Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-02-13

quarterly Address OF President VIM. kethley,
to the Copah County Farmers Alliarce Jan.
%, 1891.
DEAR BRETHREN:--Last fall before
my accident | began to write up my
quarterly address to you, but did not
round it up or finish off as l expected
to do; nor have l been physically or
mentally able to do anything more
since November. But as I am still un-
able to be with you in person l send it
as it is, hoping it will do no harm if it
accomplishes no good.
| want to impress upon you some
portions of our "Declaration of Pur-
poses," that we may keep in mind the
objects and aims of the Alliance as it
is designed to be taught the agricultu-
raj world
1st. To labor for the education of the
agricultural classes in the science of
economical government in strictly
non-partisan spirit.
2nd. To endorse the motto, in things
essential unity and in all things chari-
ty."
3rd. ITO develop better state, men,
tally, morally, socially and financially"
4th. To create better understand
ing for sustaining civil officers in main
tanning law and order.
9th. To constantly strive to secure
entire harmony aud good will among
all mankind and brotherly love among
ourselves.
All of these, my brethren. | would
impress upon your minds and would
particularly emphasize the first-the
boring for the education of the agrI-
cultural classes.
The farm is the natural home of
man. Placed in other positions he of
ten degenerates both physically and
morally and soon deScends to an infe-
rior type.
1t may be that the tree of life had no
natural existence anterior to mans
creation, but the Garden of Eden was
nothing more than we'll arranged
farm. when the Lord God took the
man and put him into the garden to
dress and keep it, He informed the
world that man was not only made to
work, but that he is in every respect
better off when in condition requisite
to produce that which he must con-
sumo.
An agricultural people, so long as
they hold to their agriculture, will new
er fall. Switzerland has never been
conquered. It's farms are as thrifty
now, its people as happy in their sim
pie lives as 1000 years ago. And histo-
ry tells us that the Roman Empire
was invulnerable, until the city of
Rome numbered some four millions of
inhabitants" 1t was agriculture that
made Rome strong and agriculture has
made ours the strongest government
on earth. But how long will ours re-
main so if we continue to neglect our
duties as citizens and delegate our
rights and powers to the care of other
professions to use in elevating their in
terest at our expense? So sure as the
Roman Empire, with all of its grand
eur and glory, is by-word and thing
of the past, so sure, my friends, will
our now proud and exalted and glori-
Gus country sink into oblivion, unless
we arouse from our lethargy and make
bold and earnest efforts to change the
laws that are now sapping the founda-
ton of the agriculturalists of this ma
ton. History is only repeating itself
with us. AS the population of ancient
times fiocked to Rome, so now central
ization is the chief move here. Every
body that can, moves to town and from
there to the city.
The best talent as we'll as the bone
and sinew of the country are more or
less dissatisfied and think that city life
is preferable to theirs. Now why is
this in this day and time? 1t has not
always been the case, as many of us can
testify. 1t is because of the injustice
done us by the lawmakers in granting
the right to capitalists to issue and
control the money of the country that
constitutionally belongs to the people.
Must we, or rather aciH we, continue to
struggle as we have been doing and al
low conditions to grow worse when we
have it in our power to change things?
If farmers and laborers would look to
their private and public interests and
unite it would be matter of short
time when our demands would be re-
spected. If we will work together as a
class we can soon prove to tho world
that we are capable of self-govern-
ment. We can prove what history has
taught of other nations, that the agri-
culturalist is the stay and strength of
this country. In fact, the strength of
any government is in the hands of the
home owners.
Strike down the ownership of this
people and it will go to ruin in short
time. Let the present monetary sys-
tenn continue and our lawmakers keep