The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-08-19
ADDRESS OF
PRESIDENT JOHN GRAHAM.
DELIVERED At THE AHNuA. SESSION
or THE STATE ALLIANCE.

OIIts6uko ~ tdk AHNuA. SESSION
OF THE STATE ALLIANCE.
IL II . Thasgh tfai .na ssroax Deeansa.-
He Discusses Live oasssion.-He Favor.
. National Constitutional Csa.~a.ssn.
Oeieers and D,iegaie> Of The North cero-
Una Fdrmer's Stat 4itlicac<:
BRKTHEKN AT this your eleventh
annual session questions of vital inter.
est TO our order will be submitted TO
you for adjustment.
Owing to the election Of you. hon.
ored President, DIR. Cyrus Thompson.
to the office Of Secretary OF State, he
felt constrained TO resign rs President
OF the North Carolina Farmers State
Alliance, and the duties OF that Office
devolved upon your vice-presideflt.
1t has been the custom Of my prede-
cessors, in their annual addresses, To
deal with political issues, effec.ing the
interest OF the farmers OF North Caro-
lima, both state and National. So
thorough has been their research that
you need expect no new thcusht at
my hands.
1t may not, however, be untimeiy to
briefly review the history of the AL
liance's work in North Carolina.
In our Judgement the enaction of
the cardinal principles of our order in
to law would relieve the depressed fin
nancial condition Of our country, and
although we have no reason to expect
their adoption in the near future, we
have good ground to hope and believe
that the work Of the Alliance will in
due time have its reward. The Alliance
is OF Southern origin and its origina-
tors are the worthy successors of these
slave-owning Statesmen who rendered
our country illustrious.
The Alliance originated in Lampasas
county, Texas. The first Texas State
Alliance was organized at Central. in
Parks county, in 1879. In 1887 four
hundred delegates met at Waco, and at
that meeting steps were taken to Or
ganize the Cotton Belt States for unit
ed action in the interest of the farmer.
The Union an organization SINH
lar to the Alliance" already existed in
Louisiana and the Wheel in Arkau-
sas.
These three bodies united and adopt
ed constitution at ST. Louis in 1889.
The object OF the founders of the AL
lance was to secure united action on
| the part of the farmers of the entire
nation to protect themselves from
| unjust legislative discrimination eth.
er State Ur National.
Although essentially political in its
| aims it was thought that relief would
more readily be obtained by the united
efforts of the brotherhood in their re-
spective political parties.
1t is useless to recount the rapid
spread of Alliance doctrine over the
South and Southwest, Or to mention
the glorious mission of our own be.
loved and immortal Polk to our bre.
thren of the great West and Northwest
The trust was accepted and thousands
Joined our banners. All would have
Deen we'll, but unfortunately, ths
place-hunting politicians had joined
the Alliance, and personal preference:
and party supremacy swept away the
faith of victory. In North Carolins
the Alliance had absorbed the Demo
| white Republicans. Even this negroes
had formed Alliance of their own en-
tirely separate from the whites, an,
were greatly benefited in their finan
cial affairs. This condition did no
suit the politician. In North Caro-
lima, in some counties, it was made un
pleasant for Republicans to be Al
liancemen and the Alliance becam
the bulwark of Democracy. The color
ed Alliances were destroyed by Repub
lican politicians. Thus the Allianc
received it's first blow in North Caro-
lima.
Owing to the wide spread infiuenc
| of the Alliance literature and the 2rea
dissatisfaction of the laboring masse
Mr.. Cleveland was elected Presiden
in 1892.
Well posted as to Mr. Cleveland
political views on the silver question
, thousands of Democratic Allianceme
in North Carolina protested agains
his candidacy, offering to support tn
State Democratic ticket if the chalic
of Clevelandism was taken from thei
!, lips. Their wishes were not regarded
and trickery and treachery were re
sorted to for the purpose of destroy
ing the Alliance. Enemies of the A
lance with unblushing effrontery ad
vocated the adoption of the Allianc
. demands as the platform of the Demo
cratic party. These demands wei
= read and adopted amid jeers an
laughter. The Alliance was stable
in the house Of its friends. Part
fealty and family ties swept Thousand
o of true Alliancemen off their balanc
Our charter was repealed, and for i
+ restoration, and the restoration of
= free ballot to a free people, the men
y bers of the Alliance almost to ma
cast their votes with the People
r Party and the Republican Part
+ These things are now Of the past az
q we stand ready to receive with Ope
1 arms all former brethren of whatey'
political party.
o Our Alliance principles have di
= rupted the two old political partie
IA and caused the creation OF tV
new parties, the Peoples Party al
+ the Silver Party. They have forc'
t to the front the irrepressible conf1i
between Manhood and Money" II
: combat is on and Republican instit'
II tiOns are at stake. On the one side a
e the giant corporations with their M
d lions of accumulated extOrtions, ma
ing and remaking Senators, bribi1
v Legislatures, nominating Govern
r andlnaming the Judges Of our Stat
:, and Federal Courts. Owning t
le transportation of the country, tn
n control the country. On the 9th
ganized, divided, cropping in darkne
,e Only the Unborn love of liberty tn
v animates the anglo-saxon heart "
ID save our country from revolution
,e rum. A National Constitutional &c
re- vention is our hope. Senators,
!" retained counsel of corporations a
trusts, will never voluntarily subI
their election to direct vote of tn
countrymen. No income tax will e'
- be constitutional so hong as the Fede
le. Judges are elected for life by
money power. The Alliance offers
- - remedy tor all these wrongs. I
S Sn Constitution of the United States
oI compiled by our revolutionary si
.e !. was perfect for their times. The St
y: constitutions from the same brains q
Is these we have been forced to anne
~, time and again. At the time of
- - adoption of the Federal Constitut
70 our territory was q narrow strip ale
the Atlantic, our population not mi