FARMERS' ALLIANCE AND INDUSTRIAL UNION. 149 



the prosperity and liberty of all classes, and the stability 

 and power of our nation. An organization whose funda- 

 mental principles are founded upon equity and justice and 

 whose cardinal doctrines inspire peace on earth, a love of 

 liberty and good will to all mankind; an organization 

 whose rise and progress is without a parallel, and which 

 is destined in no distant day to embrace the entire agricul- 

 ture and laborers of the world, and whose power and 

 influence shall protect their liberty and interest from the 

 encroachment of rings, trusts and soulless combinations, 

 which are absorbing all of the profits of labor, and thereby 

 paralyzing the industries of our country. 



( ' The wonderful growth of our order during the brief 

 period of ten years, and the rapid strides it has taken in 

 establishing its various business enterprises, based upon 

 fair and equitable principles, have had a salutary influence 

 upon commerce and excited the admiration and respect of 

 the business world. 



"It has also aroused the hostility of the greedy and 

 avaricious trusts, rings and monopolistic combinations to 

 such an extent that great and persistent efforts are put 

 forth by them to thwart us in every attempt at reform or 

 effort to correct the prevailing evils that now environ and 

 threaten the destruction of our industrial classes. 



" Ours is no common effort. We are approaching a 

 period of social and political development that will test the 

 wisdom and patriotism of our whole people, and will 

 demand the most guarded and conservative action of our 

 greatest statesmen. 



4 ' The weal or woe of onr nation depends upon the 

 intelligent action of the industrial and conservative classes 

 through organization, education and co-operation. 



"Brethren, in view of the above facts, and recogniz- 

 ing you as representing the intelligence of the various 

 State organizations in this, our highest legislative body (a 



