The Brookhaven leader., 1891-02-12
The Alliance.

thos thty nave lOtSOttcn tHeiE ODiiSa-
tons and the purpose for which they
joined the Alliance. Their entire
interest seems to have gone with the
So called Lincoln County Exchange,
which was one of the least of our
undertakings. 1t is true it gave us
some relief, but when we thoroughly
consider the other great questions of
the present time we find that the Ex-
change of Lincoln County was nothing
when compared with them; yet, q
great many of our people say the AL
lance is dead and will never accom-
plish anything; consequently they will
have nothing to do with it. They do
not even go to public Alliance speak
ing, nor read anything that might con-
vince them that the Alliance is not
dead, nor likely to die until this mum
dane sphere shall be consumed by fire
and the dead, both small and great,
rewarded according to the deeds done
in the body" IwOuld not say this il
did not believe the Alliance to be a
God -honored cause and i'm exact
keeping with the teachings of the
Bible. would like to remind all the
members of this order who may chap
pen" to read this, that unless they
come up to their obligations to the
best of their ability, that oath will be
Just as cOndemning at the bar of God
as any other sworn falsehood. This
may appear hard to some of you, but
it is only as you make it. You are ut
liberty to keep your word sacred, or
perjure yourselves and take what fol-
lows.
That the farming classes need or
ganization there is no doubt. Why
Simply because the people occupying
all other vocations in life are organized
for their interests, and it will take an
organized force to meet them. As
long as the laboring mass ofpeople are
disOrganized, just so long will they
suffer the Outrages caused by class
legislation, both State and National;
the oppression of millionaire corpora
lions, etc. But when they organize
and carefully consider what would be
best for them, and appeal to the legis-
lative powers with petitions signed by
the president, ce-president, secre-
tary and chaplain of every sub ALI
ance in the State, and accompany
such petitions with the very best men
in the ranks of the farmers; men who
have the good of their fellow men and
the love of their wives and daughters
at heart; men who are not afraid to
face the agents sent by corporations,
money kings and saloons; denOunce
their infamous works, defend the cause
of "equal rights for all and special
privileges to nOne," and plead for
legislation that will give the farmer a
just reward for his labor,-when that
is done, and not before, we will hear
less talk of hard times, and see the
farmers recognized, as they should be,
as one of the noblest classes of men
on earth.
But aside from this there is plenty
of work, and grand work too, which
might be accomplished at home, l
will term it, by organized effort and
without we cannot.
We propose to educate our people.
Well, why not each sub Alliance secure
good teacher and establish school;
not high school, but one that will
educate the children up to the
point of entering high school, then
let each parent decide whether or not
he is able to advance the education of
his children any farther? This could
be done with but little cost, but as it
is, our people depend upon the free
schools, and as u consequence their
children grow up in ignorance, not
able to make their business calcula-
tons. Each sub-Alliance might also
establish circulating library. 1t
would cost but little to do that, and
it would be great source of educa-
ton and entertainment. Debating
societies are also good educators and
that might be practiced at our monthly
meetings. Subjects given at one
meeting, to be discussed at the next,
would have tendency to draw the
attention and attendance of our MEM
bers. Thus you see we have the
means of education in our reach if we
would use them. Perhaps some one
is ready to say he hasn't time for all
this. Please do one thing before You
decide that question. Look around
you and see who of your neighbOr far
mers are doing best. Is it the one
who works all the time, using but
little judgment and taking no recre-
alton, or the one who reads useful
books and papers, attends all impOr-
tant meetings and takes care of what
he makes on the farmq Moral and
social improvements almost invariably
follow mental improvements; there
fore, l will pass that part of our pur-
poses.
Our financial condition can only be
bettered by strict organization and CO.
operation. By cooperation we can
make beneficial exchanges at home.
but still more in exporting and i'm
porting. (By that mean the selling
of our cotton and buying such things
as we cannot produce nor manufacture
at honey To give details of how this
can be done would require more time
and space than l have now, but let me
insist upon its being tried and we will
endeavOr to devise some judicious
plan for its accomplishment. By Or
ganized effort we can greatly improve
our condition politically, not as a
party, but as people. 1t is time for
us to see to it that the Office seeks the
man, and not the man seek the Office.
1t is time for us to see also that there
is less extravaganza in the payment
of our public servants.
l know that if our worthy editor is
kind enough to put this before the
public, it will not meet with much, if
4. 4IoA -. ,h.A n