330 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



have cause to rejoice. Whether it will continue or not, depends 

 entirely upon the proper application of the sense of duty which obtains 

 among the membership. 



The Alliance movement, during its brief existence, has done more to 

 educate the great mass of people in the principles of government than 

 all the schools and colleges have in the past century. The people 

 are, through the methods made use of by the Alliance, learning the 

 rights and duties of citizenship with a rapidity and clearness truly alarm- 

 ing to the chronic politician. The Alliance has taught the wealth- 

 producers of the North and South that their interests are identical; 

 that it is their duty to eliminate all sectional feeling, and work together 

 for the common good. It has done more. It has taught them to look 

 upon all attempts to array one portion against another, or revive old 

 animosities, as a cruel wrong, and intended to serve political purposes. 

 They are learning to class the average politician as an enemy to labor in 

 production, and in the near future will put this knowledge to a practical 

 test. The fact is being made apparent that all labor, whether it be 

 found amid the snow and ice of the North, the rough and rugged 

 portions of the West, or the more mild and balmy sections of the South, 

 must stand together for mutual protection. The Alliance is the initial 

 movement which, if continued, will bring about a unification of senti- 

 ment based upon questions of national importance, that will benefit 

 labor, wipe out all sectionalism, and prove a lasting blessing to the 

 whole people. 



The objects taught in the Alliance tend to make the membership 

 better and stronger men and women, and fit them more properly for 

 the duties and responsibilities they may be called to bear. In this lies 

 the secret power of the Alliance, and with its increase come more 

 certain prospects of future achievements. No matter what differences 

 may at first appear in the Alliance, in regard to education, morals, social 

 relations, or matters financial or material, a proper sense of duty, wisely 

 and justly applied, will in time produce one united, self-respecting, self- 

 reliant, and earnest organization of well-meaning, duty-loving members. 

 As I have said before, the duties and responsibilities of membership are 

 found together ; they are almost inseparable, and demand not only 

 watchful attention, but a strict adherence. No man or woman can 

 long neglect either and maintain their position in ordinary society, 

 much less as members of an organization. It therefore is incumbent 

 upon every one, who has his own or others' welfare at stake, to see to 

 it that every obligation is carefully discharged, and every duty fully 

 performed. 



