The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-08-17
PRESIDENT JOHN GRAHAM's ADJ
DRESS
Before the State Farmers Alliance, Hills
bOrO, august 10, 1897.

Before the State Farmers Alliance, Hills
borO, august 10, 1897.
Officers and Delegates of the North
Carolina Farmers State Alliance:
BRETHREN AT this your eleventh
annual session, questions of vital in
terest to our Order will be submitted
to you for adjustment.
o wing to the election of your hon
ored President, DR.. Cyrus Thompson,
to the Office Of Secretary Of State, he
fe~lt7constrained to resign as President
of the North Carolina Farmers State
Alliance, and the duties of that Office
have devolved upon your Vice Presi.
dent.
1t has been the custom Of my prede.
cessors, in their annual addresses, to
deal with political Issues, affecting the
interests of the farmers of North Caro-
lima, both State and National. So
thorough has been their research that
you need expect nc new thought at my
hands.
It may not, however, be untimely to
briefly review the history of the Ali
ance's work in North Carolina. In our
judgment the enactment of the a
dinal principles of Jour Order into law
would relieve the depressed financial
condition of our country; and, although
we have no reason to expect their adop-
tion in the ear 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 it's originators are
the worthy successors Of those states
men who rendered our country illus
trious. .It
The Alliance originated in Sampsasas
county, Texas. The first Texas State
Alliance was organized at Central, in
Parker 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 united
action in the interest of the farmers.
The Union" an organization similar
TO the Alliance already existed in Lou
isiana, and the wheel" in Arkansas.
These three bodies united and adopted
a constitution at ST. Louis in 1889.
The object Of the founders of the
Alliance was to secure united action on
the part of the farmers of the entire
nation to protect themselves from un-
just legislative discrimination, either
State or National.
Although essentially political in its
aims, it was thought that relief would
be more readily 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
s. nth and Southwest, or to mention
the glorious mission OF our own beloved
and immortal Polk to our brethren Of
the great West and Northwest. The
truth was accepted and thousands
joined our banners. All would have
been well, but, unfortunately, the place,
hunting politician had ,ined the ALI.
ance, and personal preterment and
party supremacy swept awey the fruits
of victory.
In North Carolina the Alliance had
absorbed the Democratic party and
a goodly number Of white Republicans.
Even the negroes had formed Alliances
OF their own, entirely separate from
the whites, and were greatly benefited
in their financial tff4irs.
This condition did not suit the poll.
tician. In North Carolina, N some
counties, it was made unpleasant for
Republicans to be Alliancemen and the
Alliance became the buiwark of De
mocracy. The colored Alliances were
destroyed by Republican politicians.
Thus the Alliance received its first
blow in North Carolina.
Owing to the wide spread Influence
OF Alliance literature and the great dis.
satisfaction of the laboring masses,
Mr.. Cleveland was elected President in
1892.
Well posted as to Mr.. Oevelend'e
political views on the silver question,
thousands of Democratic Alliancemen
in North Carolina protested against
his candidacy Offering to support
the State Democratic ticket il the
chalice of Clevelandism was taken
from their lips. Their wishes were not
regarded, and trickery and treachery
were resorted to for the purpose Of Oe.
stroying the Alliance. Enemies of the
Alliance with unblushing efrontery,
advocated the adoption of the Alliance
demands as the platform of tee Demo
cratic party. These demands were