The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-07-31


and the natural feeling of independence
inculcated by farm life, initiate againsf
social and intellectual progress. The
inertia of stagnation can best be ovdr-
come by organization, and our lectyf-
ers can render no more effective ser
vice than to impress upon our farmers
the individual responsibility that reefs
upon them to organize. Eve.y farmer
who is good citizen should be mem
Der of the Farmers Alliance.
The achievements of general benz
fits will depend upon the strength anil
loyalty of the local organizations. The
operation of the Alliance is unlimited
in scope, except as to Its political char-
acter. The usefulness of the organizsr
tion therefore can be abridged only by
the members themselves.
Prejudice from outside which existed
from n misconception of our purposes,
as well as individual and local errors
of our town members, has, 1 believe,
nearly disappeared, and the Alliance
is now more than ever regarded by all
classes of our citizens, according to it's
true intent, as patriotic orgauiz;tsion
laboring to "develop betser state
mentally, morally, socially and fnan-
cially," and to elevate the standard of
our people IN NIL the qualifications Of
citizenship without striking against the
interest or legitimate business of any
class OF our citizens.
The members of Farmers Alliance
were Justly proud of the signal victory
won over the Jute Trust. That fight
was short, sharp and decisive, and the
fruits of victory were immediate.
Compared with the grand educational
work in the science of economical gov
ernment through n period of seven
years, bringing into sight, trust, the
elimination of our hopes in relief to
the people, the jute light shrinks into
insigniticance.
In 1889, our National Alliance assert
ed the principles of good government
in demanding:
l. The abolition OF the national bank
system.
>. The free and unlimited coinage
of gold and silver at tue ration of l6
TO |.
). That our paper currency shall be
full legal tender government issue in
stead of bank notes.
hSSC tNDTcssctt uI-,sr@' CT
ent times in slightcV varying phraseol-
ogv rais~l the issue. 1t was met by
organized capital with Strenuous cf-
fort to fasten on us the blight of the
gold standard. Our demands, ignored
at first by the political parties, steadi-
~ gained strength among the people,
as the educational work of the Alliance
unveiled their Justice and fairness to
them. Now we witrees the unparalel-
ell sight of strong forces in all the
political parties striving to shape their
political course in harmony with us.
The reform forces are gath
ering. Parties are being rent as
under, and new political align
mcnt is being formed. The ma
tiunal Democratic corvention, which
lately met at Chicago. by an over
whelming vote embodied our financial
ing itself with the masses of the People
upon Democratic principles against
the dangerous encroachment of pluto
cratic power that threatens the per
petuation Of special privileges on tho
gold standard. Wm. j. Bryan, of
Nebraska, the nominee of the Demo
cratic party, is an exponent of true re-
form. We can fully trust him. His
election next November will bring into
sight the relief for which we have been
contending for Years. Our political
hope now rests in concentration Of the
reform forces. The efforts Of all pat
riotic men should be exerted to secure
it. The Alliance has ACCOMPLISHED q
grand work in forcing the issues to the
front and deserves the thanks and con-
Gratulutions of the industrial world.
While great good has been accomp-
lished, let us not believe that the mis-
sion of the Farmers Alliance is ended.
1t has Just begun. It's mission is per
p.tral. Eternal vigilance is the price
Of liberty 1t must endure until
rights 10 longer need enforcement;
unt!l there are no longer grle 5auces to
be rcdresscd.
| congratulate you, brethren, upon
the tavogable auspices under which we
meet in this our ninth annual session
trust that we may have on enjoyable
meeting, and that your deliberations
may materially conduce to the perma
nent welfare of cur organization.
State Lecturer Wilborn addressed
the Alliance, giving m account of the
work OF the year and of the condition
of the order. During the last twelve
months the membership of the Alliance
in South Carolina has increased over
GO per cent He said the farming peo-
pile were more determined than ever TO
preserve an organization with which to
battle for advancement Of their inter
ests.