The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-05-12
800 -
OFFICIAL.
To the brotherhood Of the N. F. A. &

IL C1CC DTOCftCi fCOO" " ~ " L *
l.. IT,:
We are now approaching the most
critical period in our existence as an
Order. The demOralizIng clements,
which always enter into a political
campaign, are already being MAJ
shaded by the enemies of our Order,
with d determined purpose to divide
and disrupt us, If possible. No de
vice or scneme will be left untrled.
Every effort Will be made To divert the
minus Of the people from the great Is
sues which are essentially the very lite
of our great reform movement.
ItEwas this knowledge of the sItua-
ton that prompted the action OF the
National Legislative Council III maGur-
ing a plan Tor a lecture system and
for presenting in to the Order for adOp'
ton. The ultimate, inevitable and TIL
umphant success of our principles Is
assured, IT this system be actively and
faithfully prosecuted. For the Ameri-
can farmers and all other classes and
interests which are SO. Intimately re-
lated to them, will not fail to stand to-
gether for right, justice and equity, II
properly informed. Ii prosecuted as
designed, this system Will engage the
services during this year of not less
1GN OCgONO 40 OOA OS~OOO -
earnestly invoke the aid and cO-Opera-
ton Ut the entire brotherhood, in Secur
ing a faithful lecturer, for every SuUOr-
dinatG Alliance, and for every Congress
SiOnal district, within the jurisdiction
of our Order throughout the whole
country.
Arrangements. are also being made
for the holding of w or more grand
Alliance mass meetings IN each OF the
Alliance States dUrlng the year, or as
many more as the brotherhood may de-
sire. 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 and county officers especially
are earnestly admOnished to push this
work III their respective Jurisdictions
~zealously and vigorously.
The enemy IS actively on the alert.
Lit IS his purpose to buy OF control the
press as far as possible. Failing with
money, he will substitute office or It's
patronage. Failing in all this, he will
strive by every means, foul or faIr, to
create divisions and dissensiOns i'll our
ranks.
If a convention of the enemies Of the
National Farmers Alliance and Indus
trial Union was called to devise a plan
for the overthrow and destruction OF
the. Order, 1t would doubtless adopt, as
the most speedy and effectual, such
methods as would create diSSenSiOn
and strife among the membership.
How eagerly and how eXultantly they
hail the least indication of this. If an
erring brother so far fOrgets his Obliga-
tions to the Order as to assail it's prln-
ciples publicly he is heralded by the
politicians and the partisan press as a
hero. If a paper which has been de-
Signated q representative of the prin
ciples of our Order proves false to its
most sacred compact and assails our
members, IL Il principles, it thereby
gains speedy admIttance to the respect
and confidence of enemies. If in
fuential or prominent members, disFe-
garding their obligations to each other
and to the Order, engage in a public
personal warfare through the press or
otherwise, u enemies are abundantIy
satisfied.
No member Of u Order has the
right to assail another member public
ly, through the press or otherwise, so
long as their names are on our roll of
membership. Such an offense is a VIC
latiOn of the obligation and should
merit expulsion. No paper vested with
authority TO represent u Order Off
cially has the right to aSSail u prin-
clples or any member of the Order
while acting in such a capacity. Such
an OttenSe should cause all true Ali
ancemen to repudiate such paper
promptly. No member, while his
name remain on our rolls, has right
to assall the principles of the Order
publicly. He IS not only permitted.
but is encOura ged by our law. to dis
cuss any and all measures COMING
within Our province with the utmost
freedom and to any extent he NAV de
sire within the Order. But the will
of the majority is the law of the Order
and If he can not a~cQuiesce in the de-
cisiOn Of the majority, and feels that
he is cOnscientiOusly impelled to go
before the public and assail our prin-
clpies, he should first divest himself
OF ms 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 bis
chufch book! How long ought it to
enal 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 officers,