The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-11-06

whose products all other classes
ubsist and are daily dependent for
heir very existence, have been
to form themselves into
IN organization, which has now
become national, for the purpose Of
'reeing their industry, as far as
possible, from the hurtful environ
ments placed and being placed
around it, by the action Of unwar.
ranted Trusts and mon0polies.
A to the aims of the Farmers
Alliance. They are as laid down
In our Ritual, by united harmoni-
Gus action among the brotherhood,
always speaking the truth, and
taking the Bible as our way-bill
through life, because it is the book
of truth, to elevate man, by blend
ing together more intimately the
ties of brotherhood and humanity
in his social life; thus dissolving
prejudice and selfshness in the
of human love, by cultiva.
ting the mind, to reach q higher
degree of intelligence; thereby
adding to the pleasures and re.
lieving the cares and anxieties of
life, to exert the influence of the
Alliance in opposition to the glar-
Ing and shameful vices which de-
grade mankind, lower him in the
scale of human existence and bring
despair and woe to the dearest
creatures on earth, to render the
lives of farmers and laborers more
attractive, country life less lonely
and more social, and to better our
financial condition. And with
these high and enobling aims or
the principles laid down
In our Constitution, which every
member of the order is pledged to
labor for, do most beautifully
accord.
Now I submit brethren, that
these aims and purposes of our Or
der are'of the highest and nsbSest
chars cter, and that none ihnt true,
good, and I had almost ,satd, Chris
tian men, can subscribe 70 ~ be
depended upon to defend and per
petuate them. Hence the high
order of qualifications laid down in
our ritual, for membership in the
Alliance. 10
To become a member Of the
Farmers Alliance 1t ia not only
required that a person be . farmer,
farm laborer, country physician,
minister of the gospel, and 80 have
a financial interest identified with
the farmer, but he must believe in
the existence of God, accept the
Bible as the guide of life, be honest,
honorable and upright In all things
He must not be covetous OF. selfish
to an extent that would lead him
to wrong his neighb0r, whether q
brother in the Alliance or not, by
seeking an undue advantage Of
him, to love thy neighbor rs thy
self being implied in the principles
laid down in the Constitution. He
must not be a taller, talebearer, Of
stirrer-up of strife, or any sucf
thing; he must not be vicious Of
grossly immoral ip, any. sense; ht
must not be so engrossed with poll
tics that he Cannot for the time sur
render his political dogmas to tn,
consideration Of the more impOr
tant principles Of the Alliance
Not that he must not have any
politics-no: your Democrat,
President, your Republican Vice
President and even your humble
servant who responds to Third Par
ty prohibition, may all hold theil
political views as of yore, but Ger
tainly neither Of them would at
tempt to intrude his political opin
ions upon this brotherhood; tina
would be a personal insult to every
member Of the order, and sir
against the solemn obligation tax
en- by every member, that ought L
be punished by immediate expul
sion.
Now, having hastily glanced a
the aims and principles of thu
Farmers Alliance as laid down II
the Constitution, it only remains
for me to say that high and noble
as are these aims; good, true ant
eternal as our principles are, tn,
good that we propose for ourselves
and for all the race (for the happi
ness of the race Is bound up in tn,
prosperity of the bread and mea
producers) can only be accomplish
ed by a conscientious observance