THE STATE ALLIANCE. THE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT J. W. STOKES. Delivered at the Annual Meeting- of the Alliance at Spartan barg-, S. C, July 23, 1891?A Paper Which Will be Read With Interest by Al llancemen and Xon-A I llancemen. OrangeburgEnterprise and Alliance Monitor. Brethren !?A year has rolled round since the honor and responsibility of standing at the bead of the Alliance column in this State was laid upon uie at Greenville. It was nigh nqnor. I can conceive of none higher than the leadership of au oppressed people, groan? ing under unequal burdens ; and yet, breth? ren, the elevation, Haltering as It might well be to a young man, a comparative stranger at that time to most of you personally, lacks a very great deal la fact of being a subject for elation. It 1b scarcely logical, to say the least, to speak or think of elevation contemporaneous? ly with weighting down?of cluvating'a man while weighting him down with labor aud responsibility. Yet that is precisely the situ? ation of the man who Is elevated to the pres? idency of this great organization In our State; and It is the paradoxical idea prevalent in the popular mind, with reference to all pub? lic positions. It is especially true, however, of the position In question, because there is so beaten track. It Is a new organization with new purposes and uutrled methods. To many a man mmiliar with public duty, these now paths would have occasioned little study and anxiety. Given new, untried paths and a new- man to trace those paths, and yon bavo all the conditions to Insure Intense thought and ceaseless labor?particularly when possibilities or weal or woe to a numer? ous and confiding people are wrapped np in the labyrinth through which those uutrled paths lend. But however paradoxical, however illogical the situation, St is a fact enunciated long ago by the Great Teacher when he said : "Whoso? ever of yon will be cblcfest shall (thereby) be servant of all." And so It Is?the chief of? ficer of the State Alliance Is the chief ser . vant of the order In the State?he is the ser? vant of more than 40,000 masters. - Always and everywhere great honor and gre*a labor hunt In couples. Greatest labor attends greatest honor; and It is equally true that greatest honor attends and Is Insepara? ble from greatest labor In an honorable cause. Falloess or service rather than brilliancy of achievement Is the supreme test x These considerations have compensated in ' some measure for conscious Inability to meas? ure up to my own standard of attainment lu -the administration of my office; aud - enable roe to restore to yon with good conscience the trust bestowed a year ugo. - I claim only one qualification for this work as an offset to my many disabilities?it Is the same attributed to one of the Israellllsh kings?as the culmnlnation of Uzzlab's qual? ities, It was said of him "for - he loved hus? bandry." -This king was "marvelously help? ed" In the discharge or his public duties, pre? sumably by this love; aud certainly your humble servant has been marvelously helped by his love for husbandry and Its votaries. Feeling that to him who makes It so, any call? ing is a high catling; profoundly Impressed that the cause Is a Just cause, the occasion op? portune. I have discharged the delicate and onerous duties of the presidency with a cer? tain pride and satisfaction. In turning over to you ugaln the trust com? mitted to mo, prem 11 me to cull your atteu ? tlon to the I. condition of the order along the lines of work prescribed by the con? stitution. - 1. As. to its Growth.?a. In our own . State at the beginning or my term of office, owing to the diligence of my predecessor, the work was thoroughly organized except sev? eral coast con n ties. These counties have been . visited more than once by our organizer, and though the sections visited are sparsely set? tled the results are apparent. There has been some Iobs of membership in the State, due to peculiar conditions; but the loss has been g more than compensated by the gain lu hom? ogeneity and compactness or organization. b. Over the country at large, the increase .of membership has been nnparallcd in the history of popular organization. Before the year closes, forty states will have been organ? ized. Even staid, conservative New England, confidently counted upon by the opposition as an effectual barrier to all heresy political as well as religious, beut before this irresisti? ble tidal wave like cruln before the reaper. . The country, that formerly burned her own heretics, actually embraced the Alliance ??heresy" and blessed the heretics, who bore to them tidings of thlR heresy. The ground-swell is as broad as the conlln entand as long as the combined length ol the United States and Canada. Four million men, more than one-third the total vote cast . for the president in the last election, feel the touch of elbow from Gulf to Lakes and from Cape Cod to the Golden Gate, as with muffled ?? tread they march on the entrenchments of monopoly. . f y-v? .2. Financially.?The State Alliance has a handsome balance to Its credit over and above ail liabilities. Comparison with previous re ports will show a gradual Increase of this bal auce from year to year; and it would there? fore be wise toinvxst the -bnlanco in "some permanent way for the benefit of the order. It would not only be wise to put these' Idle funds to some beneflclent use; It is positive! v unwise.and contrary.to sound business polle'v not to do-so. The financial condition of-the State Alli? ance is a fair index to that of the County ?Al? liances which report to It; and theCotiuty Al Dances In turn to that of the-jBubs. In a broaded sense the-financial condition of the order, measured by individual cortdl tlonsJo the aggregate Is steadily Improving. UndeMhe business methods inaugurated by the Alliance, the Individual-membership has steadily improved in financial standing. Through the agency of our -State Exchange and system of business agents, an emancipa? tion of the poor farmer from the unjust op presslon of the past hus been wrought out; and every where a spirit ot freedom and in? dependence, a sense ot self-respect and dig? nity are observable. Here Is and must al? ways be our cbiel source of gratulutiou, as it Is also one of our chief sources of strength. When the order neglects its poor, Itnegiects the prime reason for its existence, and Is shorn of its chief strength. It Is as well to bear In mind, perhaps, that while the Alliance has wrested important concessions from the commcrical world, those concessions have not operated to tho exclu? sive benefit of the Alllaacemen, nor yet of the fanner exclusively. The non-Alliance farmer has enjoyed almost equally with his Alliance brother the triumph over the Jute and other truBta. Every class of purchasers baa enjoyed the fruit of the Alliance victo? ries, for the evident reason that trade conces? sions cannot loug be confined to artificial lines either as to persons or com mod l lies. These concessions have made accommoda? tion easier to all classes of poor people, but the Alliance does not begrudge the benefits accruing to others, equally with itself. It does not rob us, und it is lu accord with the true spirit of Alliance helpfulness. Neither can the scope of the results attain? ed be measured by theactuul volume of bus lne?s flowing through our trudo channels, though that is large. As a mere menace, these business methods of the Farmers' Alli? ance have made themselves felt even In re? mote trade centers. The money centers have recognized the stupendous possibilities of such a system; these possibilities are daily entering into their calculations and bids for Alliance patronage are the result. Though some of our ventures In this field have come to grief, the class of ventures that have suf fered disaster, must serve as a vultiablc point? er In future. As u rule it is best for us to leave to those who are skilled In mercantile methods tho management of their own capital. Let them furnish the capital and the experience while we furnish the patronage. Let us beware of surrendering or neglecting those agencies which have wrought such far reaching results. Among the most effectual of the agencies contributing to this result is tho State Ex? change. Its favorable influence upon trade has been far-reaching and incalculable. Its arrangement for covering our cotton lastyear should alone commend iltooursympathy aud support. Yet, Its patronage by the order is not what it should be; aud it is not in touch with the order to the extent that Us manage? ment desires, and as is necessary to a realiza? tion of Its full possibilities. In my judgment this is due to the fact that its trade Is restrict? ed to stockholding Alliances. It would be scarcely Just to those who have put up their money to admit others to equal privileges In the enjoyment of that money. On the other hand, it Is scarcely right that the order generally should contribute tobulld up an Institution over whose management It has no control, and in whoso earn lugs, due to the prestige aud support of the whole, it has no share. I recommend, threfore, that n committee he appointed to confer with that body lu an ef lort to solidify tho entire business of the or? der and send It through tho Exchange ou an equitable basis. To equalize the advantages as between stockholding and non-stockhold? ing members, a small fixed per cent, should be guaranteed on stock actually paid in, and let all earnings over this amount bo turned into the State Alliance treasury to bo used by it as a propaganda fund. Of course a flight advance on cost to cover this idea would be aecessaey, but if the broth? erhood knew this money was coming back to them in this way, It would be a light bur? den. Then let the whole business bo submitted lo a board of control, elected by the State Alli? ance or by a Joint board. This would consolidate our people on a bus? iness plan that would tide them over serious convulsion on other lines. 3. Morally.?The masses or the order un? der the stimulus and tho teaching or the Al? liance are occupying higher ground than they did a year ugo. The sense or obligation is ap? preciating, und a distinct tendency Is observ? able toward interpretation or contracts ac- i cording to their spirit rather than I heir letler. ( IA greater caution is abservnble niso In tlx making or contracts, Some expulsions buv< occurred for breach of coutract; and conduct unbecoming Alllnuccmen; but tbe nutnbei or theso deniornble necessities has beet; small as compared with tbe membership There is a deep, moral significance in tbe fact that 4,000,000 men meet periodically through out these United States for the discussion o economic questions In a non-pariisan splrlt and that these meetings are opened and clos? ed will? pfciyer. 4. Edocationally. ? Here has beet wrought the greatest work of the Alllauce The evldenclesof Intelligent thought untram meled, as far as possible, by partisan or per? sonal prestige, areabundant. Thepertlnenc* and pungency of observation and crlticlsn upon all matters of public import, is fre? quently surprising to him who comes Into no tuul coutact with this class of our people thut hitherto bus taken little note of public af lulrs, and rarely assumed to express an oplu Ion upon economic problems. Actual con? tact with the life of this people reveals t keenness of precepliou and a discriminating sense ol Justice that penetrates adventitious circumstances aud goes to tho root of tin matter with startling precision. The awakening of this class of peopleUo an intelligent interest in and study of ecouotnh problems, under the stimulus of Alliance or ganizutlon, Is one of the most healthful am Hopeful signs of the times. This grand university ot farmers, meeting statedly in more limn a thousand sub-Alli auce in this Suite to study social and polltl cal conditions In a non-partisan way. is on< of the most Inspiring spectacles ol our era Here the masses receive the leaven of thought fulness, and when the masses begin to think simultaneously the world begins to move. 5. Socially?This function of the Alli? ance has not realized its highest possibilltle! and yet tho resultR, Inadequate as they are are still Invaluable. "As Iron sharpenell iron son man the countenance ot his Irlend.' Community of interest finds its fullest ex pressmn, its sirougest bond in freest sneln Intercourse, and in this field finds It fullcs fruition. Along each and all these lines of work pro jected bv the Alliance. Its achievements havi oeen marvelous, aud In the highest degrei beneficial. . ? , A volume might bo filled upon each divi slou; but this cursory review must suffice I Invite your attention to some gcucnil con slderatious pertinent to the time and order. ii. as to politics. The order has maintained its integrity upoi these lines. It has adhered to the prescrlbei Hue of discussion in a non-partisan sense The danger apprehended by many that 1 was devoting undue attention to politlca questions to'the neglect of farming, is amplj answered by tho suggestion of my predeces sor a year ago, that Its success in ralslm crops has been steadily increasing?ludect last year which was marked by most exten slve and intensive application to politics oi tbe partor tho farmers, during au unpreced? ented period, was also marked by the mos unpnrulled results in tho production of ou greai staple. In tbls field the Alliance has been a mnga zine or stupendous potential energy. As ni organization it took no part in politics dl rectly?either In Slate or nation; and ye having trained Its educative forces largely it the politico economic problems of the day its influence lias been everywhere reit. Som few sub-Allianees relatively, over-steppet constitutional limitations lust year at the be ginning or the State campaign. Tbe laps must bo attributed, however, to tbe emer gency tbruBt upon them by a hostility, rathe thaii to thegeuius of the organization. Tli instances ot sucli indiscretion were isolated As soon, too, as attention was called to It ? compromising tendency through tbe Cottoi Plant, the abuse materially lessened; und a soon as political clubs were formed, furnish ing a legitimate and adequate medium {of oj presston to their pent up feeling, tbe abus oeascd entirely. The outspoken utlerauces of the leader was against such action and tbe order was re minded that Its function was purely In th way of presentation of truth in a non-parli snn way and the stimulation or thought. Pui - tber than this the Alliance in its organl/ei capabltv does not and dare not interfere will tho political or religious affiliation of ll members. The fullest and freest discussion Is encoui aged and Invited In the order; aud under th con victim) that a question Is never sett lei until settled right, It is alwuys allowable t< re-open a quesliou that has been frcquentl; decided. v in. tue cotton plant. The partisan press is. with a few exceptions solidly against our demnnds. Tbe lew ex ceptions are to be found among tho week!; county papers und they uro doing valuubl serv ice. The dallies are all, so far ns I know, agalns some of the more important of those de mands. This condition has made the duties of tin Stute organ exceedingly onerous; and si no they issue six times to our once, has compel! ed the appropriation of more space to deren s against their assaults than has been the do sire ol its management. o - .The demands and the reasons for thorn hnv< been kept before the people with unfaltering . constancy; because they were the demand of the order, und because they are right am just. As far as possible the paper has striven t< stimulate interest in public alia Irs Iu an in tclllgcnt way, und every means have beet uscu to get our people to express their though through its columns. However crude.th thought or unintelligible Its expression, 1 there was evident behind it an honest pui pose and elfurt at thought, It lias been put It shape for publication, oller.tiines at great ex pensoof lime aud labor. It is one of'the proudest thoughts we have thai Uiere is apparent a considerable awaken Ing among our people who are untrained ii grammatical expression.and that tnis awak cnlng is due to the sympathetic attention t< their cmruunlculious in the snue organ. Equally gratifying is the evidence of lm provementin technical sit ill ;ir writers union; a large number of those who write ?frequent ly. Hundreds are subscribing who canno themselves read; and some of the produc Hons that have awakened the wisest com meat and have been most widely copied fron our columns have been compi sjd llternlij between the plow bandies or at ine mill or it the shop. Wolle tho organ has received generou sympathy aud support, it must be ooiifebsec that our people do not read it generally. It Is of the utmost importance thai somi means be devised by this body to get this pa per and other approved literature Into tin hands of every member of the order. Some such step is absolutely necessary mi der the exigencies of the times. Good booki aud clean weekly papers are necessary to ou organization, and to our people in tills pro gresslve and aggressive ago of the world. Besides ibey are au investment that pay: 100 per cent, per annum, and there arc no buc crop years in this Held. I recommend that this body consider Hit propriety of establishing a propagandi bureau mat shall furnish the Alliance Hiera lure at co.*t. In order to relieve this suggestion of anj apparent seifisli considerations, and lo rollevi this body of any embarrassment In perfect lug a pluu, growing out of the lndlvidua ownership of the Slate organ, I am author jzed testate while the owners of the Stan organ are not eager to part with it, as an in vestment, they are willing to turn it over ot a controlling interest therein to the Stau Alllance upon an equitable basis. The rec ommendatlon herein made is made in con ncctlon with thut condition referred to tin der ihe head of llnnnclul condition. iv. the cotton fkohlkm. 1. The growers of cotton are coufronlet with it most serious condition. The most re liable statistics point to a large surplus of tin staple?probably over a million bales. In view of this contingency it Is or the utmost importance thut this body Uike some action looking lo umulioralion or a condition bord? ering upon calamiiy; and I recommend thai a committee be appointed lo confer with oth or Stale Alliances, with a view to securing the call ol a convention or cotton growers? non-Alliance as well as Allianco, colored iu well as white, to meet us soon ns practicable for conference and action. 2. The Iniquities environing tho market? ing o; cotton, oven under favorable condi? tions as lo yield and price are outrageous In many instances und should not bo tolerated, The-Alliance should appoint trustworthy men at each cotton market to sample; grade and weigh cotton, and teil Hie fanner what price it should bring in the market that day upon Hie basis of telegraphic quotations. The salary of such a mau could be easily paid by a charge of ten cents, per bale; while the saving to the larmei In grading, and weights alone would aggregate millions every season. It was developed iu the course of ibu wheat elevator investigation, ordered by Hie Alli? ance legislature of Minnesota, that a very large proportion of the wheat bought as sec? ond grade and for which the farmer was paid second grade price, was sold out as first grade, making a clear steal of mil'Ions of dol? lars out of the farmers pockets o,. f ry year. We have no way of tracing ottrcottoti sales; but such au investigation would no doubt lead to startling discoveries. Tho same in? vestigation In Minnesota developed tiic fact that ihere were large quanltles of grain In the elevators In excess of what the farmer's bills of sales called for. A loss of only 2 lbs. per bale in tho weight of our cotton crop moans more than lfj,U00,UUU Ibs., U2.?00 bales, ^10,000,000. Thejivenigo dock? age in weight will far exceed S lbs. per bale. 1 therefore recommend n. That the local Alliance appoint its weigher and grader ol each cotton market: b. That a committee be appointed lo goto New Yoik for Hie purpose ol dlccl ing arrange? ment whereby telegraphic quotations may b< had at any cotton market in this Slate which sanities its willingness to contribute lo the expense of such quotations. c. That a committee be appointed to frame legislation covering tills point based upon the ex Ising laws iu Mississippi and other cot? ton Slates, and press such legislation before the general assembly. V. CHOP STATIC IAN. We have been practically without the ser. k'leeol this most valuable ollher of our Or, lor. Pro. Ueid resigned last fall on ticcotnit ) of 111 hpallh. Uro. p.. Is. f'hifnlm wan ap j ; pointed, bui resigned tn turn after a short, In l' cuiiibenuy. Mean time theNnliouul Alliance ? i discontinued the offlue of national crop sla 1I llsllcian, and in view of the fact that the sea ? son was too far ail van ced lo Inaugurate and I systematize the work, and in ylew of the ? further fact, thnt the Slate Alliance failed al f its last session to provide for this officer's sal - ary, your president and executive commit - tee decided m deter all further action till this meeting. i 1'ermlt mo. however, lo urge upon your at . lentlon Ibis work, whose Importance Isgreat ? ly emphasized by the menacing conditions 01 - the cotton market this season. j Even without a national crop statistician, i there Is no reason why such an officer In each - cotton growing Slate might not collect and - tabulate invaluable Information. These In l turn might co-operate in combining and gen ? erallzlng the resulls with great advantage to ? all. I therefore recommend that this body ap t point a commission tu sc-el; co-operation and : uniformity with other Slate Alliances In Hie > cotton states in the collection of statistics. VI. TUB CONSTITUTION. \ A revision of our organic law has been ' made by mir Stale secretary and copies put T Into the hands of each delegate, I presume.as required by resolution of the last meeting. 1 , received my copy on fy a few days ago and have had little time lor careful comparison. " i commend It to careful scrutiny by every I member ol this body, und that ample discus ' sion he had before adoption. Some points in ? the old constitution need attention; and as " the revision of Uro. Held contemplated nr ! rangement rather than iniroducllou or new matter, I designate the points here. " .1. li,uesiio|i has risen In some cases as to the true roll of the sub-AUIances. I recom '? mend that some definite time be lixed for , the revision of rolls, and umform rules be prescribed for dropping names of members In T arre.nsor lost slghtof. 2. That the lire or a dlmlt card be definite 1 ly limited; 3. That such change be made In our constl " Ultimi us Khali legalize Hie lecture system I projected by the National Legislative council " and inaugurated by Uro. Terrell. 4. That the formation and bidding or Fur ," mers Alliances wlthiu corporate towns, be " prolilbltcd. to the end that the organization of citizens Alliances may bo encouraged; aud that all such Alliances now existing the members whereof are other than farmers, ex? change 1 heir charters for charters of the cltl 5 zeus Alliance. I 5. That It define the status o r female mem , bers In respect to voting and representation { In higher bodies. ' vii. lecturing. I- ThU educative agency of our Order has nol z hitherto been accorded the prominence il 1 merits; and so Impressed am I with Its 1m - portauce t at I accord it a separate treatment i The demand lor lecturing has been very greal - ?far greater than your president and nxecu I live "committee felt authorized to under r lake. Our worthy State lecturer lias done vigo ? rous aud effective service, as far as his inner i ous and- responsible duties have permitted i- He has been a strouug right arm of defense 1 whenever aud wherever tho Order has been >i assailed and he has been accorded a most , llattering endorsement by the Order, which e speaks In stronger terms than any comincndu 3 tlon of mine the esteem in which he is held - Yet he has not been able lo meet the demands e made upon him. With all the timo he could give, or the Or r der could expect him to give, supplemented e by two days lecturing In euch congressional I. district by Bio. Terrell, the Stale president^ s office has been flooded with demands for lec i luring that could not be filled. The demand s is Increasing and Uro. Terrell has been en i- guged ror u nerles of lectures, covering euer :- coutily, during the late summer and full, e But with Hie lights before me now, ever these provisions are Inadequate, to meet tht s dtiuuud, nol to speak of the needs or tho or :? dor. As a rule the real needs of the order art e least where tue demand is loudest for lectur i- lug. The need Is pressing for a lecturer in tin [1 Deld coustuully. Tue right man armed with Ii such literature as might be sent out by tht s propaganda bureau recommended above, would notonly pay his own expenses, bui ?- iiirn a handsome lund Into the treasury from e Initiation and quarterly dues alone, to say 1 naught of the enllghlmont and education o t) the people. I recommend that arrangetiieiiI If be made lo supply this demand and distri? bute literature, Il the bureau be delcrmlued upon. viii. clesison college. 1 This Institution while not lu any sense tht ? result ot Alliance agitation, having been pre? ll. Jected before the advent of the order In the Stale, has been regarded with keen Interest t uy the order. The Alliance along with the ,. farmers and the people generally recognize In its early opening the consummation of one ol L, ihe most desirable advance movements with s in the history of the SUiti*. Its opening marks an epoch In the progress t or education along industrial lines. The In . stltutioii llsell is the noblest possible monu? ment to the Intelligence, benevolence and p patriotism of Us projectors. ? ix. the outlook. 1 Uespiie. the wondei Ail results wrought sc far in all the fields of Alliance work directly, 1 and Indirectly in Ihe political Held, the signs ol Hie times point to the fact that'the su< 1 preuic lest Is at hand along financial and pol 1 itlciil lines,?existing parlies apparently 1 pitch their light upon the financial Hold ,! strange to say that party which prolited mosi '* liVNt year by Hie educative forces ot Ihu AIM 1 a nee, ana whicli shop Id by every token huv.t " least to lose by any educative force, Is mosi bitter in its antagonism, If we an.-torch ? upon the utterances or some ol its leaden and newspaper expounders. There is. every ' evidence ol a massing of forces before tin. ' financial demands ol the order. Foes within ' and foes without have been marshalled lor a supreme sn uggle. As intelligent men It behooves us to eon ? slder all the conditions and hear ourselves as ? men. The past is Inspiring, the prospect ' though stormy, is inviting " -.The Issues have been made up and fairly " joined between the monopolistic element ol j our population, on tho cue hand, and the ' inas>e.s ol the people on the other?whether 1 the masses or the classes shall control the government? whether the iniquitous liiiuti j cial .-yslt-m de\ l.sed and fastened upon this ! country by Wall and Lombard slreels shall stand and continue lo rob tho people. p For every reason of broad patriotism ns ? well as of interest lo the producing classes, r the Alliance must survive that struggle. The tanner has Inaugurated the tight and he will " Mg il it lo a Jlnisli, not In cause ol any super K lor virtue on his part; but simply because hi 1 is the bottom factor In our social and politi? cal labile. Ho bears the t ulk of the public burden , be jj cause lie is the only true producer, ond dire 1 necessity, I in pending disaster, rather Hum superior virtue, has driven him lo activity 1 and lo Inveuiion. 1 All classes doing a legitimate business, and " loving iibcriy, are inieiesied in the slruugl. ?the perpetuity of free Institutions is hang? ing in the teal wlih a corrupt and degcueinte -' plutocracy. The larmers invoke the aid til ? all classes in resistance to this money trust 1 that lias one hand upon the throat of the ? government and the other in the pockets ol \ ihe people. And tlicv tire coming In response ? to our call, brethren. A number of strong ? men of oilier classes have ulrendy come to ? us?numbers of others are on Ihe way?count? less numbers more would come but for the ' fear of loss in a business way. Said a young ? business man to me In ri-piy to my uigenoy that he and others organize u Citizen's Alli? ance for the purposeoi disriisslo'.'Ubese prob? lems in a nou-pui tisun uny : 'We cannot af 1 f u-d it.. We are worse hound up than many ? of you farmers are?and lor us to enter stn-li j anorgnulzatIon would nung swift execution i through the sheriff." And Mils is true; the I honest local merchant U our natural ally; i but ho has been degraded into a mere collect? lug agent for ihe money uust. There are I thousands ol them who are ready to grasp ? our proffered hands in this light, but for ; dread of financial distress; But they will come to us. i A little more education, a mile more op ! presslon ot the inoiiey trust, and their man hood will assert llsell. 1 saiil lo this young man: "Do as the larmers have done?lief) the linaticial despots thai are Slipping your means and yourmaiihond? let the worst coin c to the worsi, aud the Farmer's Alliance which has already grappled wllli the giant truM will stand Kqunruly to you in your Citizens' Alliances." Columbia with ItsSCOfJ,O00debt,aiid Charles ton witli ItsSi,wiO,O0O;debl are directly iniei? esied In routing this robber hand that is Ink iug out of their pocket* S-'l lor every tl loaned them 20 years ago. Tho whole people of this State are equally Interested In removing the abomination oi an Ashley Junction at illegale Of our eharm ing metropolis by lliesea.and in tin: disrup? tion of the blighting corpmute hand that has our beautiful itipiUtl city by the throat; The "bottling up" of il people's cap! ml or metrop? olis tor the gratification or corporate greed or spleen sliould be forever Impossible in a free co iiitry. 1 said the issues wcrcjoliicd and the money trust will resort lo extreme measures. The evidence is not wanting. Certainly Ihu sug gesil ve question must arise In every thought lul patriot's mind?what means I lie Insidi? ous but sleady Increase of private detective forces maintained by corporate money?the.' chief requirement lor admission to which Is lue readiness of ihe appllcunl touhooi down mal-eoiitciits at the word ? What means the coustant increase of the military establishments in Washington and other large centers of population; what means tile establishment of new barracks and mealed fo. tresses lu commanding posi? tions in New York ana Chicagol What mean the recent appeal In the National Quurd Gn zeitc to Iho wealthy citizens of New York nil appeal that Is barely disguised black mall? There may he no. concert ol action in ail these alarming verities; but the language of a large capitalist may explain II, when he says: "The turbulent spirit among the masses will be put down by the strong hand ol I lie government. In.such a struggle the IOvernmcntalways wins. It Is organized. It is backed by I lie lull resources of capital. II must of necessily win." '1 liese tire questions ol supreme iiii|>orlnnce ! anil Interest, to'"every e'tl?en who loves free Institutions and reu-ards with suspicion the I dlsposiiion to supplant the civil with in Hilary '. power. i The fact, that the fanner has been driven liy ' dire necessity to take the Initiative should not I be allowed to obscure Issues which are Julned land Irrepressible?Issues that cannot be evaded, if tbe Alliance were out the case. From the hikes to ihe Gulf and from Kam schnlku to the Florida straits they confront the Individual citizen, and have lo be crap pled with as men, or as cowards, shirked. II will lake the Whole people to s-olve these Is? sues In a peaceful way: Brethren, letns kult our brotherhood to gether with a closer stitch and then reach out our hands to our fellow citizens of all j classes who love liberty and will stand for Its i maintenance. THE TWINE TRUST'S PROPOSITION TO THE FARMERS. Secret Conclave With Alliance Lend? ers?A $10,000,000 Supply Agency, With 1? ranch en. New York, July 1-i.?In a secret conclave of representative Farmer's Alliance men from all parts ol the country, held recently at an out of-the-way hotel ii. the vicinity ol llils city, theie was concocted a daring llnan cial and commercial scheme which it is in? tended to propose to the farmers of Lhe coun? try, and which rivals in Hs character and magnitude ihe sub- treasury scheme. Measures b?s. A system of preferred proprietary shares was to bo pro vhk-d, Ihe shares of this class lo be appoint? ed among the pri sent promoters, and to bo nonasscsablc, paid up and everlasting. These shares only should bo represented In the gov? erning organizations. Then there was to he an Issue of common shares, which should he open to subscription by the lowiPexelnunres nnd their bidiviilaul members; upon which Ilia directors should levy assessments as necessary in order lo pro? vide Hinds for the transaction of business of lhe central exchange. But. the holders should lie entitled to no share of the government, of the Institution. the plan to uk pushed. The scheme as set. forth was generally ac? ceptable, und sonic of the promoters were lor having it Immediately approved and put. in operation; but Colonel Peck and Messrs. Gowan and Garlber were opposed to such a sniiiinary proceeding. They wore apparent ly unable to satisfy themselves of the wis? dom of the scheme nil (1 would not consent to have anything to do willi ll until ll had re? ceived tho approval ol the Alliance through its various channels of expression. Accordingly the scheme was formulaIcd In a glowing prospectus, In which 1 lie name of the infill lit ion was quoted us the National Alliance Union and resolutions were adopt? ed calling upon the slate exchnnges to sub? mit the schemolo the judgment of their sub? ordinate district n nd county exchanges. The resolutions furl her provide that If, and when a sullicieiit. number;of ihe subordinate ex? changes, speaking through their respective state exchanges, approve the plan, the chair? man of Lhe Soiilh I teach meeting shall Issue a call for a national convention of stale del? egates to consider and formulaic and finally iluiipt and organize the scheme. Secret cir? culars lo Ibis effect have been sent to lhe state exchanges of every stale where I horn Is one to be found. Tho district treasurers are being quietly educated.to the plan, and will presently go out among the Alliances tohoom it along; Alluring promises of cheap prices to the fanner, high prices for his produce and long livideiids on Ihe shares willed lie will he ex- < peeled to buy, to provide "working capital" or tho proprietary shareholders, will he the. Ildticeiiieills held out lo him. || HOT WORK IN TEXAS. A LARGE BODY OF ALLIANCEMEN PRO? TEST AGAINST THE SUB-TREASURY. .Ilnciine in Denounced ? Crror i I'ointcd Out. und a Xuw IMiilfoi-iu is Adopted. Fort Worth, Texas, .Tuly*l?Tlie Conven? tion was nipped to order at U.:>0 o'clock thli morning by President Kendrick. there beituj aliout 1.IliQ delegates In I heir seats. Theas semblnge was marked by the absence of the sub-treasury element, there not being om present; As soon as the Convention came ic order President Kendrick ihirndueed Pres I dent U. S. Hall, of the .Missouri Stale Alii ance. who, according to the programme, ad? dressed Ihu delegates on Alliance mailers, hi: clilef point being an attack on the sub-ircas ury scheme. He regretted that he was forced to oppose anything that the Alliance might advocate Mr. Hull said: "1 am impelled to tho opposition of tliii schemo by the Constitution, and am con? vinced Mint It would bankrupt me and every farmer in the country,and eventunllv disrupt the Government. We are told that by a law passed bytheOcala meeting we are compell? ed to stand shoulder to shoulder on any ipies tion the Alliance may adopt. 1 deny this ami deny the right ol the Alliance lo pass any law that binds Individuals lo support any po 11 Heal'measure. I appeal to the sense of tin party If a member has jiot the right to expose when he can llncl any fallacy that may be ad? vocated. I ask an honest consideration o my argument against a measure in which al ot yon ore deeply interested. The sub-treasury scheme is now being ad vocatedaud pushed by Us originators, head? ed by C. W. Miicune, for Ilia sole purpose o selling it and the Alliance out lo ihe big) protective tori IT parly. Muciiiicsuys any oiu wlio opposes tho sub-treasury plan sliould be dismissed from the party. He has beei bought up by the proteelIvo tariff barons o ihe Fust, and knows that the only way to d< their work Is to build up a'i'hird Parly, whlel can only be done by pushing the sub treasury scheme and getting the farmers of the Soul! to support It. The whole schemo and systen Is based on an assumption and false prom ises." DISSKCTING 5IACUNE. He then proceeded to dissect Mactine's argu gumeniln favor of the sub-treasury. He argued that the volume ol circulating medium which fixes prices should hetlexlblt and not llxed. He read from John stuar Mill's work on political economy insuppor ot the theory ho ad vances, showing that llu condition of the credit had as much lo di with the maintaining or prices und creating demand as did the volume of money in circa In!Ion; Vileports show thai oat of 8100 circu? lating fllL'.-ju is credit and S7.50 only niocey Why was It I hat Lite failure of Baring liros.ii London should bring down the price o wheat lu Missouri, where the volume o money was no less'.' Not because money win scarce, bul because eredll was contracted Credit Is as much a purchasing medium ui money is. The sub-treasury scheme Is busei on the proposition that Hie circulating me ilium is Indexible, when in fact It is liupnHsl ble Tor that to be llic case. The wholesehemi is a fallacy, and no one bul a demagogue oi an ignoramus would support it. Suppose the scheme were put in operation. 'J lien yen would see the contraction of ihe IttJ^ per ceui credit circulating medium, because' busbies: men would uol give credit, knowing Ilia they would be paid lu the depreciated eurren cy Issued from ihu suu-treasury. Nlnety-twi and one-half per cent, of the circulating' mo dium is ihe purchasing power of credit and only V/, per cent, money. Suppose the schernels put iulo opeiulion and our whom and corn are lockea up In the Govcrmneui warehouses, what will follow? The poorei classes who do nol produce their producls wil be reduced to want and bloodshed will fol low. What would bo the financial condition if this system was put in operation? Tin locking up of the products produces higti prices, even ir the volume of the currency b increased by It, and the farmer in the cue. comes out loser. Under this scheme ok Hutch, of Chicago, the In mans, of Now York and Pat ChIIiouii and Macuue could cornel all the wheat and colton in the United Slates They could with SlOO.OiO.OU'J corner every bushel of wheat lu the United Slates. They could take that sum aud buy up Dial mucii wiieat, deposit il in the Government ware house ami borrow fSO.UUti.hOU on It; lake ilia aud buy more wheat and put It In ttie ware houses and borrow again, and so on to the end, until ihey hud every bushel of gralr and all the money left, 'i'licy would by Ulli means have on their hands the bread ot the poor people of the country and could regulate the price of It. The advocates of this scheint soy if wo have anything better to show 11 uj or shut up. If I see my child about to drlnu a gloss of prusslc acid do l wall till lean gei a glass of water before I take the poison fron: Ills lips? No. iMy duty Is to take tho poison awoy before the damage Is done." in faVOll 0k state hanks. lie advocated the repeal of the clause in the National Banking Act imposing a tax of it per cent, on Slate bauks und Ihen enact a law crcallng the office of Slate bmtk examiner, and put a pure, honest man In the office; and then It will be good-bye to all cornering*lind wc have an Increase of good honest currency, He would, al Hie sumo lime, abolish the na? tional banking system, but he had no criti? cism lo make on national bankers. He hoped there wore no men in Texas who went about the country pouring Into the ears of iho far? mers a statement that all the honest men were farmers and all the rogues and rascal" were lu town. A man who will do this Is it buse demagogue and a vile enemy to man? kind. The main objection to (lie national banking system was Hie power il gave a cor? poration to contract the volume of currency. lie favored a free and unlimited coinage ol silver. Nine billions of debt was created in the South, Southwest, West and Northwest when the volume of currency ranged al from S:;0 lo $'?)?) per capita. These dubia fell due when tho per capita was Sl?. The interest oi Ihe debtor is to have the currency increased, while It Is the Interest 01 the creditor to have It contracled. Tho contract Ion of theeiicu laliiig medium means debts, lu.effect. Just double?518,1)00,000. The free coinage of sil? ver, which Mr. Cleveland opposes, would aid much to bolter tho conditions. TACKLING TUB TARIFF. The speaker then tackled the tariff and showed where all the burden of it fell on Ihe consumer. A listing price for necessities Is what It costs lo live,ami il is higher undei the McKinley law than it would he If the bill was until law. He would repeal the Inlamotis high tariff law ond say to Hie manufacturer!! and capitalists of the Fust: "Keep your hands out of the pockets of the people." In conclusion the speaker warned his hear? ers once more against that ''jack-o'-lantern," the sub-treasury, and closed amid ihe most hearty applause. Parson Veal wanted the speaker to give some light, on Hie charge made at ihcOcala Convention that, the Alliance ol Texas has aided In ihe effort to oleel Put Calhouii, Ihe ra 11 road candidate for Senator from Georgia. President Hall gave an explanation that threw upon C. W. .Macuue the onus of prov? ing that, he had not sold himself lo the road, and given the general attorney of the Gould system Ihe evidence of the Insolvent condi? tion of Hie National Alliance, lie said thai Macuue had admitted that he borrowed Si.WK) from (.'alhnuu on the ground or friendship; inid said he worked t'orCalhouu's election be? cause he was a sub-treasury man. I refused lo sign a report exonerating Miicune from the charges against him, It was no disgrace lo the Order that such a dishonest man as Miicune slipped Into it, but It will be uills i* mere for hl in tobe allowed io remain in it. "Macuue published In Iiis paper that I was hissed at. the Oca III Convention, but I was willing lo rest under the cloud that this placed on mc until Macuue continued lo pour hotshot Into me. Then I felt It due to the or? der, to my family and to my.-ell, to tell the World that I was hissed because 1 was the on? ly man on an Investigating comin It tee who refused to whitewash an Infamous .scoun? drel." This statement brought a perfect tornado ol applaii-c from the Convention ami the meet? ing adjourned until S^H) o'clock. the SCIt-TRKASL'rv of UKl'UIILIt'ax i11rtii. At the afternoon session tho Hon. William S. McAllister delivered a speech of two hours' length, disclosing the sub-treasury hill to be the crowning cm initiation to this age of Re? publican class legislation. That il was a grab imp thrown mil by Third Parly plotters; That since Starr a Item pled lo destroy celes? tial sanctity with ihe heresy of. rebellion there had been none greater than the sub treasury; that It would lake ils place in his? tory with ihu dreams or alchemists a he! South Sea bubbles, and should be enl.it ltd : "An Act lo ruin und desolate Hie agricultural Intcr? ests;** thai if the country was to be saved from anarchy ami despotism, It would be through Invoking the eternal political mil Iis laid down by Jefferson and Jackson and tak? ing refuge in the party which they founded, lie compared .Mnciliic lo Warren Hastings; denounced him as Ihe arcli-despoller of the Alliance, as did Hastings India, verifying Kel iillllid Ititrke's assertion Unit Hie plane of Immunity was a Libyan desert, daily pro? ducing new monsters. He denounced Mn iiiiiie's charge thai the press was partisan and inimical to the Alliance. He said that the press was the light. life and energizing influ? ence, propelling onward modern civilization ; thai It hail fearlessly befriended the Alliance when right and criticised H when wrong; that ihe oruHiilzallon thai made war on Ihe pre-s as did Macuue and his dupes would ero? de a whirlwind Ilia I it could nol ride, lie then asserted Unit Tin-; in:ai. mission ok the allianck iviis lo regenerate society by "educating the nasses in the science ol' economical govern neiit in a sir Idly non-parl isau spirit," -and cad the Alliance declaration of purposes and joiiiiiieuli.il on il al great length Hi support of Hs pdsitioii. He insisted that the first mud nlsiiikonf the Alliance was in pe rm 1111 ng MiliUi-s lo creep Into Ihe order, lie said: "To labor Tor the education of Ihe masses In the science of economical gnvernm-int fur? nishes the real definition ,,( the Alli'ince. This reveals Us inlsdon in Inj lo ilex I with mi noiiuc (]tiesilons and solve sm-itl pinniem.?; to inculcate principles ul liiriftatid industry, and make a praeiicil. every iluy npiil-calioii of them to thentfiilrs pertaining to farm life; Whilst lhe pin-puses and demands of tn<- Al? liance are from their nature political they are not partisan aud do nm. involve the order in becoming a partisan political organization. "This is 11 ue for several reasons : "1. We declare nur purpose In labor In a uon-partlsau spult, ami to suppress local, pei sonal and national prejudices and to promote unity and harmony among munklnd. rarii. sun politics would he fatal to these grand ef? forts, for there is no Influence, save Ignorance more productive of discord and prt-Judlee thnn partisan politics, and whenever and wherever It Is introduced unity and harmony will cease to exist. ""i. The order requires no political test us to conditions of eligibility, therefore the membership comprises all shinies of party at llllatlon and political Idas. Now, Introduce partisan polii les, ami parly t'eitly Is al mice aroused and party lines are sharply drawn; when the order, wnieh relies upon unity ami harmony, hecoincs stranded upon the shores I of implacable division. ":t. Tue Alliance is a secret organization, and lo admit pHrtWuu polities would neces . sarlly make it a secret political organization. Such organization* are repugnant to lhe spir? it,and genius of Ireo Institutions, und if tol? erated <>r sanctioned must itivurlutdy destroy them. Their history Is written iu the darkest pages of tho past, and violent class disturb? ances, social disruptions and bloody commo? tions tell the dismal tale of their havoc and woe. "uur next mistake was committed nt St. Louis in December, lSD'i, After boldly declar? ing to the world in favor of 'equal rights to all and special privileges to none,' we whirled a summersault by demanding the most gigan? tic species of class legislation of modern limes. Thu sub-treasury bill Is the poisoned chief thai presides al Alliance political feasts aud caused it lo fall from its original high es ? late of parity and consistency into lhe slimy depths of a secret political organization." Tho speaker here reviewed at length', the 1 history of the sub treasury, both at St. Louis and Oeula, and boldly declared that It was conceived primarily to create a new political party, and Dot lo relieve the masses. Hence it is not surprising that wliat was originally - Intended to he a iiou-poiltical organization lias become one sec-Icing In secret partisan politics, in flagrant violation of every princi? ple of declaration laid down In lhe creed. He next took up the high moral piano as? sumed by Hie Alliance three years ago,and said that Its leaders?like Cicsar's wife?must ; be above suspicion, lie said that Dr. Macnne 1 would succeed Tom l'alne in history ns the author of one of the grealesfheresies; that , the sub-treasury was Macune's credentials us the author of an "Ago of Economic Reason." ' He discussed at length the Georgia Senato? rial contest of last year and Macune's relation thereto, contending that It was the logical outcome of permitting lhe introduction ol partisan politics In the order; that polities . tired corruption, which In turn brings to the I surface mercenary Imposlers, seeking only ! their own aggrandizement. ! Concluding, he said thai for the Alliance to ' succeed it must return to Its organic moor? ings and free itself of the contaminating In llueneeol fetid frauds and slimy sliams; that far-reaching salutury soclul clianges were ol slow growth. All of the forces in society do ; not develop at once in equal or in contempo? raneous degree, but to-day one conies forth and gains the van time ground, to-morrow an? other shoots up and wins Die ascendant alti? tude, and thus proceeds lhe rcllulug process ' of elemental experiment, when finally the Heaven anointed law of progress will select tbe littest and appropriate their uplifting vir 1 lues to the divinely Inspired design of a more j perfect society over a more perfect citizenship under a more pel feet government. TH K l'l.ATl-'OKM. The Convention also adopted unanimously lhe following resolutions and declaration ol principles ns recommended by the commit ' tee: We, lhe committee on resolutions,hog leave to suiimit for your consideration the follow? ing, t owl t: We. the null-sub-trensury members of the National K?rrners Alliance nnd Industrial ' Union, racognlzing the grave and responsible dulits resting upon us, farmers aud citizens and members of our beloved order, the Far? mers Alliance, hereby present for the careful consideration of our brother Alliance far ? incrs the following preamble and resolutions: Whereas, the Fanners Alliance bos been or? ganized lo the cud that Its members might become educated In the science of economical government and that we might become more united in our action; having been divided through lhe Influences of the war, we have ever been united in Interest'; and, Whereas, our bi loved order, the Farmers Alliance, was founded lor lhe express purpose asset forth in our constitution to bring about ? the above most Important results, nnd that this education and union should ho brought about In a strictly non-partisan sense and manner; and, Whereas, we declare lo Ihe world in our constitution that the Alliance would ever ad? vocate "equal rights lo all and special favors to none;" aud, Whereas, we declared to the world through the Alliance lhat wc would makn no war up? on any of the legitimate interests of our country; and, Whereas, we were assured when wo entered llio-orgnnlzatloii that no one should be ostra? cised for opinion sakeand refused admittance Into or turned out of the order on account of any belief lie might hold on political ques? tions ; und, Whereas, we fell assured t hut this organiza? tion would be directed and controlled by far? mers who were honest, men and who would labor u unite the farmers of our common country who were divided by the war; and. Whereas, we now Und that tho purposes and object-) of the Order have been defeated and the organization dellecfed und turned from Its original purpose and intention in i lie following manner aud ways: (I) l.y vio? lating lhe plainest principles and declaration of our couslll at ion by advocating and de? claring In luvorof the sub-treasury and land loan scheme and the governmental owner? ship of railroads; i2) by debarring persons from membership and ollicc for opinion'-* sake,and by putting men In Imporlnulotllces and keeping them there who arc known and have proven themselves dishonest, merce? nary and corrupt und iiuve continued them In such olllces and falsely and maliciously'de? nouncing the Just und chosen representatives of the people who have been elected to serve in public trust, although lhe honesty and fi? delity of such public servants iiuve been pro? tected by longand faithful service; (tl) by try? ing to direct and turn the organizations of the fanners and laborers of our land from one of the greatest curses of the age, the pro? tective tariff system, aud to commit them to the national curse of class legislation; (-1) by placing In theoillelnl positions of our nation? al and Stale Order men who are not farmers nor have any interest In farming, whose only interest and ambition Is to keep the farmers in the depressed condition they now are to Dig end that they may draw their salaries from them,.knowing that the depression of the larmers Is necessary to keep up au organ? ization of this character : (?) by some of the leading officers of the Order, uot.li SUito nnd nailonal,consorting with the enemies of good government against the true interests of the people and corruptly endeavoring by dishon? est methods to fasten upon the people the protective tariff and railroad combination, two of tin? evils that- the Alliance was crealed Ui put down and destroy; (6J by private indi? viduals In the Alliance, through corrupt, ami mercenary motives buying up theSlateand national official organs ol our Order, thereby centralizing the power of this organization, and thai of lhe million of farmers iu 11, for Hie purpose of the personal aggrandizement and politic.I ambition and corruptness ol these men; (7) by changing our order from its non-partisan character into a partisan : (?) by applying partisan political tests to mem? bership and office-holding In our order, and by declaring, in a statute passed at OcalU, De? cember, IHM, aud by proclamation of mir na? tional president, lhat. when a majority of tho National Alliance promulgated any political principle, demand or heresy, the Alliance must conform to such political principle; therefore bo It Hesolvid, That we denounce the sub-treas? ury aud laud loan scheme and contingent governmental ownership of railroads as via lutlons of tho tlrst principles of government, as paternal in their character, as centralizing In their tendencies, and II enacted into law would create such a horde of national office? holders as would fasten the clutches of the party In power upon the Ihroai.snf the people so strongly thut the voices of honest, patriot? ic citizens would no longer be beard in the control of governmental htfairs. We further denounce those measures us being a vlblalion of the constitution of our beloved Order, that wc denounce C. W. Mucuue and his corrupt methods, together with the acts of Iiis; too Is and benehmen, as being a disgrace lu the Or? der and a stench lu the nostrils;of all honest men who know of their corruption and vil? lainy, and tlius poini out to the Order, by continuing such men In power, they arc ena? bled, by betraying us aud our Interests, to most effectually chain us to the Juggernaut carsol monopoly. We run her demand lhat those men who are not farmers tic removed from the national and state offices of our Or? der, aud that none hut those who have their interest In farming be allowed to IUI such places, lo the end that, the Legislatures of this Government*may know Hint when the AUK mice speaks ll is the voice of the farmers situ! laborers of our laud instead of the wish of! some paid tool of monopoly and corruption. We now appeal to all honest members of Die Alliance throughout the United states iu j behalf of the poor and oppressed of our land | whom these base men have betrayed ; iu the: name ol our wives and children, and who! must be relieved, ir al all, by 1 lie united ac-; Don or the farmers of this country; In the name:of good government; to unite with us iu pulling down this common enemy and dis-. grneti of our Order. To Hi Is end we urnst ear-; nestly recommend that the brother Alliance men ot ih" United Slates meet In national convention a'.si. I.oulson the third Tuesday in September; naif; A national executive committee, consisting iif U.S. Hall,id' Missouri, W. L. McAllister, of Mississippi, and W. L.Sergeant,of Texas, wa-t 1 erraten to conduct tho preliminaries to hold loir I lie St. Louis Con veniion. A resolution endorsing U. Ball find W. T2 MeAllisicr fur their tightfor true Alliance I principle*; and commending them to falr | minded Alliance men and citizens through i out ihe land, was adopted, MEANS GRASS IS MEAN the hills and valleys of king's mountain. The Way People Worked in ttte Old* en Tinu's.-The Way In Wlilon they Provided for Tlieir Ii<>oseholds as Compared With it Lazy Lien and a Poverty Struct. People. Kino's Creek, Yokk Co., S. C, July 2). * The western portion ol York county is in the strictest sense of the word a piedmont re? gion; A range of mountains parallel to the Iii ue Ridge runs near the line which sepa? rates Ihe two Carolinas. .Several peaks be? longing to this range are lu York county. To these were given at an early period the names ot granule's Knob, Henry's Knob, Crowder's .Mountain lllld King's Mountain. I'rowder's Mountain is In (.iaston county, North Carolina, and so is Hie greater part of King's Mountain. It Was on King's Moun? tain, In York county, that the Americans on the 7th of October, 173U, defeated the British Colonel Ferguson. Tins was the first real vic? tory gained by the American colonies in their struggle for independence, and the most com? plete victory on record. The Americans had only twenty eight men killed aud they killed aud captured every man in the command of Colonel Ferguson. The battle of icing's Moun in in was the turning point In the Revo? lutionary war. Before this all had been de? feat, and the American soldiers were on the very edge of starvation. After the defeat of Ferguson followed the victory of the Cow pens, the draw battle of Gullford Court House, and finally the defeat and overthrow of Lord Corn wall is at York town* After the capture of Charleston on the 12th of May, 1780, ihere was, so far as any numan being could see, no grounds upon which the colonies could place a hope that they would be successful, and It-was not until the defeat of Ferguson that hope was revived. Through the Northwestern corner or York county there Hows a large creek called King's creek. It rises in t iaston county. North Caro? lina, and flows in a Southwestern course, and empties Into Ii road 'river, about ten miles North of Smith's Ford. The name King's creek Is or doubtful origin. One tradition Is that It was so named by Colonel Ferguson while camping on Its tributaries, ir this be true the name is coeval with ihe battle or King's Mountain. Another and belter estab? lished tradition is that the name or both the 1 mountain and creek were given In honor or a man by Ihe name of King, who settled before the Revolutionaiy war near the town of King's Mountain on the Air Line Railroad. The region or country through which King's creek tlows Is picturesque rather than beautiful. The bottoms Jut out against hills so precipitous that in many places neither man nor domestic animal can cither ascend or descend with safety. The first Bottlers of the region generally built their houses in the bottoms at the edge or the hills. For many years?until utter ihe rail or the Southern Confederacy very little of the upland was cleared. The bottoms, although many of them have boon In cultivation for more than a century,are to-day producing on an average forty bushels of corn to the acre. The llrst settlers were men of energy. Many of them, although beginning the world with nothing accumulated what In their day, was regarded a fortune. They cut down huco trees lu the forest, hewed them on two sides ami bnllt with these hewn logs large dwell? ings, houses, barns, stables, corn cribs and meat houses, which they called "smoke houses." At a later period saw mills were ? built and the old log houses were weatlnr hoarded and celled, side rooms and a dining room ndded to the rear side and a "poarch" tn the front side. In some of these old houses three generations of men have lived and died. These old houses were all about u story and a half high with a chimney at the end. capable of taking in u tog ol' wood eight root long. In the olden limes during the long winter nights Hin mother of the family sat In one corner while the father occupied the other. The mother spuu while the rather carded and the older children picked the seed out of the cotton. The barn was full of hay and fodder. The crib of corn, the smoke house of bncon and lard, the stable were occupied by rot horses, and droves of cows and sheep ranged on the hills. Whe'i the clothes lor the family were all made the father of the family with a wee one on his knee read aloud the tales of the trial of their inccstors In England or Ire? land or Scotland, while the mother nimbly plied her fingers in knitting a stocking In? tently listening to the reading at tho same time. Those wcro primitive times. The people used no collee. no sugar and no molasses, which they called treacle, except on rare oc? casions. By and by they began "to gather gear." and buy negroes, and cultivate cotton. Tho fingers were supplanted by the cotton gin, tho wheel and cards were stored away in the garret and "Nor'd home spun" bought. The women ceased to wear checked irocks and Hie men home made Jeans punts in winter and coi peras pants in .summer. Times changed. The corn crib and barn became empty by the middle of April and the meat house and horse stables were hull tin the great Northwestern cities or Chicago and Cincin? nati. Uut it Is no use to cry over spilled inlllc.' The country mill remains and that plenty with which It once abounded may still be brought back ir the people would only take a common sense view or things. '? ir it were to day ns It was seventy years agon disgrace for a farmer to buy corn the present stale ot things In our Southern country would be changed ror the better. . This King's creek, region of country Is thickly set with what Is known as Means' grass. In other sections or the South It bears other name*. The history of the Introduction of tho grass into the South and probably Into America Is this. About the year IWOoneof the Moans family living In me Western por? tion or Falrtleld county. South Carolina, sent to some region of country bordering on the naltlcSea for some barley seed of a peculiar variety. When-tbe seed was received it was discovered that there were In it some seed of a strange appearance. These seed were plant? ed by Mr.'Means in-his garden. The spot in which they were planted was carefully pre? pared and well manured. The lew seed sown germinated and Ihe grass did well, attaining the enormous height of seven or eight fret and producing an abundantcropol seed. Mr. Means thought he had found a treasure. All the seed or the first year's growth was care? fully saved and at the proper time sown. These germinated and produced an abun? dant crop, lu about three years the grass took ftilI possession ol the gnrden, rooting out everything else. To get rid of it Mr. Means had It dug up and carried oiii and thrown on a hill side hoping that ho was rid or Iiis pet. lint to> bis astonishment and bltier regret ev? ery root lelt In the gnrden sent up a stalk and those thrown on 1 lie hillside grew, and tho seed was washed by the rains down Into the bottoms and In n few yenrs Hie whole planta? tion and all Hie plantations in Hie neighbor? hood were pollnled with the grass. The name Means was given to the grass in honor,or oth? erwise, of him who accidentally Introduced it. Means crass was introduced Into the West? ern portion or Yoik county by Jas. A. lilurk. I do nol know how It got Into Abbeville county. From Abbeville county It was taken to Alabama by: a gentleman by the name of Johnston, where it. Is called Johnston grass, lint more about Means grass at another time. U. Principle and Interest. Wait: "Now, if I understand cor recllv, tlie first principle of socialism is lo divide with your brother man." Potts: "Thenyou don't understand it correelly. The Iirst principle of so? cialism is lo make your brother man divide with you."?Indianapolis Journal. Tin-: Deadly Moirsi:.--A luily, while engaged in the pursuit of her domestic duties; encountered a mouse in the Hour barrel. Now, most ladies, under similar circuit)Dances, would have would have uttered a few genuine shrieks uiid llieii sought safety in the garret; bul l Ids one had more than the ordinary degree of genuine courage. She summoned the man servant and told him to get the gun, call the dog and station himself at ti convenient distance. Then she clambered up? stairs and commenced to punch the Hour-barrel with a pole. Presently the mouse made its appearance and started across the floor. The dog started at once in pursuit. The mau tired und the dog dropped dead. The lady fainted, fell down the stairs, and the man, thinking sue was killed, and fearing lie would be arrested for murder, disappeared and has not been seen since. The mouse escaped. Il is u happ.Y faculty which always sees what is best in a man, and, if we search for it, sollte good may always be discovered. The trouble with most of us is that we are apt to magnify the faults and minify the virtues of those whom.we do not especially like, and we conclude that the image of Clod lias been so marred that nothing of the divine is left.