The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
LET IT BE REVIVED.
Let 1t be an Instrumentality for
Self-Defence, Progress, Educa-
ton and GOod-FellOwship.

column an Important letter from our
valued friend. J. I.Vermilya, president
of the State Farmers Alliance. We
hope his words will be taken to heart
by every member Of the organization.
The society has passed through a
period of gloom. Not that there has
been, on the part Of the farmers, any
abandonment of their old time princi-
pies, but the times have been Excess
sively hard; and many have seemed to
think that as they now had the Peo-
pies Party there was no longer any
necessity for the Farmers Alliance.
This is grave mistake. The one ia
no substitute for the other. The Peo-
pies Party is universal in its appli-
cation; the Alliance represents direct
ly the interests of The farming class
and the farming class alone.
It is the duty Of the agricultural
population to maintain it as a defence
against wrong and injustice,-against
thieves and rings; and also as great
means of education. This fall and
winter the abundant harvest should
be supplemented by great gatherings
of the people everywhere, to discuss all
matters which concern their welfare,
from the price of eggs to the demone-
tization of silver. intellectual activi-
ty should follow in the footsteps of
Gods bounty. Instead Of being an
isolated and helpless race, jealous and
suspicious of each other, and COM
mon prey of the knaves who live upon
them, there should be an universal
ferment and movement, among the
producing classes,-a coming together
and lifting up of the masses. All
through the winter meetings should
be held in school houses and homes.
For brave and generous hearts will warm
A cline with northern ices cold"
With fertile soil and an intelligent
people all things are possible.
This great northwestern coun-
try must not be occupied by
Doors and serfs. but by the bright
est and keenest minds in the universe.
He who helps one generation to
think helps another generation to be-
ing libraries in every neighborhood-
200 or 300 Enthusiastically Sc
lected. While considering the seri-
Gus things Of life we must not hold
novels and romances and poetry in con-
tempt, for the imagination has to be
fed as we'll as the stomach. Life
should not be all toll and drudgery.
Each one is entitled to get something
more out of it than that. He is en-
titled to all there is in it. Those noble
beings, the women, our partners and
our guides, must have amplest oppor-
tunities for development. Let them
meet their fellow beings in social con-
verse. Lift them out of the ruts of
slavery and isolation-for that way
lies the insane asylum and broken
hearts.
In all this work the Alliance can
help. It will furnish the machinery.
1t is non-partisan. Through it the
farmers can unite and organize for
social intercourse and mental develop.
mentor knOwledge-which is power
Let us see il we can not act togeth-
er and make this Northwest the gar
den of the world,-the home of a
| great, free, thoughtful, honest and
virtuous race, who, from this elevated
table-land, amid the fat soil and the
pure breezes, will dominate the rest OF
the continent.
Brethren,-the harvest is over and
the long nights approach.
Come draw the curtain, wheel the
| sofa upland with the cellars, and
the bins, and the barns and the gran
aries stored with overlooking abund-
ance; with the lights upon the center.
table, amid books and newspapers;
and with kind and loving hearts, the
greatest of all earthly blessings, you
will be able to say with the poet:
"Tis pleasant from the loop-holes Of re.
treat
| To peep at such world"
But remember that separated you
are powerless as the sands that shift
with the wiEd around the foot of the
the pyramids;-united you are the
| pyramids themselves.
Call your Alliances together, and
try to make the coming season of cold
and SHOWS a season of profit and ad
vancement.