294 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



marvellous growth of the order, and at the next meeting, in August, 

 1885, there were 550 Sub- Alliances in good working order. The great- 

 est growth of the order in Texas was from August, 1885, to August, 1886. 

 During that year 2200 Sub-Alliances were added, making the number of 

 subs in the State 2750. 



At Cleburne, August, 1886, the celebrated Cleburne Demands were 

 promulgated, and the declaration of purposes made what they are to-day ; 

 and from that time on the Alliance has been compelled to meet the 

 opposition of the party politicians, and those who were interested in the 

 continuation of class laws. 



This rapid increase in number continued, and at the called meeting 

 at Waco in January, 1887, there were between three and four thousand 

 Sub-Alliances in Texas. Up to this time the order had not extended 

 beyond the State ; but the time had now come when, by joining with 

 the Farmers' Union of Louisiana, the National Farmers' Alliance and 

 Co-operative Union was formed. 



During the year 1889 the Wheel and Alliance were consolidated, and 

 the order was known as the Farmers and Laborers' Union. Delegates 

 were elected to meet on the third day of December, 1889, at St. Louis. 

 From December 3, 1889, to December 3, 1890, the growth has been with- 

 out a parallel in the history of the world. At the Ocala, Florida, meet- 

 ing, December 2, the following States and Territories were represented : 

 Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, 

 Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, 

 Maryland, Kansas, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, 

 Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indian Territory, Virginia, West Virginia, New 

 York, California, with the order started in ten other States. The mem- 

 bership was, at that time, over 2,000,000. 



In reviewing the progress of the order, these truths are plainly taught : 

 First, there must be a necessity ; second, the objects of the order must 

 be just, and in the interest of those sought to be organized ; and third, 

 those placed in control must be patriots, working for the good of the 

 whole, and not personal aggrandizement. These three conditions have 

 so far been met by the Alliance. To-day, in looking .over the entire 

 order, I can see no sign of disintegration. It is, as a whole, stronger 

 than ever before ; and as long as the necessity continues, and its purity 

 of purpose is maintained, the Alliance will continue to grow in numbers 

 and power. 



Let us notice the progress of the Alliance in the accomplishment of 

 its purpose, as at first declared, to labor for the education of the agri- 

 cultural classes in a strictly non-partisan spirit. 



