Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-06-07
TIE Farmers Alliance.

1t would seem that fuither discussion
Of the objects. aims and purposes of
the alliance would be useless. All who
have read the current literature of Inc
order should be well up in all that per-
tans to it but such is not the case.
The ordor is continually beng criticised
and misfepresented, by those who should
know better, aud act differently, as well
as by class who have no community
of interest with the toilers of our country.
In the, irst place the farmers alliance
is unlike any other organization in that
they are not only wage workers but they
in the main. represent tie wealth of
our State. They ale the men who own
largely, the lands, tools and stock Ct
our country, They are the men who
pay most Ct the taxes annually collected
fosfhe support of our State government
the charitable and educational institu-
lions of our State. They are the men
who produce the wealth of Mississippi
thas hew down our forests and build cur
towns. 1t has been often remarked
that the mercantile business and fals
ming are equally dependent on each
other. This is not true, for with one
fourth of the stores in the State, agri.
culture would probably flourish better
but reduce cur agriculture three. fcrrths
and ruin, beggary and starvation would
be the sequel.
The object sought by the alliance is
to better our condition socially morally
and financially TO tayy to build up that
Interest upon which every avenue e
trade, every profession is dependent; 10
beautlfy our homes and TO make country
life more attractiye,to labor for the bet
ter education OF oui people, especially
in the science of economical govern,
ment. 1t seeks 10 allay sectional pre-,
judice and all unhealthy rivalry, incul'
cate the christian grace of constituting
words and deeds in their most favora.
bic light, granting to others what we
claim for urselYes-honesty of purpose,
to help each other bear the crosses and
burdens of hfe. bury the dead, care for
the sick, educate the orphans and pro-
vide tor widows. Can there be more
praiseworthy order than this save the
religion of our blessed Savior9 And yet
as the Son ot God was reviled and spo.
ken evil of SO is this organization de.
spised and slapdered.
But what has made this organization
so obnoxious of some of our ctizensP
Is it because there is danger of a violent
revolutionP Di strikes and boycotts?
Not al all +, there is no class OF citizen
ship in the United States more peacap
quite and law-abiding than the farme
none who will bear more wrongs un.
complaingly, none who have been i'm.
posed upon by the government IN exac'
ting taxes and furnisning protection,
none that have been uore the subject
of monopoiitistic greed than they. and
yet 10 the face Of the fact we have fully
realized that without combined intelli-
gent action The history of our country
will be bnt repetition of all old coun.
tries--a landed arisiocracy and the ten
ant system. To avert this, to save our
homes 1.-The heritage OF ths people-we
have organized, and the mandood of
our county have clothed themselves
with determination to save their pos
terity fsom q seryitude, wosse, tenfoid
worse, then ever was the slavery of this
cSuatry, snd the noble wamanhocd Of
oar country are joining hands with US
In this great work this organization
9 iNlyates he friendship Of every log,ti'
m 10 trade. profession, on industry, has
II has raised the black tiag sgaiast all
u fasnopolies, II has sounded the death
4E ~ oE all tgSsts hnd corners ame ami