94 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



These men beheld with dismay the absolute indifference 

 everywhere manifested of the dangerous tendencies of the 

 times, and boldly declared themselves ready to labor "for 

 the education of the agricultural classes, in the science of 

 economical government. ' ' But knowing the rock upon 

 which other organizations had split, they were willing to 

 lay down party prejudice and "labor in a strictly non- 

 partisan spirit;" to take for their motto: "In things 

 essential unity, in all things charity." They desired to 

 better their condition, "in entally, morally, socially and 

 financially." They believed in the universal brotherhood 

 of man. They held that the producers of wealth should 

 enjoy the fruits of their toil. They abhorred sectional strife 

 and labored to secure harmony. They deprecated class 

 legislation, but avowed themselves in favor of "maintaining 

 law and order." Of the Order, they declared that "the 

 brightest jewels it garners are the tears of the widows and 

 orphans," and that its imperative duty was "to visit the 

 homes where lacerated hearts are bleeding, and assuage 

 the sufferings of a brother or a sister." They proclaimed 

 that "its laws are reason and equity, its cardinal doctrines 

 inspire purity of thought and life, and its intentions are 

 ' peace on earth and good will towards men. ' ' ' 



Proclaiming these doctrines to the world it went forth 

 fighting for equal justice for all. The only wonder is, 

 that, with these grand principles, based upon human rights, 

 it met- with any opposition. The purity of its purposes 

 might have been sung by the angels of Heaven, but they 

 would have met with opposition from the demons of hell. 

 An organization founded upon these grand principles was 

 not to succeed without being tried in the crucible of 

 stubborn opposition. The emissaries of Satan are always 

 busy. Not only was its progress greatly impeded by the 

 determined and obstinate opposition from without, but at 

 times its very existence was threatened with commotion 



