The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-12
OFFICIAL.
To the Brotherhood of the National Farm.
ers' Alliance and Industrial Union.


We believe that the great principles
upon which the demands of our Order
are based are correct. We believe that
these principles r founded in equity
and Justice. We believe their recOg-
nition and adoption in our govern
mental policy would conserve the
highest interests of the public veal.
We believe that the just equipOse be-
tween the great industries of our cOun-
try, which Is absolutely essential to
eur existence as q free people, has been
destroyed, We believe that the pOliti-
cal power and wealth of the country
are being appropriated and absorbed,
through discriminating and vicious
legislation, by thefeW, to the detriment
Gndruin Of the many. We believe that
as a people we are fast drifting away
from the landmarks Of the fathers of
the republic.
Prompted by these painful convic-
tiOnS, we have sOlemnly appealed to
the sense of Justice and patriotism of the
American people. Ignoring past party
differences, men of all sections and of
all shades Of political opinion, have
magnanimOUsly and periodically
aligned themselves under the Alliance
banner and espOused a common cause
the aus of a common country, the
cause of humanity and Justice.
We expected opposition, persistent,
bitter and powerful opposition. We
expected that every e~xpedient that
could be devised for d~emOraliZing and
dividing us would be employed. We
expected that the formidable evils
against which we had entered battle
would intrench and fOrtify behind
party lines and employ the machinery
and enginery Of party power against
as. We expected that righteous
demand for an open field AID an equal
chance in the ace Of lite would be
ignored and spurned. We expected
that our earnest plea for justice would
not be weighed in the scale Of reason
nor met with fair and manly argument,
but thai we would be Tidiculed,
maligned and persistently miSrepre
sented. In ell this we have not been
disappointed.
Now what is our duty as Alliance
men7 Plainly, it is to stand Loyalty
and manfully by our principles, vote
for no man nor party who oppose our
principles, extend the hand Of friend
ship and fellowship to any man or
party who favor our principles. Place
principles above parties. Place meas
Ures above men. Place country above
section. Place love Of home, of family,
above the Elusive and treacherOuS re
wards of party service. Place right
above wrong.
Let duty-the grandest word ever
uttered In the dialect of mortal tongue
duty to God, duty to country, duty
to home ami family, be the sublime
standard Of our action III all things de
volving upon US as citizens. Let Is be
dLhgent and faithful in all our duties
as Ailiancemen. Keep up and strength
en- the organization. Encourage the
wavering, strengthen the weak and
confirm the strong COuJiuIe to e'tu-
cate the 0eOpie IL the great principles
of justice, equity and truth. The :rucial
test Of Il manhood and our loyalty to
principle lSupOn lis. ~otupendO'I- effort
will be made by enemies 10 80
Gireyt the campaign of 1892 - TO dis
rupt and destroy our Tg4nIZatlGn.
Appeals to sectional pride Or prejudice
viii be made. Let US answer that our
Order knows no North, no South, no
East, no West. The disaffectIon or
disI0y atty of an occasional traitor il
u ranks will be urged as evidence Of
decay. Let IA answer that no human
organization that ever had an existence
was exempt from these. Party fealty
and party spirit will be invoked to
force anabandOnment Of our principles.
Let US answer that we will stand by
that party that will stand by us, and
that we are not so blind as to look for
relief at the hand Of any political party
that opposes our principles aud seeks
to destroy our organization. Weak
ness in members, and our dis0Tganized
condition as a political factor, will be
paraded to prove our heiplessnees. Let
as answer that the old Saxon spirit
and courage which met this same base
argument in two Oe the mightiest revO
buttons of modern times, and gave to
the world this great country, has not
yet died out in the hearts of the Ameri-
can people.
Corporate power, centralized capital,
and all their allied forces, will be held
up in formidable array to intim;date us.
Relying on the justice of our cause, the
invincible power of right and the favor
of God, let us meet them with the only
weapons left us-manhO0d and ballots.
Equal rights to all and special priv
leges to none" IS all we ask. a just
and honorable people would ask for
nothing more. A just and honorable
people would be content with nothing
less. Be not deceived by plausible de
vices involving a compromise of prin-
poses of our Order. Beware of gift
bearing Greeks.
Fraternally,
L. L. Polk,
Pres't N. T. A. and [. U.