The Advocate and news., 1898-10-12
THE WORK OF THE FARM
ERS' ALLIANCE.
BY MRS EMMA TROUDNER,
President Of the Kansas State Alliance.
BY MIS-. EMMA rRoUDNEI

Through its teachings agriculture and
kindred pursuits have been placed upon
a higher plane and its position defined
as worthy the respect and appreciation Of
all thinking people.
The gulf between city and country has
been bridged by blending their common
interests and men are drawn together to
exchange the courtesies Of life and thus
cement the ties of true brotherhood,
which exist among all men If we are
children of universal Divine parent.
It's teachings were the first visible means
of uniting the North and South. The
Mason and Dixon line received its first
intimatiOn of utter insignifiCance in sep
arating people who were unit in pur-
pose to elevate and protect the agricul-
tural interests of all. The North loved
and honored Col. L. L. Polk, who was
our leader. Through his wise general
ship and his goodness of heart the bond
OF brotherhood was cemented, never
again to be as of old. This great work
commenced more than twelve years ago
has received added cOmmendation in the
settlement of the Cuban question--an
entire nation bestowing love and honor
to men of the South who have shown
by their ability and loyalty the same
spirit Of devotion to humanity by es-
pousing the cause of the oppressed and
suffering as that Of Northern men. In
broadening our horizon the vibrations Of
life have been manifest in an increased
interest in social, political and moral
progress. Through these influences
changes are continually taking place
things are adjusting themselves in life
as is so lately witnessed in the collection
Of men of refinement and culture with
their brother men whose environments
had directed their energies in an Oppo-
site direction, the man with money and
the man with none, the man who had
achieved political distinction and the
unknown, the humanitarian and the
selfish, all working for a common pur-
pose. A regiment Of men made up from
every trade and profession, the most
famous in the war with Spain-"R Roose-
velt's Rough Riders" has only carried
forward that effort for brotherhood be-
gan and worked for in our organization.
The workers In our ranks are few COM
pared with few years ago. The sym
pathy Of many others who are true to
the principles is with us and has an in
fluence to strengthen our efforts. Some
loiter along the wayside, waiting for
some one else to do their work. The
politician thinks the Alliance has ac-
cOmplished its purpose, which, from his
standpoint was simply to make it pos
slble to bring him before the people as
a suitable fellow for political prefer
ment and help him into the position.
We as an organization realize that
systems of thought, once put in motion,
cause us later to act; acts produce re-
suits, and results are far-reaching in
their effects.
The Alliance has sown the seed
thoughts which have resulted in action,
and action means better conditions.
The parable of the loaves and fishes
finds a realization in these seed thoughts
which determined effort has sown, and
still it multiplies and feeds multitude
Of people and twelve baskets full remain.
ready for the hungry inquiring mind.
One party owns and manipulates ma
chine; other parties must do the same.
1t is the inner or secret work of certain
men to intrigue and set in motion the
forces which will bring victory for the
party without regard to means or meth
Ods Through political action of party
machine" we can never hope for reform.
The regeneration of present conditions
must begin in the center of our being
and manifest from within to the with
out Policy will take back seat and
action will result, because it is right.
The leaven Is working. The seed is
sown long since for better and higher
development, and to-day we find men
and women asking for the higher
thought which leads to unselfish action
and true brotherhood.
The Farmers Alliance was a star of
promise to us in many things. It's aims
are as high its purpose as noble as in
the early days Of our order. Our motto
is the national one, Through difficult