The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-02-08
COMMUNICATED.
Grand Prairie to tIae Front.


Brother farmers, the destinies Of the
future are yours; by them yon musI
rise or falls Wealth makes its dis
tinctions. Hyou wish 10 place your.
selves on level with the rest Of the
world, sou must make yourselves
their equal in future. You can not
claim, or takes away what they have
wons but you can and should, cease
to be the victims in their winning.
Recognising the faOt that you are
American citizens. with every priVi,
lege, to seek your happiness and
interests, SO long yop do not inter.
fere directly with the happiness or
Interests Of others, from yourselves
equal to the occasion, resolve thar
you will by one united manly effort.
raise yourselves from the slough of
poverty in which you have so long
been flourndering. Seek no enml,
ties; make no war to the knife; but
If you feel, las you certainly have
beeD) that you are the victims OF
extortion, then snap the cords that
bind, and raise yourselves to the
leyel Of other men. Now, what
others have done yon may do. Great
things comes from small beginnings.
Accepting this principle, We, of the
Meanx Lodge of Farmers Union.
are doing what every neighborhood
Of farmers should do; and have or
ganised what il known as "The
Grand Prairie Purchasing Associa-
ton the purpose Of which is to secure
our goods, or such of same as we
are enabled 10 keep in stock, at first
figures. The number Of merchants
scattered throughout the country
make it necessary for them to over
charge 10 order to make a living
We find that We are saving an
average OF over twenty FIVE per cent.
on hack charges, and very near as
much on town figures. We ship
our little produce, such as eggs
and chickens, direct to the nrinci
pie market, hoping Ito realize all
that they are worth, and needed ar.
ticles are ordered in return. Each
man draws from the store what he |
happens to aeed, at just their actual
cost including freight aud other
charges. Each in his taFn takes
produce to depot, and brings back |
any goods FOR the company that |
happen TO be there. 1t is not cx
pected that any one OF US will have
to make this trip more than twice ii
pear, and most of US not more than
once. We are endeayoring to
exercise that charity to ono another /
which we vainly looked for in every
other directions. Any member whose /
inability to subscribe shall be cs.
tablished by d vote Of the lodge.
shall have every privilege accorded
to subscribing members, providing
the advances the interest on the
amount to be subscribed. ANY and /
all members are expected 10 replace
with cash, or produce, my goods
drawn from tho store. This ii the /
best that our limited means will I
permit as to do,
We are not pessimists, though
but few Of our members favor q big
co.oopefative store; but should the
alliance establish snch, we will give
il our support. A Wholesale alliance
store, keeping with other articles
a full line of ready.made clothing, is
1 desideratnm. There Is entirely
90 much ext0r,ion practiced in the
sale Of this sort of goods. l,et me
say for shame, the farmers best
capable to aid us in oar struggle,
are the ones to hold hack to-day
Great many will not enter the aniDn.
Is it from fear that there will be a
call on their charity 7 Do they
wish to MAY the part Of big fish aud
eat The little ones up7 IL it that
they wish to be free to extort their
already distressed neighbors7 .0nr
friends, If such you are. we do not
ak of ron more than We give; we
want no gifts from you, INIT that ot
bfolherly lose. We only want your
unite to the wheel, and there Is
nothing in our constitution 10 exact
more Of yon. Yon are not
called upon 10 lelp pecunjariIy an
brother; but We do ask Of
..nir q. La .,...,,, 81 a..r, .rln..;....1