flict with our obligation to ask you to support a political party that has not done so. Worse, it would be asking you to violate the sacred right of fran chise, which should be guarded as the ark of our covenant. As an organiza tion we are bound to support our prin ciples As citizens, it is our duty to vote our principles. Our order is on trial. We have reached a point where we are certain to lose some members, and it is wise to consider the situation carefully. To push on aggressively and in earnest, we will lose those who love their old party bondage better than our principles. To be weak or vascillating at this critical time, will insure the loss of the earnest, aggres sive membership, who are honestly ad vocating our principles as of para mount importance to that of any polit cal party. No true Alliance man can hesitate which course to pursue. Ad mitting a loss, which we must, which method will insure us the greatest gain? Unquestionably the honest, manly, consistent course of voting as we talk, resolve, demand and pledge. Experience in the State elections, where we have voted for our princi ples, has demonstrated that our gains have more than balanced our losses in numbers, and strengthened us im mensely in prestige and influence. A few may be led away with the idea that because a political party has adopted our demands,our efforts should now be concentrated solely for the party. This would be a grave mistake. We must perpetuate and strengthen our organization as a bulwark for our principles, present and prospective, a tower “or strength to aid the party adopting our demands and a terror to the political party t lighting them. In other words, we must remain indepen dent of and superior to political par ties. It is not enough that a political party has adopted our demands. Po litical parties are proverbially frail. We must follow them up to see that they perform. New issues, vital to our interests, wil arise continually. With out organization we would again be at the mercy of other organized classes, and would again have to go through the laborious work of organization to rescue ourselves. Our only hope and safety is in per petuating and perfecting our organiza tion, pressing forward consistently and persistently until victory is assured. Fraternally, 11. L. Loucks, President N. F. A. and 1. U. Deplored in England. London, August 17. —The Post says : “It is impossble to read of the labor troubles in America without feeling the gravity of the crisis t hrough which the great American republic is passing. The moral should be laid to heart in England, where unionism seems dis posed to go to extreme lengths, if a favorable opportunity presents itself.” Two out of three of the militia ompanies of Nevada have decided to disband. The use of militia in labor strikes is the cause assigned. Most of the members of the Nevada militia were members of or in sympathy with labor organizations. Workingmen will not be used to shoot and terrorize other workingmen for the benefit of millionaire labor-oppressing corpora tions. If workingmen would quit voting against each other and for the corporations, there would be no de mand made on them to shoot each other. A Rally. There will be a People’s Party rally on Wednesday, August 24, at 1 o’clock, at Cave Springs, Floyd county, Georgia. The following speakers will be with us : J. Blanco, Miller Wright, S. J. Whatley, W. T. Palmer, and others. Everybody invited. Let all come with a day's rations. D. S. Orndorff, Sec'y. Macon County. Members of the Executive Commit tee of Macon county are earnestly re quested to organize local clubs at con venient points in each district at once and report to the undersigned. Pre pare a roster of all voters, People’s Party, Democrats, Republicans and doubtful. Be prompt, no time to lose. W. T. Christopher, W. L. D. Duncan, Chm. Ex Com. Secretary. Sumter County. Americus, Ga., Aug 17. By authority vested in me by Ex ecutive Committee of the People’s Party of Sumpter county, I hereby call a mass meeting to be held in Ameri cus on the 3rd day of September at 11 o’clock, to nominate two candidates for Representatives of Sumpter coun ty. G. W. McNeal, Ch’m’n. Ex. Com. From the Tenth. Toombsboro, Ga., Aug. 17.—Hon. T. E Watson will be with us on the 27th in stant to make his first speech. The Democrats had their primary last Saturday and polled their full strength, as they had two running for the same office —one Alliance Democrat (if there is such a thing) and one prominent lawyer. They voted 660 out of 1,600 voters in the county. This county is for Watson, and after he has been here it will be twice as many more. We are going to win everything, from bailiff up. The Democrats in this coun ty are like the label on the bottle —all around it but not in it. W. F. Cannon, & Speaker’s Appointments. W. L. Peek will speak at the follow ing places: Clarkesville, Habersham county, August 22nd. Calhoun, Gordon county, August 24th. Ringgold, Catoosa county. August 25 th. Newnan. Coweta county, August 26 th. Perry, Houston county, August3oth. In Alabama. Southern Alliance Farmer. Ihe Kolb people in Alabama seem little inclined to compromise and con done the great outrage that the “or ganized democracy” of Alabama committed in the recent State election. The honest toiling wealth producers of that state have made up their minds not to bow down in humble submission to ballot box stuffing and fraud. They will tight it to the bitter end and appeal to the honor of American manhood to sustain them. There is no question but what Kolb has been deliberately and wilfully counted out. His majori ty in the State was not less than thirty thousand and yet the Jones conspira tors, with the ballot boxes and the courts in their hands, have succeeded in defrauding the people out of the election. This demonstrates to what straits the old moss backs have been driven. They stand not upon the method, but they must hold the positions at any- cost. In Georgia they are in the same condition. Nothing but steel back bone on the part of the reformers of Georgia will prevent them from repeat ing the Alabama outrage. It is already the scheme to count us out in the large cities where they think we have few supporters. We appeal to the law abiding citizens of Georgia to stand against such out rages as have been enacted in Alabama and which have disgraced the State. In that State the democratic party by its methods has brought anarchy and discord. It is directly responsible for the fearful condition of affairs by its fraudulent suppression of the people’s will. We appeal to all lovers of liberty, and law abiding people in Georgia to join us in a demand for a free ballot and a fair count in the coming election and let us prevent the anarchy which now reigns in Alabama from being enacted in Georgia. To the reformers we appeal especial ly to see io it that there is a fair elec tion in every precinct in the State and that every man who is a legal voter has the priviledge of casting his vote, and then having it counted as cast. No honest man could demand less and no party which values its reputa tion for fair dealing could afford to offer less. From Oli io. [Special to Southern Alliance Farmer.] Athens, ()., Aug 12.—The People’s Party of Ohio will assemble in State Convention at Massilon on the 17th, inst. The gathering promises to be one of magnitude and enthusiasm. . ° I There has been a large amount of careful and quiet organizing work done in Ohio and the first visible results, as ■ shewn by the State Convention, are I likely to prove alarming to the old par- ' ties. Already they are showing signs I of discomfort over the presence of the People’s Party in the arena and they will watch the outcome of the conven tion with more than curious interest. , The farmers of Ohio have steadily j lost wealth and power for the last ten years. This is conclusively shown by figures of the census. Look at this showing for Ohio: Value of farms, 1880, $684,000,000 Value of farms, 1890, $569,000,000 Loss in ten years $125,000,000 Is it not about time that the farmers who are being robbed by our financial system, to the tunc of $12,500,000 per year should take some action and radi cal steps to end this infamous system of stealage? i Here is a dead loss of seventeen per cent of what they possessed ten years ago. In the meantime the value of real estate in the cities of the State increas ed thirty-eight per cent —showing the superior class privileges accorded to those who manufacture, finance and ! barter, over those who toil and sweat and eat the dust of the fields! If these figures do not form the solid platform for a People’s Party in Ohio where shall we look for justification for any revolt against robbery? Keep your eye upon the State Con vention next week and then watch for the voters in November. There is a big revolution on—and a part of the wheels are moving over the broad area of Ohio. IN PENNSYLVANIA. I found there was also a more than sporadic interest in the great cause of the people; the laboring people and the agriculturists are coming to understand the identities of their positions and suf ferings because of the false, fraudulent and bandit financial policy of the gov ernment. The Homestead troubles are not settled. They will not be until the outraged men who have felt the Car negie tyranny have had a chance to speak at the ballot-box. It will not do to try to quiet these men by yelling “pio'.ecticn” or ‘tariff reform” at them. They know that their condition of sla very, spoliation and poverty has been artificially produced, in spite of “pro tection,” and that it will not be changed by “Tariff Reform.” They know more about “what is the matter” and “where they are at” than all the old party yawpers in and out of con gress. They propose to help change the whole financial system of the county and re-organize the money and meas ures of government in the interest of the laboring masses instead of, as now, running the machinery of the Republic for the benefit of the luxurious mil lionaire classes. Hon. Samuel M. Taliaferro. ' Relow we give a brief sketch of the Hon. Samuel M. Taliaferro, the worthy nominee of the People’s Party for con gress from the Fifth district. He is a farmer of unblemished character and a gentleman in every sense of the word. lie was born in Fulton county, this state, in 1847, within one mile of where he now resides, and devoting his time and talents to the best inter ests of the people of his native state, enjoying the respect and esteem of his neighbors, he is eminently fitted to represent this district in the halls of congress. He is a son of the late Judge Edward M. Taliaferro, who came to Georgia from South Carolina when a mere boy, locating in this coun ty near where the subject of this sketch first saw the sun light. His mother was a Miss Margaret Pool, whose family is well and favora bly known to the people of Georgia. His ancestors were originally from Virginia where they won distinction in revolutionary times for their valor and patriotism. They have always been on the side of justice and against all forms of class legislation. Where ever there was a principle involved, all who knew the Taliaferros could tell where they stood, although it made them temporarily the subject of ad verse criticism Throughout a long line of ancestry no one ever knew them to stoop to do an unmanly act or betray a trust reposedin them. Loyal to their convictions of right and jus tice they never sacrificed principle upon the altar of successful wj-ong. During the reconstruction period that followed upon the heels of the late war, Judge Taliaferro was elected to the legislature from Fulton county, and took a firm stand in behalf of local government. In every position he assumed through life his conduct was marked by his uniform adherence to a conscious discharge of duty. The subject of this sketch has been one of the most active workers in the Alliance movement in this section of the state. For several years he has made their interests his study and their cause his cause. Never radical in his views, he has all the while mov ed forward with cautious regard for the rights of others. He believed that the masses had been imposed upon by class legislation in both state and national affairs. That while they created a majority of the wealth and paid most of the county, state and national taxes, yet they had no voice in the adminis tration of affairs and no recognition by the politicians who fed upon the reve nues tilched from their unwilling and depleted pockets. He saw that the time had come under the enlighten ment of our advanced civilization when the agriculturalists and mechan ical class must unite their forces and through the ballot box inaugurate those reforms so greatly needed to ameliorate their impoverished condi tion. This has been his aim and object for several years. He saw that by uniting they could become the leading factor in all legis lation, and that a reckless expenditure of the public revenues would no longer stain the pages of history. To this end he has toiled without the hope of reward, save a conscious discharge of duty. He lost sight of himself in working for others. Wherever a meeting of alliancemen was held, in this and adjoining counties they could always count on Sam Taliaferro being there advocating their principles. Ila never advised independent political action until he saw that Wall street controlled the legislature in both houses of congress. But at last when the industrial classes from all over the Union met in St. Louis to unite their forces and wipe out all sectionalism and demanding relief in legislatisn, he went with his brethren into the Peo ple’s Party. He stayed with the dem ocratic party until he saw it refuse to keep it pledges to the people. The only thing they can say against Sam Taliaferro is that he is a poor man. No one can deny that he is an upright and honest man. No one can successfully attack his character. He is a Christian man of spotless reputa tion, of perfect integrity and tine abil ity- ' He never solicited his nomination, and was called from his farm near Cor nell to represent the industrial masses of this district in the lower house of congress. The mails every day bring assurances of his election next November. There will oe a grana rally of the People’s Party near Ringgold, Catoosa county, Georgia, on the 25th of August. Let all of the People attend. Mass Meeting iu DeKalb. Subject to a call of the chairman of the People’s Party Executive Committee of DeKalb county, the People met in Decatur August 15. The object of the meeting was to nominate candidates for the People’s Party to represent the People in the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. The Executive Committee met and nominated John E. Ma guire and John W. Singleton as representatives, unanimously. The choice was then submitted to a mass meeting of the People, and was unanimously ratified and endorsed by a rising vote. Mr. M. D. Irwin then made one of the finest speeches that was ever made in this county. Many thanks to Judge Clark for his courtesy in ajourning court for two hours that the People might have the use of the court house. Everything was conducted in per fect unity and harmony. There were fully three hundred voters present. J. B. Holland, , - Secretary pro-tem. Picnic and Public Speaking. There will be a grand rally of the Peo ple’s party at Acworth, Cobb county, August 31st. All persons friendly to the reform movement are earnestly requested to be present. Also, those unfriendly, and those who claim to be neutral, are cordially invited to be present. Matters of grave and vital importance, in which every citizen is interested, will be dis cussed. Our colored friends have an in terest in those issues and we invite them to be pres°nt. Barton, Paulding and Cherokee coun ties are requested to assist us with their presence and baskets. Let all who can bring well filled baskets, and let us have a jolly day. We have invited, and ex pect the following speakers : Thomas E Watson, W. L. Peek, M. D. Irwin, Joseph Blance, C. M. Jones, J. A. Sibley and others. Speaking will begin at 10 o’clock a. m. B. Rainey, D. D. Barrett, G. W. McMillan, S. J. Tippin, Committee from Ex. Com. and People’s Party club. East Tennessee in the Fight. Louden county, in mass meeting as sembled on Saturday, August 6th, dele gated and instructed the undersigned to call a floatorial convention for Louden, Polk and Monroe. Therefore I call upon the counties of Louden and Polk to select delegates to meet us in convention at Madisonville on Monday, September 12, at 1 o’clock p. m. for the purpose of nominating a floater to represent us in the lower house of the general assembly, and transacting such other business as may come before the convention. The counties of Polk, McMinn, Bradley and James are requested to confer with the undersigned to arrange time and place for holding senatorial convention in the seventh senatorial district. By order of the committee. Tom. Brenan, Central Committee. May be a Democrat. People’s Voice, Norman, Okla. A man may be a Democrat and favor free silver. A man may be Democrat and op pose free silver. A man may be a Democrat and be a nationil banker. A man may be a Democrat and op pose national banks. A man may be a Democrat and favor free trade. A man may be a Democrat and favor a protective tariff. A man may be a Democrat and —but time would fail us to tell the things a man might favor or oppose and yet be a Democrat. The only requirement, the only test of fellow ship is to support the nominee and vote the ticket straight. Missouri World for the Campaign, 10 Cents. The Missouri World, published weekly at Chillicothe, Mo., will be sent during the campaign for ten cents. The World is a straight Peo ple’s party paper and is as good for one State as another, giving the gen eral news ; makes a specialty of Peo ople’s party telegraphic news. Pub lishes letters from the reform work ers everywhere showing the great enthusiasm of the people, and grand progress of the new party. Take it and do a little missionary work by sending it to others.