HISTORY OF THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE. 135 



that organization was the only hope of the farmer, and as 

 the Alliance was presented as strictly a farmers' organi- 

 zation, its ranks were rapidly filled with all those who 

 felt disposed to unite^and resist the encroachments of 

 other 6rgauizations, and who realized that it required 

 organization to meet organized power.' 7 He called the 

 attention of the delegates to the many important ques- 

 tions which would jperhaps be brought before the body, 

 and reminded them of the deplorable condition of the 

 farmers, and the causes which led to the necessity of 

 organization. "This," said he, "is a gathering of rep- 

 resentative men from States, men who represent the 

 greatest of all industries, assembled here, not merely for 

 the pleasures and emoluments to be gained by their at- 

 tendance, but, I trust, imbued with proper conceptions of 

 the great responsibility resting upon them, thoroughly 

 alive to the conditions of the times, and firmly resolved to 

 work out the proper and true solution of how to relieve 

 the depressed condition of agriculture in our beautiful 

 southland, and, when found, to stand shoulder to shoulder 

 in one solid phalanx till the effort is crowned with vic- 

 tory/' Delegates representing the Wheel from several 

 States were present at this meeting and took part in the 

 proceedings. The following Declaration of Purposes 

 was adopted: 



Declaration of Purposes of the Farmers' Alliance and Co-opera- 

 tive Union of America. 



PREAMBLE. 



u WHERE AS, The wealth, strength and permanency 

 of a government depends mainly on the prosperity and 

 success of its agriculture and labor, and in these being 

 kept in a healthy state, lies a vigerous germ of all true 

 patriotism, and that pure and elevated moral public senti- 

 ment necessary to vitalize and keep in active operation 



