140 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



purposes and plans, and an earnest and intelligent devo- 

 tion to the cause; that harmony of feeling and action, 

 coupled with a persistent effort, based upon the great cen- 

 tral thought or fundamental idea, that in things essential 

 there should be unity, and in all things charity and broth- 

 erly kindness to one another, and good will to all mankind, 

 are necessary to insure strength, influence and final tri- 

 umph to our cause; that the evils of which we complain 

 and the condition we would improve are the growth of 

 many years, aided largely by class legislation, and that it 

 will require bold efforts and long and continuous struggles 

 to change and better" them; that it must be accomplished 

 largely through a change of public sentiment, produced 

 by agitation, that will arouse and enlighten the masses, 

 and that those who desire and intend to aid in the glorious 

 work must enlist in the war. 



"We shall constantly strive to suppress personal, 

 local, sectional and national prejudices ; all unhealthful 

 rivalry and all selfish ambition, and teach that, as citizens 

 of one government, we should feel a common interest in 

 its affairs, and that our patriotism and good will for one 

 another should not be measured by sections or geograph- 

 ical lines to suit the purposes of politicians. 



"By our frequent meetings we confidently believe we 

 shall be able to break up the isolated habits of farmers, 

 improve their social condition, increase their social pleas- 

 ures, and strengthen their confidence in and friendship for 

 each other. 



"We propose to make the study and improvement of 

 practical agriculture in all its branches a part of the Alli- 

 ance mission, that its standard may be raised, its profits 

 increased and its iollowers made more prosperous and con- 

 tented. 



"We shall encourage more diversity of farming; the 

 production of less cotton, more grain and meat; selling 



