Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-06-13

principles Of the order in that plain, |
straightforward manner which COM /
mends it to plain, common sense peo-
pie. Any new order, however bene-
fcient its OBJECTS or worthy its pur-
poses, meets with opposition at the
outset and the Alliance is no exeep-
ton. It has foes with out and foes
within. Skeptics scoffed and jeered.
but the Alliance minded its own bus
mess and let the heather rage
Different interpretations have been
placed upon its declaration of pur-
poses and its constitution. The latter
has been particularly assailed, doubt
less in some instances with justice
Another great obstacle has been and
still is, the lack of education Of many
members upon the subjects which
vitality affects their interests. The
father of passions and prejudice is
ignorance. In order to arrive at
uniform conclusions, we must have
intelligent discussions. This we can
not have until malice, selfshness, and
envy are in a measure eradicated from
our hearts. The great work Of edu-
cation is going on and we devoutIy
hope that the good time may come
when we shall all work with absolute
unity for the common good.
The first great object and purpose
of the order is education to broaden
the views, strengthen the intelligence
and purify the minds of its members.
Farmers live isolated lives. Many a
one sees no one except the members
of his family, from the first to the
last day Of the week. Naturally he
lacks that address and ease Of man
ner which comes of contact with his
fellow men, and which can be acquir-
ed in no other way. This isolation
even tends to make him suspicious
and distrustful Of others, especially
of his brother farmers. His assOcia-
ton with his neighbors in the Alliance
tends to cure all this. He gains con
fdence, feels at ease; to his surprise
he finds he can even ''speak in meet
1ng'', and a close association with his
neighbOrs, cOnvinces him that they
are at least as honest as he is himself.
The discussions quicken his intellect
and broadens his views. InsensibIy
he is growing out of himself, is be-
coming a respected and self respect
ing man, an honored pillar Of State,
and rapidly becoming qualified for
the high duties of intelligent citizen
ship, in short, is growing to be one OF
the
Men, whom the lust Of office does not ktl,
Men, whom the spOils Of Office cannot buy,
Men who possess opinions, and WIZ
, Men who have honor, men who will not lie
Men who can stand before a demagogue,
And damn his treacherOus batteries without
Tail men, sun crowned, who live above the
InP11blic duty and private thinking,
For while the rabble with their thumb-sCreW
) Mingie in selfish strife, Lo Freedom weeps.
Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice
: sleeps.
Simplicity is one of the excellent
, features of the Farmers Alliance -
There are few secret orders that dc
? not have several degrees, shFQuded
in mysterious rteg and high sound
ing titlaa, Masonry has thirty-three
and very few ever climb to the dizzy
3 heigth of the thirty-third degree
The Alliance has but one degree, We
are all upon the ground floor. Tht
initiate receives at once all the rights
t and privileges he can ever receive II
: the order. aud so far as the order i
concerned is eligible to any of its of
3 fees. Intended for plain, common
3 people, it Is unincumbered with tn
g superfuous paraphernalia and cum
brOus machinery of mOst RA 0tRe
georet QEdeEs. Its workings are plail
L and its rules simple, but oomprehen
aive, and its sessions pTometive of thl
4 social and business education Of TIA
membership. I suppose all human
+ institutions are fallible. Success il
+ life does not so much depend on max
f ing no mistakes as in profting b,
y those we do make.
= The first Alliance organized falls
i, as before noticed. because OF its en-
= te1ing the political Held to secure OF
d ice for It's members. Some ffteel
a years in Phillips county, there wer
# about twelve or fifteen subordjjpgf
n oranges Of the PatFg85pS> 9f H#|Q Prs
h benaFys and they took the politics G