NATIONAL ALLIANCE. 59 



organized into an association, set forth our declaration of intentions, we 

 therefore resolve : 



1. To labor for the education of the agricultural classes in the science of 

 economic government, in a strictly non-partisan spirit, and to bring about a 

 more perfect union of said classes. 



2. That we demand equal rights to all and special favors to none. 



3. That we return to the old principle of letting the office seek the man, 

 instead of the man seeking the office. 



4. To indorse the motto, "In things essential unity, and in all things 

 charity." 



5. To develop a better state mentally, morally, socially, and financially. 



6. To create a better understanding for sustaining our civil officers in 

 maintaining law and order. 



7. To constantly strive to secure entire harmony and good will to all 

 mankind, and brotherly love among ourselves. 



8. To suppress personal, local, sectional, and national prejudices, all 

 unhealthful rivalry, and all selfish ambition. 



9. The brightest jewels which it garners are the tears of widows and 

 orphans, and its imperative commands are to visit the homes where lacerated 

 hearts are bleeding ; to assuage the sufferings of a brother or sister ; bury the 

 dead; care for the widows and educate the orphans; to exercise charity 

 towards offenders ; to construe words and deeds in their most favorable light, 

 granting honesty of purpose and good intentions to others ; and to protect 

 the National Farmers 1 Alliance and Co-operative Union until death. Its laws 

 are reason and equity ; its cardinal doctrines inspire purity of thought and 

 life ; its intention is, '* Peace on earth and good will to man." 



ARTICLE I. 



Section i . This body shall be known as the National Farmers' Alliance 

 and Co-operative Union of America, with power to make its own constitution 

 and by-laws. 



Sec. 2. The National body shall be composed of delegates from the vari- 

 ous organizations holding charters from, accepting the secret work of, and 

 confQrming to the constitution and by-laws of this National organization. 



Sec. 3. Each State organization that complies with the above require- 

 ments shall be entitled to one delegate for each four counties, or fraction of 

 four counties, organized in that State. 



Sec. 4. No person shall be eligible to membership in the National body 

 until he shall have attained the age of twenty-five years. 



ARTICLE II. 



Section i . The regular annual meeting of the National body shall be on 

 the second Wednesday in October of each year, at ten o'clock A.M., and at 

 such place as may from time to time be decided by the body, or such officer 

 or committee as they may delegate that duty. 



Sec. 2. The officers of the National Farmers' Alliance and Co-operative 



