The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-02
THE MISSISSIPPI STATE ALL
ANCE,

The fourth annual session Of the
Farmers State Alliance of Mississippi
assembled at the Agricultural and Me-
chanicsl College, near SLarkv1lle, on
Tuesday of last week, and was in ses
sion four days. full delegation was
present and the utmost harmony pre-
vailed. We have been somewhat ia
miliar with the organized meetings of
various bodies Of men In this State for
twenty years, but we have never seen
a more intelligent, conservative or de-
teruined class of citizens assembled IN
the State. Indeed the proceedings of
the Mississippi State Alliance will
make a readable volume for any in
telligent citizen whether he oe a mem
Der of the organization or not.
The visit of President Polk, of the
National Alliance, was highly crafty
ing to the representative farmers of
Mississippi and they showed their ap-
probation in every proper manner.
When the train arrived at the College
he was met by the membership in a
body, and with enthusiastic cheers
lifted from the cars and escorted to
the Chapel where he held an informal
reception. At twelve o'clock a salute
of twenty seven guns was fred in his
honor and at 2:3O Col. Polk was in.
troducel to the large audience which
had assembled to see and hear the
earnest and eloquent leader of the
great farmers movement, by Gen. S.
/ D. Lee, and for two hours he held his
audience spellbound by his matchless
oratory. At times pathetic, then
grave, then serious, then humorous,
the vast crowd was moved to tears or
laughter at the will of the speaker,
and when he depicted the wrongs
heaped upon the industrial classes,
through the villainous legislation of
Congress, which enabled the favored
few to amass mountains of wealth,
while the people who feed and clothe
the world r being systematically
robbed, the bronzed faces of the listen.
ing multitude indicated a stern resolve
to act as a unit, and never cease their
demands until right and justice shall
again resume control of governmental
affairs.
Col. Folks speech was a magnificent
effort, that elected the applause of the
uninitiated, and aroused to such a
pitch of enthusiasm the organized
farmers of this State, that the order
is destined to leap forward with a
bound, over #helming ~everythi' g that
opposes. His description of his recep-
ton and treatment by our brethren in
the North and West, was exceedingly
affecting and gratifying, and at the
conclusion of the address the follow.
ing message was ordered to be tele
graphed Bro. Clover, by a rising vote,
which was unanimous:
GA. & M. COLLEGE, Miss,
August 7, 1890.
Hon. B. H. Clover, Vice President
Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union of America:
DEAR Decentralization Polk
delivered in open session of our State
Farmers Alliance, this day, one of
the ablest, most eloquent and patriotic
addresses ever listened to by a Mis-
sissippi audience, in which he de-
scribed most graphically his reception
by brethren, the boys in blue,
and the people generally of the great
North and Northwest, during his
recent official tour, and made a most
beautiful and touching appeal for fra
ternity and union among all the PEG
pie of our commo country. At it's
conclusion, Bro. j. W. Cranberry
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee of three,
consisting of Gen. 5. D. Lee, Gen. A.
M. West, and Capt. Frank Burkitt, be
appointed to send greetings of the
Mississippi State Alliance to our
brethren north of Mason and Dixon's
line"
"The duty thus assigned the com
mittee, we assure you, is a most
agreeable one, and with our hearts in
our hands, we tender through you to
our brethren throughout the northern
section of the Union, fraternal greet
ings, on behalf of the Farmers ALI.
ance of Mississippi, and pledge for the
organization in this commonwealth
our most Jealous and patriotic en-
deavor to propagate the true principles
of our glorious order; TO suppress sec
tional agitation and to promote the
peace, happiness and prosperity of the
whole people North, South, East and
West.
"Truly and fraternally,
s. D. LEE,
A. M. WEST.