The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-09-28

sideration in the legal and economical
regulations of the country. But the
farmer while an important class is
not the only useful class of our
citizenship. Every legitimate bust
ness benefits the whole population.
We therefore should labor in our
sphere, not as anemies, but as allies Of
other useful professions, and do
nothing with the sole desire to in
iure others.
There was time when the farmers
were the happy contented class of
our country, and yeomanry of
pros porous home owners, no matter
how humble the home, is the bulwark
OF a country. Our farmers are not
in prosperous condition to-day.
There are those who either deny this
or attribute it to laziness of the
farmers, but in the next breath con-
tradict themselves by attributing it
to oyerproduction.
The Alliance would afford oppor-
tunity for a study of the causes Of
this condition and for exchange of
views as to the best methods of pro-
ducing crops, raising and fattening
animals, preparation of fertilizers,
improving lands and highways;
marketing crops, and many details
in farm work, etc, and the best
ideas could be put into practical use.
1t could arrange programmes for
farmers institutes to be held in the
neighborhood. Among other things
it might also arrange for system Of
storage warehouses, etc, or some
means by which the crops would not
be thrown on the market in lump,
but the sales be regulated, SO as to
place the different non perishable
crops, especially cotton, on the
market Systematically throughout
the year. And last, but by no means
least, and which we have not hitherto
appreciated and developed as we
should have done, is the social
feature of the Order. We are more
orless insulated and need these gather
ings for the best development of our
young people into noble and useful
women and men, as we'll as for the
benefit of the older people.
We meet few persons who were
ever members of the Order who do not
say that they ''are as good Alliance
men as ever, but" They then re-
late some grievance which is fire.
quentIy imaginary or the result of
their own conduct and which could
be easily remedied by their own
action.
The Alliance elevated the farmers
as no other institution ever has done.
1t taught them to think and by it
they learned more of matters in
which they interested themselves
than they had learned in all the years
before. That there were some cranks
and men hasty to act was to be eN-
pected. The interests of Caesar may
in some cases have overshadOwed
those of Rome, yet the aim Of the
Alliance was the good of the whole,
not of the few.
The necessity for organization and
the advantages of cooperation have
only increased with each succeeding
year since we first joined hands in
1888. Every other class realizing
that in union there is strength, is
united. In this age of organization,
we too must organize.
We therefore cordially invite all
eligible persons to unite with us in
the endeavor to rebuild the Alliance,
with the great objects set forth in
our Declaration of Purposes - to
develop better state mentally
morally, socially, and financially: to
educate ourselves upon all matters
affecting our welfare; to maintain
law and order; to suppress personal,
local, and national prejudices, and to
promote in every possible way the
best and highest interests of our
people and cur country.
w. A. GRAHAM,
T. i. PARKER,
V. n. SEAWELL
j. S. MITCHELL,
w. B. FLEMING,
FRANK f. EMORY,
Committee.