The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1891-05-14
\ STIRRING ADDRESS
By the President of the NatiOn-
nj Farmers Alliance.

Order The dCmOralizing elements,
which always enter into a political
campaign, are already being marshal
cd by the enemies of our Order, with
Il determined purpose to divide and
disrupt us, if possible. No device or
scheme will be left untried. Every
effort will be made to divert the minds
of the people from the great issues
which are essentially the very life of
our great reform movement.
1t was this knowledge of the situa-
ton that prompted the action of the
National Legislative Council in ma
turing q plan fora lecture system and
for presenting it to the Order for
adoption. The ultimate, inevitable
aud triumphant success of our princi-
pies is assured, if this system be ac-
lively and faithfully prosecuted. For
| the American farmers and all other
classes and interests which are so in
timately related to them, will not fail
to stand together for right, justice
and equity, if properly informed. If
prosecuted as designed, this system
will engage the services during this
year of not less than $4,000 lecturers
III our cause. | earnestly invoke the
aid and cooperation of the entire
| brotherhood, in securing faithful
lecturer, for every subordinate and
county Alliance, and for every Con-
gressional district, within the juris-
diction of our Order throughout the
whole country.
Arrangements are also being made
for the holding of two or more grand
Alliance mass meetings in each of the
many more as the brotherhood may
desire. Let us have your active and
earnest sympathy in making this the
great educational campaign year in
our history, and thus be prepared to
meet any emergency that may arise.
State aud county officers especially
are earnestly admonished to push this
work in their respective Jurisdictions
zealOusly and vigorously.
The enemy is actively on the alert.
1t is his purpose to buy or control our
press as far as possible. Failing with
money, he will substitute Office or its
patronage. Failing in all this, he will
strive by every means, foul OIL fair, to
create divisions and dissensions Ill our
ranks.
If a convention of the enemies OF
the National Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union was called to devise a
plan for the overthrow and destruc-
ton of the Order, it would doubtless
adopt, as the most speedy and effect
ual, such methods as would create dis
scnsiOn and strife among the member
ship. How eagerly and how cxultant-
| ~ they hail the least indication of this.
If an erring brother so far forgets his
obligations to the Order as to assail
its principles publicly he is heralded
by the politicians and the partisan
press as hero. If paper which has
been designated a representative of the
principles of our Order proves false to
its most sacred compact and assails
our members, or our principles, it
thereby gains speedy admittance to
the respect and confidence of our enc
niles. If influential or prominent
members, disregarding their Obliga-
tiOns to each other and to the Order,
engage i'll personal warfare through
the press or otherwise, our enemies
are abundantly satisfied.
No member of our Order has the
right to assail another member public
ly, through the press or otherwise, SO
xDl
membership. Such an offense is a
violation of his obligation and should
merit expulsion. No paper vested
with authority to represent our Order
officially has the right to assail oul
principles or any member of the Or
der while acting in such n capacity
Such an Offense should cause all true
Alliance men to repudate such paper
promptly. No member, while his
name remains on our rolls, has a right
to assail the principles of the Order
publicly. He is not only permitted,
but is encouraged by our law, to dis
cuss any and all measures coming
within our province with the utmost
freedom and to any extent he may de-
sire within the Order. But the will
of the majority is the law of the Or
der, and if he can not acquiescc in the
decision of the majority, and feels that
he is cOnscientiously impelled to 60
before the public and assail our prin-
ciples, he should first divest himself
of his Alliance uniform. With what
consistency could a Baptist or Metho-
dist go before the world and publicly
oppose and denOunce some of the
most cherished tenets of his church
How long would his name remain on
his church book? How long ought it
to remain there Why should he ex-
pect or desire to remain in the
church ?
Loyalty to Alliance principles is the
only true Alliance test, not only as to
membership, but it should faithfully
be applied in the selection of all of
ficers, from the steward in subOrdi-
nate Alliance to the President of the
National Alliance, and it must be ap-
piled in the selection of those who are
to make and execute our laws, if we
would reasonably hope for the reforms
which we seek.
We want no foes within our camp.
We can live better without them than
with them. Let the membership be
watchful and faithful, and guard with
untiring vigilance the principles of the
Order Never was the OutloOL for Our