The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-22
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE BY THE
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Reads Like Political Document but Con-
tains Promise to Return to Alliance
Principles and Again Become
Farmers Organization.
DALLAS. Feb. 1.-THE following ad

dress is self explanatory:
To the Alliance people of Texas and to al
who desire 20 better the conditions of thu
tOiling millions
The Farmers Alliance has been or.
ganized for over II years and hal
grown from an obscure birth in {
sparsely settled West Texas community
to be one of the most powerful indus
trial associations in the worlds his
tory, and extending into almost every
state and territory in the Union.
One exciting cause of its rise as wei
as of its remarkable progress was the
well defined knowledge of the great
mass of wealth producers that they
were oppressed by social and govern
mental systems, which made it posi-
BILE for others to deprive them I'M
Justly of a portion of the fruits and
rewards of their own toll. Another
cause, probably equally as potent, was
O. realization OF the fact that better
knowledge of social, farm, home and
political economy and wider diffu-
sion of general information among the
toilers was indispensably necessary
in order to enable them to successfully
combat any system through which any
other class or portion of the communi-
ty might unjustly encroach on their
rights, privileges, opportunities or lib
critics. The encroachments of corpo-
rate power, as we'll as the growth of
social and commercial evils, were suf.
| ficient years ago to arouse the toilers
and cause them to unite in bonds of
fraternal union for the purpose of
educating themselves and being able
to successfully cope With any adversa-
ry which might come against them.
But today the conditions rendering
a general fraternal association of all
producers absolutely essential to their
mutual we'll being are incOmparably
greater than those. The conditions of
life among the wealth producers are
daily becoming more intolerable, while
the inventive genius of the race has
chained the living dormant forces of
steam and electricity and made them
subservient to mans uses and the pro-
motion of his comfort in the produc-
ton of food, raiment and shelter, as
well as the transmission of in
telligence and the exchange of
commodities. While the marvellous
improvements in machinery has fur
ther increased his ability to create
wealth, the great mass of toilers grew
yearly more poor. Thousands are
each year added to the army of unem.
ployed while suffering, misery, pow
erty, crime and all other inherent and
consequent evils of decaying civil
zation are alarmingly on the increase.
In the midst of the alarming social
disorder confronting our country, in
view of the general depression and
widespread distress so plainly and
painfully apparent that it is known to
all men, one should zealously enquire
into the causes which permit such to
exist and to constantly grow worse.
The United States has only 4 per
cent of the worlds population, yet it
produces on an average 80 per cent of
all the great staple products of the
farm, mine, workshop and factory
nor has nature or the providences of
God failed to be favorable to our eff
forts to such an extent as to warrant
the conditions which amply Justify |
the universal discomfort existing
among the masses. Therefore, at no
time in American history has it been !
so necessary that the peo-
pie thoroughly understand their
surroundings and be educated |
in those matters which affect their
welfare as at present. They cannot be |
educated and enabled to act as a power
of God unless they organize and meet
often together and discuss calmly and |
dispassiOnately with each other all |
questions pertaining to their interests
as farmers aud producers, and as citi-
Zens.
In this age of marvellous progress
all other classes are compactly organ
lied, are prepared to move rapidly and
with precision. Largely as a conse-
quence of this all other classes are
better paid for the services they
render to community than
the farmer, the common laborer and
the mechanic The majority of these
latter classes are yearly growing more
poor and dependent, thus paving the
way to the final overthrow of our social
fabric, because Notwithstanding that
all useful pursuits are necessary to q
perfect civilization, the farmer and la
borer being the factors of civilization.
the permanent prosperity OF all Others
is dependent on them.
Organization among the classes
mentioned is not only necessary but it
is imperative. Our system of civiliza
tiOn and social organism is intensely
competitive rathel than cooperative.
Owing to this and other causes. greed
as a rule one of the predominating
traits of the human heart, this trait
must he met and repressea to It's
proper bounds and snorn of its bane
full effects by an educated
and enlightened people-educate
and enlightened on the practical
things OF life, and the essential princi.
pies OF pe,interests and self preserva.
ton. The classes most interested in
obtaining justice cannot hone
TO ameliorare their conditions i'll
uneducated and disuulted. They can
not fail to progress toward a civiliza.
tion and attain TO equal and exact
justice it 'educated and uuorganized.
The Farmers Alliance is the ralIvinc
point Tor the accomplishment of ali
that is nigh and noble ia humau
affairs. 1t is the couuciIfre around
which the millions of toilers nav
meetand discuss all questions naca,
sary TO insure 20 them equality.li1.r.v
and the pur- nit of happiness. Itisrg- .
place TO llsuE.u g.. IuIipa in rha .,,7