AUTHOR OF "THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRICE," AND "THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES THE NATIONAL ORGAN OF THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE. "In the great household of Nature, the farmer stands at the door of the bread-room, and ILLUSTRATED. LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORN THE ALLIANCE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1891. COPYRIGHT, 1891, BY LEE C. HASCALL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Sold only by Subscription. TYPOGRAPHY BY J. S. CUSHING & Co., BOSTON, U.S.A. PRESSWORK BY BERWICK & SMITH, BOSTON, U.S.A. HE1485 PREFACE. THE organization known as the Farmers' Alliance has assumed such vast proportions, and attracted such widespread attention, that a detailed, authentic history of its origin, growth, aims, and purposes, has become a necessity. At the urgent solicitation of many of the brethren, and moved by a desire to serve the best interests of the order, I have undertaken the task of placing before the public, and within reach of all, a work of this character. In doing so, I have enjoyed exceptional facilities for obtaining correct information and original documents and records, and have also had the hearty co-operation and aid of many of the best members of the order. The number and value of the contributions from this source, found in this book, will bear testimony to these statements. I have thus been enabled to drink at the fountain-head of all Alliance information, regarding its conception, advancement, and its present status. All this I have tried to present faithfully and truthfully, for the consideration of my readers. The history which I have given proves the saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction," and that the hand of Providence can be seen in the shaping of the conditions of men. This book is written to make men and women better; to teach them their duties as citizens; to inculcate brotherly love and neighborly kindness; to propagate truth and discard wrong; to increase the power of education, and thereby decrease the disasters of ignorance; to clearly show that the doctrine and |