296 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



be-remembered sixth day of August, 1886 ; taking into consideration the 

 fact that the Alliance has had no money and, until latterly, no papers to 

 champion its course; no trained speakers, no light of experience by 

 which to guide its course ; relying wholly upon the honor, integrity, and 

 patriotism of the people ; is it not strange that, opposed as it has been 

 by the combined influence of money, represented by the national 

 banking system and railroad corporations, land monopolies, and other 

 privileged interests, which it has boldly attacked and defied, the 

 press, with all of its power, party prejudices ; with all of this opposition, 

 I repeat, is it not strange that it even existed? It is more wonderful 

 still that it has attained to the great success which it now enjoys. 

 History cannot show a parallel. In the next Congress there will be 

 forty representatives, and four, if not five, senators who come pledged 

 to its national demands. It has, through education, by discussion in 

 its Sub-Alliances upon economic questions, made its power felt 

 throughout the entire country. It is gaining in numbers, intelligence, 

 and influence, with a rapidity almost incredible. It now has hundreds 

 of newspapers defending its demands. It has developed from its own 

 rank journalists of the highest order, and thinkers second to none. Its 

 public speakers are now legion, and among them are some of the most 

 eloquent and logical of the day. Could any people make more progress 

 than the farmers have made through the Alliance in the last four years ? 

 In that time the Alliance has raised the farmer from a class absolutely 

 without influence in the government, to one with more power to mould 

 its policy than any one other in the land. 



The order is now confederating with other labor organizations, having 

 like objects, adopting demands upon which all can agree, remembering, 

 " in things essential unity, in all things charity " ; its influence is being 

 widened, its power extended, and its effectiveness increased day by 

 day. God grant that its progress may continue, and its efforts to edu- 

 cate in the science of economic government be so successful that all 

 class laws may be wiped from the statute books, and equal and exact jus- 

 tice be maintained for all alike, from the highest to the lowest of our 

 citizens. If wisdom guide, and patriotism lead, in the future as in the 

 past, the Alliance, by its education of the masses, will have created a 

 public opinion that cannot be resisted. 



The second declared purpose is to obtain equal rights to all, and espe- 

 cial privileges to none. When the Alliance effects this purpose, then all 

 will have been accomplished that is possible or desired through political 

 action ; and that this grand consummation is much nearer than when the 

 Alliance was organized in 1879, I believe no one will attempt to deny. 



