The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-02-20
BACK TO FIRST PRINCIPLES.
The Alliance Has Gone Out of Poll
tfcS-COnditiOn Of the Order i'm
south Carolina--Address of the
Supreme Council.

y
the National Alliance, has been in
teviewed by the Columbia Register,
and makes the following statement as
to the work done in the recent meet
ing at Topeka:
colonel Duncan said that twenty
iour States were represented ut the
meeting by thirty-five delegates. a
number OF other States which did not
have delegates present sent in reports.
Nearly every State in the Union made
reports. All of these reports, said
Colonel Duncan, were of an encourage
ing nature.
The report of the South Carolina
Alliance shows u total membership of
about 3S, 600. Only about 5000 of this
number are in good standing in the
order. The remainder are kept on the
rolls and will in time pay their dues
and again become active members.
The membership in this State has not
decreased since the last annual meet
ing of the National Alliance.
North Carolina made q splendid
showing, her paid membership being
26,O0O, with II total membership OF
many thousand more. The president
of the North Carolina Alliance. Marion
Butler, was elected president of the
National Alliance.
The order, as Il whole. has held its
own better than the most sanguine
members expected. There has been u
falling off in the membership of States
where the Populist movement was the
strongest two years ago, and the lead
ing members of the order in those
States attribute the decreased to the
activity displayed in politics. 1t is
the intention of the leaders in those
States to keep the order out of politics
in the future, although they state that
they will vote for men who come
nearest representing their views.
From what Colonel Duncan could
gather, however, the vast ma aioritv of
the men who left the old parties and
went to the new one intend to remain
with the new one and fight for it on all
occasions.
AS Il result OF the fact that the South
Carolina Alliance did not take any
active part in any of the elections as u
body, Colonel Duncan says. its affairs
are in more prosperous condition
than many of the other Alliances.
The business portion of the order in
this State is especially in II sound con
dition. The business plan of operation
OF the South Carolina Alliance is to
be adopted by nearly all the other
States. Their exchanges are to be
modelled after the one in operation in
this city, which has been success
from the start. The Exchange of this
State has always encouraged the farm
crs to deal with the merchants. except
in the matter Of fertilizers. bagginy,
wagons, etc, which the Exchange can
furnish cheaper direct from the manu-
facturers. BY this policy the business
men. have not antagoniZed the AL
lianIe.
ColoNel Duncan responded to the
address 3. welcome which was made to
the Natiolal Alliance. on assembling
at Topeka, L.y Governor Lewelling.
The delegates were royalty entertained
by the people Of Topeka
PRESIDENT BUTLER'S ADDRESS.
President Butler is only 81 years
old. He has been in the newspaper
and proprietor of The Caucasian.
published at Raleigh, n. G. The fol-
lowing is the address delivered by him
to the National Alliance. 1t has never
been published in any OF the Sodthcrn
papers
To the members Of the n. f. \. and
|. U., and TO all whom it may con-
ccrn:
Since the inception of this grand
organization there have been those
who thought that when some political
party championcd our political de-
mands that then the mission of the
organization was ended. This belief
Is based ON the belief that Il political
party will take care OF the interests of
the farmers. This is u fatal mistake.
Besides, it is proven by the acts of
every other class of citizens Except
politicians that they do not rely ON
parties alone, but organize for influence
on any and all parties.
Every wealth producer of America
should ever keep the following truths
before him:
First: That sooner or later all
political parties are controlled by poll
ticians.
Second That politicians never
serve any cause or class of citizens
from sense Of JUSTICE but always
through policy, fear or gain.
Therefore, the class of citizens re-
presented by the Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union can never hope
FOR or secure relief or Justice from any
poli party, not even from one that
claims to champion and endorse its
every principle and demand, unless
tncy MAINTAIN an organization that
VII S'Si Still't us dl cHccIlNc support
to the man and the party that darcs TO
DO right and constant menace to those
who dare tribe with the rights and
liberties OF the people. Hence. the
supreme Council sOlcmnly warns those
who arc true to the principles of the
Alliance that they would make IL most
iatal mistake if they give up the or
ganization which is the only power
that can force these reforms through
any political party, and if indeed we
were living under perfectly just gov
crnment to-day. the organization would |
still be absolutely necessary as a great
moral force To keep it so.
'l5nt our Supreme Council calls upon
you to ever remember that the or
gahl%atlOn has II great mission TO per-
lorln outside OF political reform.
IL the wealth producers of America |
are TO keep pace with the march Of |
civilization they must do it through |
social and intellectual contact. We |
nave not only grown in mind and heart |
py sucn association and contact, but |
we pool our intellect for the mutual |
advancement of our interests. We |
desire political reform to enable us to |
carry out the mission.
therefore, in conclusion, the |
supreme Council appeals to every one
VINO believes in the principles Of the
Alliance to stand by and extend the
organization not only to secure the
benefits that come from organization,
nut also to make certain that some
political party shall enact their de-
mands into law"