274 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



the way. We think the country of more value than any 

 party, and the farmers are no longer willing to be sacrificed 

 upon the altar of their country, simply to vindicate a 

 party and to place some man in office, to become the hired 

 servants of monopolists and the enemy of the men who 

 elevated them to place and position. 



"All political parties have a code of principles upon 

 which they go before the people with pledges of all 

 necessary reforms, and when placed in power their pledges 

 are forfeited ; the constituency left to suffer, and all the 

 interests antagonistic to the farming classes strongly pro- 

 tected. 



"Farmers have no interest in any political party that 

 secures them no relief, and should hold themselves aloof 

 from any organization that has repeatedly deceived them. 

 Our object is not to go into politics, nor to be controlled 

 by the corrupt influences that belong to political organiza- 

 tions, but we propose to place ourselves in such position as 

 to be recognized as an element of power, and make such 

 demands as tend to our interest and to the purification of 

 the politics of the country. 



"If we represent the mountain to which the political 

 Mohammed must go, we will content ourselves by holding 

 the balance of power and wield it for the common good. 



"The interest of the farmer is greater than any poli- 

 tician, and to emphasize our position, we repeat that the 

 agricultural interest of the country is worth more than any 

 political party, and it is for this class we are laboring, and 

 if the destruction of a party becomes necessary in order to 

 subserve the interest of the whole people, let the party 

 go, and let the country rise in prosperity upon its ruins. 



' ' The principles and pledges upon which the political 

 factions of this country are founded are sound enough, 

 and if carried out would distribute the burdens of taxa- 

 tion equally among all classes, and there would be little 





