The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-05-22


been disappointed. Others from similar
misconception of its aims and plans, stood
aloof from the organization, and these,
as time has developed its real purposes,
have become active and useful members.
Illus we have grown stronger, because
we have been made more coherent by
truer apprehension of the nature of the
Order; and today we stand upon firmer
ground and our organization is more eff
fective good than ever before.
The Order, for the last twelve months,
has really been passing through its for
nation stage, and it now stands forth be-
fore the world, with well defined outline,
relieved of the mists and exaggerations
with which it was invested in the popu-
lar conception Of its character, and thus
presented, challenges the respect and con-
fidence of all, as the most compact, most
effective and useful agricultural organi-
cation that has ever been formed.
In the unity of its materials, in its ell
ements of stability, in the adaptation of
its machinery, and hence, in its capacity
for work, it surpasses any association of
the farming class that was ever known
before, while in the rapidity of its growth
and the completion with which it has
ramified every portion of the whole coun-
try, it has no parallel in the past. So
rapid, indeed, has been its growth, that
there is but little territory left to be &C.
cupied, and the work of the Order in the
future, therefore, will be, not so much to
enter new fields as to cultivate those al.
ready within our Enclosure. If it is
fact that the farmer is not in the full en-
joyment of his rights, and that other
classes are combined to deprive him of
the fruits of his own labor, it is evident
that organization among farmers is an alb
solute necessity, and we have full knowl
edge of the details of the various capital
istic conspiracies againt the interests of
agriculture. National banks, railroads,
tariffs and trusts-rObberies in all their
different phases, have been fully exposed,
the conspirators have been held up to
popular contempt, and yet millions of
dollars have been transferred from our
farm to the pockets of schemers, and yet
the work of despoliation goes steadily on.
Why? We ask the question, why?
And to that question we would like a
frank answer from every productive la
borer.
1t is not because we have not done our
duty not because we have not stood by the
farm through thick and thin, and not be-
cause we have endeavored to protect our
selves, our children and our country.
But the reason is that thousands of the
productive classes have not yet identified
themselves with any of the farmers Or
CARNATIONS to protect their own rights
and mass their strength and influence at
the ballot box, against the systematic eff
forts to rob them, and to deprive them
not only of their rights, but their liber-
ties.
Is this as it should be? When there
is combination against us, as there is
upon every hand, what must be thought
of class that refuses to assert the au-
thority of the first law of nature-self
preservation-and adopt the only practi-
cal means to save itself? There can be
no successful combination against thor
ough organization of farmers. Organic
ed, they can directly and indirectly
make congresses, legislatures, presidents
and governors, control commerce, to
greater or less extent be the directors of
matters that pertain to the interests of
our society and country. There is not
political party in existence that they can
not mould to suit them if they will /:
there is not public question they can
not solve in their own interest and in the
interest of the whole country. They have
the majority of votes, character recogniz-
ed for worth and stability and they have
an aggregate wealth that is great and
might be influential. But unorganized,
none of these things count for anything,
The individual farmer is helpless. His
voice is like the falling zephyr, that is
scarcely needed.
Organization is the farmers only hope.
1t is through organization alone that he
can secure his rights and procure his lib