The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 28, 1891 Page: 2 of 16
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SOUTHERN MERCURY.
REFORM PRESS.
Great West: The farmers don't hope
so much for "magnificent crops" as
they once used to. The big crops
mean small prices—-but then the ltoiddle
men get it, big or little.
V
K. of L. Journal: It may be true
that money cannot be legislated into
the pockets of the people, but the fact
that legislation has taken money out
of the pockets of the people right along
remains undeniable.
•**
Clarion Ledger: Some of the clever
gentlemen who are fighting the Alliance
are inconsistent. In one breath they
declare that its financial plan is iniqui-
tous, because it is "legislation for the
benefit of a class" (the farmers); and in
the next breath, they declare it will
ruin the farmers.
Toiler: The sub-treasury idea is rap-
idly gaining in popularity in Tennessee
where it has been discussed. Our state
president has declared his intention of
speaking in every county in the state
on this question, and challenges any
respectable politician of either party to
meet him in public discussion.
***
Grafton Leader: The newspapers
that kill off the Aliiance about every
month bad best continue their slaugh-
tering business in the same style. De-
spite the fact that it is so often killed,
it is gratifying to note that there are
four and a-half millions of Alliance men
who know nothing about its demise. It
is a pretty lively corpse.
7—- - v
Southern Alliance Farmer: A prom-
inent politician remarked to us in the
Kimball House last week, that it was
intended to silence our paper, if we did
not exercise a more conservative policy
in battling for the Alliance, if they had
to bring every journal in Georgia to
bear upon us.
The political bosses in Texas are try-
ing to do the same thing.
Texas Stockmau and Farmer: The
farmers, not being used to special fav-
ors from the government, are verv
modest in their demands. Not so with
the national banks. They demand as
their right what the farmers do not
even dare ask for. For instance, they
demand the remission of the tax of one
per cent upon their circulation.
V
The Horticulturist: The great ex
ponent of Alliance principles, the
Southern Mercury, comes to us in a
brand-new dress, looking as neat as a
pin. We wish it the success its merit
entitles it te. Its bugle note calling
the industrial classes to do battle with
their foes gives no uncertain sound.
Put your ear to the ground and hear
the tramp of the coming host. Exeunt,
dear politician!
Alliance Herald: The average in
crease of wealth of this country is 4 per
cent per annum. The average profit of
capital is 7 per cent. As capital owns
tho wealth-creating powers in the coun-
try, except agriculture, and has a mort-
gage upon ninety per cent of that, it
must bo plain to all that it has a cer-
tain hold upon all the wealth annually
created. The presentsystem of finance
which class legislation has brought
forth and fostered, and tho other con
cotnitants of rapacity and absorption
but consume all the wealth, unless
•hall be a change. Yet theplu-
insUtj upon the statu
quo remaining and let the people work
out their salvation. There is no salva-
tion to be had by working it out, and
the people know it. The lively kick
they are making against that sort of
saving grace will continue until sure re-
demption and actual salvation shall
dawn upon their hearts and make glad
their souls.
* *
*
Tom Sawyer in Florida Despatch and
Fruit Grower says: The sub-treasury
plan belongs to the Alliance. It is the
pet scheme of the entire order. It is
the redhot poker with which we intend
to fight the monopolistic tiger until we
comie to find that much-sought "some-
thing better." As a weapon it is not a
failure, and when we set through using
it as an offensive weapon we will see if
we can turn it into an agricultural share
or pruning hook.
V
Non-Conformist: Down in Pennsyl-
vania half-starved working people are
being evicted from their homes by the
thousands. In New York city last year
over23,000 families were evicted. "Out
West" farmers by the hundreds are
being foreclosed every week. This is
"Free America," "The Land of Homes!"
Every little while we hear of big meet-
ings protesting against evictions in Ire-
land. But then, Ireland doesn't belong
to America. See?
***
Kansas Commoner: Let every lectu-
rer preach the Alliance doctrine accord-
ing to the new dispensation, baptize
his hearers in the Jordan of public in-
telligence and resurrect them at the
Gethscmane of true manhood and inde-
pendent thought and action, and this
country will becomo fragrant with the
perfume of the lillies ef the valley, of
honest purposes and sincere efforts for
relief from debt and redemption from
serfdom.
•*
#
Farmers Yidette: When the money
power fastened the tribute-taking octo-
pus on the people it operated through
the laws of the nation.
When the people decide to release
themselves from the money power they
must use the same means, to-wit: the
laws.
To compás their designs the money
power went into politics to get their
men elected; to undo the wrongs, the
people must elect their friends, and not
allow the monopolist to do the elect-
ing.
***
Alliance Vindicator: Not long since
we attended an Alliance meeting and
observed that the members were very
much interested about how to cultivate
their crops to obtain the best results.
Yet we hear on every side that if the
farmers would quit talking politics and
study more about farming they would
get alohg better. This, it seems to us,
is nothing less than insult to the intel-
ligence of the farming people. In plain
terms, it simply means that farmers
haven't sense enough to learn but one
thing, and that thing should be how to
farm. Farmers, you who have been on
the farm for forty years, how do you
receive such insinuations? How do you
like them anyhow?
V
Rural Workman: Major Barksdale
in his speech endorsing the Alliance de-
mands, including the sub-treasury,
said:
"The fight of the masses against the
classes is on, and so far as I am con.
cerned it shall be fought to a finish.
Yo r banner shall be borne Stoutly,
and 1 believe it will be borne to victory.
As our cause is just, lot our union be
perfect and our determination invinci-
ble. My own feeling is expressed in the
words of the chieftain Leander to his
valiant comrades: 'If I fall, avenge me;
if I retreat, slay me; if I advance, follow
me.' "
This is the kind of talk for the strug.
gling, suffering masses that compose
the Farmers Alliance, and when such
men as Barksdale speak out in such
tones, they will always earry the hearts
and votes of the people.
•m*
*
Alliance Herald (Ala.): President
▲dams was censured for having issued
instructions to primaries to deliver dis.
missal cards to those members who re-
fused to uáify with the order upon its
different demands made at Ocala. He
was also charged with seeking to boss
the order by doing what was his duty.
By reference to an article in another
column it will be seen that President
Polk agrees with President Adams as to
the correctness of his ruling. Unity is
the basiB of the Alliance. If a brother
can not accept what has been done and
become reconciled to the will of the ma-
jority, there can be no question that it
would be better for him and the Alli-
ance to go their respective ways in peace.
*#*
Kentucky Farmer: When the old
parties tell you you are for paternalism,
refer him to the law allowing the bank-
ers to take his millions of dollars in
gold to the mint and have it pressed in
bars at the expense of the government,
to make it convenient to ship to Europe.
Now, why should the government press
the bankers gold into bars for shipment
and make the farmer compress his own
cotton when he wants to ship to Eur-
ope? Wo want the shoe put on the
other foot for awhile now, it will fit
better.
* *
%
Alliance Defender: Politicians op-
pose the government ownership of rail-
roads because they know that they can-
not be elected without the support of
the railroad power, and they are willing
to cringe before the despoiler, to sacri-
fice the interest of the people, and pros-
trate themselves before the railroad
despots, for the sake of office. These
things are matter of fact and are not
dis puted by any one. If the people
ever expect to have legislation not
wholly in the interest of the railroads
they will have to stand together for the
election of men who are in favor of
government ownership, for any man
4%o opposes it does so because he
looks to the'roads for support and will,
if elected, do nothing unfavorable to
them.
tit *
*
Those little, seven by nine money
loaners who Stand on the street corners
and howl about the extravagant, lazy
farmers, had better look over the crop
report just issued from the secretary of
state's office, and prepare to take back
many of the infamous lies told by them
about the farmers. Remember these
are not the figures of a wild eyed agita
tor, but those compiled by cool headed
officials in the state department. Jjust
read—total cost of wheat crop, $18,
200,328, total value $16,728,803. Total
loss $1,471,525.
Total cost "of corn, $12,269,032, total
value, $7,254,245. Total loss on crop,
$5,014,787.
Total cost of oats, $10,130,655, total
value, $7,390,457. Loss $2,740,198.
| The total cost of the three leading
crops of Michigan was $40,600,015, the
total vain# $31,373,505, and the total
loss was $9,22B,5Mu> This is the conclu-
sion arrived at, April 15, of this year,
and applies to the year 1890. The rul-
ing prices upon which this calculation
was made were those occurring January
1,189D.
The hired liars of the monopoly press
will now be told to deny the statistics
and continue the abuse of the farmer,
because he seems inclined to organize.
These statistics are the result of a pop-
ular demand for such information. The
Alliance will yet bring to light many
such points.—Alliance Sentinel, Lan-
sing, Mich. \
The same holds good over all the ag-
ricultural districts of the United States,
and especially in Texas just now.
*-*
*
Alliance Herald: 1 ne ¿\ew i ork
World says that the billion dollar con-
gress spent of the people's money one-
sixth the total cost of the civil war, as
estimated by fohn Sherman.
One-sixteenth the total assessed value
of all the taxable property in the United
States in 1880.
More than the war indemnity paid
by France to Germany, and more than
the present national bonded debt.
Double the total estimated true valu-
ation of all property of every kind in
eighteen states.
Three times the estimated value of
all property in ten states.
Four times the total wealth of seven
states.
Fifteen times the total wealth of Ne-
vada.
Every cent of this must be raised by
taxation. It means $16 per head and
$96 per family that must be paid.
All that is very effectivo in arousing
indignation and exasperation; but that
does not pay it, nor does indignation
and exasperation at all help its liquida-
tion. What remedy does this great
New York exponent of eastern demo-
cracy propose as a remedy? Reduce
the tariff! But it can't be reduced and
meet the expenses of the government,
and it knows it. Then reform the tar-
iff! Yes, take it off of window glass and
put it on silks. Reduce it on cutlery
and increase it on some other dress
goods. Suppose you do, what of it?
that is no remedy, that cannot be done
to the extent to do any good. Nobody
is crying about the prices of articles of
necessity or utility. Everything is
cheap enough, the trouble is that the
masses have no money with which to
buy and under the present system of
finance it is impossible for them to
make it. The next cotton crop is now
priced at 8 cents—the cost of produc-
tion—and the producer will be forced to
take that price, because the crowd that
Is the most anetent and most general of all
diseases. Scarcely a family Is entirely freo
from it, while thousands everywhere are its
suffering slaves. Hood's Sarsaparilla has had
remarkable success in curing every form of
scrofula. The most severo and painful run-
ning sores, swellings tn the neck, or goitre,
humor in the eyes, causing partial or to' I
blindness, have yielded to the powerful effect)
of this medicine. It thoroughly removes
every trace of impurity from the blood and
builds up the weakened system.
The Worst Type.
'My son was afflicted with the worst type
of scrofula, and on the recommendation of my
Druggist I gave him Hood's Sarsaparilla.
Today he is sound and well, notwithstanding
it was said there Was not enough medicine In
Illinois to effect a cure." J, Chbistiax,
Illiopolis, m.
-Sis
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Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 28, 1891, newspaper, May 28, 1891; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185415/m1/2/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .