The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-04-11
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.


that farmers ought to do. Read, medi.
tate and investigate. We frequently
hear men say, when they have missed a
good thing, "H my front sight was as
good as my hind sight, l would be all
right" In shooting at q mark we must
look through the hind sight and see the
front sight and the object we want to
hit, and just SO with farmers. The farm
ers' alliance has grand object in view,
but we cannot look into the future,
without looking through the past. The
past is an index to the future. Certain
rules and principles will work certain
results. We have before us men in our
own experience, that have been success
full in life, while Others have failed. 1t is
the causes OF failure that every one
wants to investigate. We have bio
graphical sketches OF great and good
men OF all professions, hat AVE been
successful in all their c~alings, When it
was a legitimate and honest one. Some
may have failed, but was not it due to
deviation from virtue, honesty and
soberness. We have history OF nations
and republic that have risen and fallen
Vs. " ShASA OliGI
we want to notice.
First let us recognize the prosperity o
our own nation. 1t is acknowledged b,
all the civilized nations, that this gov
eminent is the most wonderful physics
and intellectual power OF the worlc
Gods fostering care has been with GU
institutions OF learning. He wills til
rpoonc fpr o,,r N,4;on,1 1;f, H. L.,
ever given evidence OF pleasure towar
righteous rulers and a righteous people
A nations life is prospered in propol
ton to it's virtue.
Second, we will notice the causes {
the downfall OF nations and republics
and see if any OF these causes are affect
ing this nation. It was when ambition
office seekers and licentious men too,
the place ofgood menand honesty and vii
tue were ignored, that the Jewish natiol
fell. Have we no ambitious office seek
ers today? What are the morals @
those who form the party rings? Cret
lost her power when she ceased basin
her laws upon the principles OF justice
Does justice rule with us today? TIL
United States OF Holland went dow
when pride and infidelity took posses
sion Of her rulers. Is there not prid
and extravaganza and infidelity anon,
our public men? The republics OF Rom
and Greece fell when the leading parties
pandered to drunkenness and sought tx
debase the public will. What is the run
power Of this nation today? 1t is th'
darkest blot that ever darkened tn,
pages Of the history of any nation
Like rs the carved sculptures thatstooc
upon the walls of Nineyah declared thu
terrible crimes and sins OF that city
so the screened windows along the pub
lic streets of our towns and cities, tell tt
the passer by that behind them is perpe
trated crimes too dark for the light O
day. Do not our leading parties pandel
to drunkenness, when the saloon element
holds a controlling power, in too many
instances, from the township primaries
to the county and state, and ever tc
our national legislative halls? Do not
the leading parties seek to debase the
public Will of the people, by misrepre
senting the temperance cause through
the political press. Sin debases in every
department Of life. Public or private
virtue lifts up and exalts. This nation
was founded by God fearing men, but
there is work necessary to the perpet-
uity and complete success Iof American
institutions. We must have national
unity. or this spake Washington in his
farewell address. OF this wrote Hamil-
ton and Adams. For this pleaded
Webster in his great orations. Do our
party leaders plead for this unity to-
day? No, they plead for us to stick to
the party and vote straight, and be-
cause some Of us do not see fit to do so,
but have turned to he honest, true,
sober alliance men, they choose to call
us sore-heads and mugwumps. We are
very proud Of the titles, they become us
better than "~llght-headed'' and "bottle-
carriers Let every farmer unite with
the alliance and every laborer, our in
terests are one, all that love truth, hon
esty and virtue, and let us labor to
carry out this national unity.
Our subordinates IN lraterr,al communion,
All traitors and foes shall defy;
So long as we cling to the union,
And honor the sober and true.
Be sithered the hand that would sever
Our hailowed confederate tie.
Our union, be cherished forever,
And honored the sober and true.
Then mp With the voice of THANKSGIVING,
To God, the great giyer on high.
q while in the land OF the living,
STU honor the sober and true.
Cosby PARK.