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4 Faithful LEADER in the Cause of Economy and Reform, the Defender of Truth and Justice, the Foe of Fiaud and Corruption.

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VOL. 2. NUMBER 24. CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, THURSDAY, DEC. 10, 1891. $1.00 PER ANNUM I . *fr«»

ISAAC M. HELMEY. . - ^r-V:

THE GRANDEST DISPLAY'OF HOLIDAY '., " Ever seen in Canton will be on exhibition at The ,

DR. W. J. KELMAN.

GOODS 4 r ffr^7% m : t S 1 u > S & *

Corner Drag Store at > < • j- > .*

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Where you will find everything in PLUSH GOODS, GIFT BOOKS, BIBLES, TESTAMENTS, NOYELTY, ETC., suitable for

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DOLLS, GAMES and TOPS we are closing otit at actual cost. This is our popular low prices. Our assortment of Artist

The Corner chestnut but an absolute fact. A full line of LAMPS al aterials is fine; STUDIES to rent at J S'f!yT* . •

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. . Alliance Herald.

PRESIDENT POLK'S MESSAGE.

Before the Indianapolis Convention. A startling array of facta and figures.

To the Supreme Council of the National Farmers' Alliance aud Industrial Unioii:

,v Assembled here as the accredited repre-sentives of the farmers of almost every state and.territory in the union, you can not be unmindful of the weighty respon­sibility which at&ches to your posi tion.

Entrusted with the high duty of legis­lating for a great organization whose suc­cess or failure may depend on your ac­tion, I feel assured that you will address yourselves to the task with that delibera­tion and patriotic purpose demanded by the situation and the stupendous interests that have been coin butted t'o your charge.

Upon no body of men, pcrhtips, in our history sincij^tlie meeting of the Conti-lientatf^ijj^qBss has greater or graver re-sponsr^Piiiy devolved than upon this as-sem'oh\v Theirs was the high and ex­alted duty of establishing a republican, form of government; yours the no less grand and patriotic duty of preserving it. Their demands for equal rights before the law were no more the just protest of a liberty-loving people against the exac­tions and usurpations of monarchial

granny, than are yours which were de­clared at St. Louis and reiterated-at Ocala against those inequalities and discimina-tions which threaten to un dermine the liberties of the people and destroy the great agricultural interests of the coun­try.

that, fathers, while con­

fronted with formidable forces and diffi­culties, you have the invincible power of right, of justice, of equity and of truth to inspire and sustain you. Moreover, you havea unanimity and solidity of senti­ment among the great conservative masses of the country as a mighty reserve P?werv an<* wh'°h. if directed aright, mu|f umimately and inevitably achieve for|&lJKu«e a glorious success. j

WoC^v/ul as has been our growth and ! developement as an organization in num-1 bers, no phase of our progress has been so 1

marvelous and gratifying as in the edu- j cation of the masses in' the true princi- j

*TE>1es of political economy. The gray- j

haired sire, whose sinews acd muscles j have ',T^v*-:n toughened and hardened i

; througn a life of toil and labor in the^ production of wealth, has been forced, by unjust and oppressive legislation, to ad­dress himself to the no less important problem of securing a just and equitable: distribution of that wealth. Diligent, honest and earnest research and investi­gation as to the cause which has brought the American farmer to the verge of bankruptcy and ruin lius forced upon him the alarming conviction that many of the most sacred and important func­tions of the government have been usur-ped^^d appropriated for the benefit of

few, to the detriment and

_*But you are to, be congratulated Tike our continental

ruin of the neglected millions. THE SITUATION.

The gravity of the situation, the great unrest which is agitating the public mind and the magnitude of the interests in­volved, demand ths most candid and de­liberate investigation and consideration, What are tSV&lleJiRl^grievances of the American farmer? "vAre they real or merely theoretical? :

Lei the record answer. During the decade from 1850 to 1800,

farm values increased 101 per cent. From 1870 to 1880, farm values increased only nine per cent. But notwithstanding the alarming decline in the great industry, the agregate wealth of the country, from 1870 to 1880, increased forty-five pfer cent, and the agricultural population increased over twenty-nine per cent. From 185Q to 18(>0 agriculture led manufacturing ten per cent, in increased value of products. From 1870 to 1880 manufacturing led agriculture twenty-seven per cent, show­ing a difference of thirty-seven per cent, in favor of manufacturing.

The ten staple crops of the country, wheat, hay, corn, rye, barley, buck­wheat, oats, potatoes, cotton and tobacco, for the year 1884, brought less" than two per celit, more than the same crops in 18CG. Our cereal crops of 1867 from less than half the acerage and half the amount brought the farmers $79,711,000 more than the same crops of 1887, notwith­standing that during this period the acre­age and number of farm hands ha doubled, and agricultural machinery an impliments had been vastly improved. The farmer is alarmed to find that within the last decade agricultural lands generally have decreased from twenty to forty per cent, in value.

Owning less than twenty-two per cent, of the wealth of the country, the farmers pay over eighty per cent, of the taxes levied and and collected. Two-thirds of the wealth of the country is not assessed one farthing for the purpose of taxation, and yet the government has the power to to force every tax payer in the land to offer his life in defense of that untaxed wealth. With all his faculties for trans­portation, which are equal to the demands of the productive power of the country, and his accessibility to markets, he is forced to sell his products at prices barely covering the cost of production.

Despite the theory that diversification of crop and home markets would con­duce to his prosperity, he sees thousands of New 'England farms, within easy reach of great aggregations of consumers, absolutely obandoned to the brier and bush.

In the greac agricultural state of Iowa the mortagaged indebtedness on farms alone is$194 per capita, in Kansas. $165 per capita: in Illinois, 5100 per capita; and from Maine to the Rocky mountains, and from the lakes to- the gulf, the farmers are overburdened with debt. He derives little comfort, and it is not very flattering to his philanthropy and patrio­tism to rest his hope for relief in better prices for the products of his labor, to the precarious or occasional misfortunes of

his fellows in other and less favored hands.

He fails to understand why a United States bond, bought for less than 00 cents on the dollar, bearing four per cent, in­terest, should command a premium of tw^u^jtfx ̂ ents, jthe dollar, while a note secured by a mortgage on the aver­age farm at half its value, bearing eight percent, interest, aud due at the same time, could not be sold at its face value. He is confounded and amazed to find that we have paid on our public debt since 1800, in principal, preiums and in­terest, almost double its original sum, and that it would now require more of the products of his labor to cancel the re­mainder than it would to have paid the original debt. As producer and con­sumer, he stands the helpless victim of an iniquitous system of taxation which, while it enhances the cost of all the pro­ducts of his labor, forces him to pay an unjust and enormous tribute to a favored class.

These gross inequalities and ruinous discrimintions have aroused him to com­prehend the startling truth, that agricul­ture. "the art of all arts, the^ science of all science and the life of all life," the true ba^is of all wealth and of substantial progress is rapidly declining and is threatened with paralysis and death, and that to, in a period of the most wonderful development and growth in our country's history. Profoundly impressed that his generous confidence has been basely be­trayed, his interests neglected and his reasonable appeals for justice ignored, he has resolved, in a sprit of manly determi­nation, guided by a patriotic motive aod exalted purpose, to rescue this great in­terests from impending ruin and retore that equilibrum between the great indus­tries of the country which is absolutely essential to its well being and prosperity.

He has resolved to present his case be­fore the supreme tribunal of public opin­ion and ask for its'decision through the ballot-box. Appealing with confidence to that lofty sense of justice and exalted patriotism which, in all times of peril, have proved to be the crowuing glory of American character, his pleadings shall be in vain. A readjustment of thesecon-ditions so as to best subserve a uniform, healthful and harmonious growth of all the elements of our civilation, is the sub­lime office of christain statesmanship— the supreme duty of the hour.

The existing conditions are not to be ascribed to indolence or thriftless impro­vidence on the part of our farmers, we point to their broad and well-tilled fields and the abundant harvest which crown their toil, and which, with, an exception of two years have furnished annually since 1850, over 70 per cent, of all our domestic exports. Is it due to Overproduction? The broad world is our market" and its teeming millions our ready customers, and all over our own fruitful and God-favored land gaunt hunger, poverty and distress stalk in unconcealed and appal-'ng horror.

These are the conditions and this the situation yhich confronts us as a people,

and they m$s'..be met. • i, ^ v r -• '"-r #*• . f..:. <Ht *» '• V : ' •

OtTK • ORGANIZATION, ITS PROGRESS AND

" XDITIOX.

Notwithsiand^ig "the oft repeated as­sertion of iffienl|gnies that our organiza­tion is cline, yet ft^a« .steadily.enlarged ilie'area of its jurisdiction, and since its organiza­tion there kas been no time when it was in finer spirit.|ift,ore united, or in more thour-ough and [harmonious accord on our princples and purpose than it is to day. Perhaps-no. more striking or conclusive proof of this can be found than in the readiness, eagerness and delight which the defection of a single subordinate body out of about forty thousand, or the des­ertion of a single number out! of millions, is heraledcd and extolled by the partisan press of the country.

We hava added to our call since your last annual ni3eting the states of Ohio, New York. Iowa, Wisconsin, Delaware, Oregon, Washington and New Jersey, and others still would have been added but for our inability to supply orga­nizers. b

The greatly increased number of re­form papers, and the volume of general alliance literature, which have been dis­tributed, and the efforts to meet, in some measure, the earnest and increasing de­mand for information, seem only to have stimulated and augmented that demand, until it assumed proportions far in excess of our ability to supply it with the means at our command.

I have visited during the year eleven state meetings, and made, thirteen ad­ditional official visits delivering on each visit from one to six addresses in each state, and involving a travelled distance of about thirty thousand miles. Upon the invitation of the two orders in the state of Arkansas, I visited their joint meeting, and witnessed their harmonious and most fraternal consolidation. The courtesy of ah official invitation was ten­dered me by the open alliance of Wisconsin and as the result of their deliberation, that great state is here with us to-day, through duly constituted and^accredited delegates. I beg to submit at another time during your sessiou, in more elabo­rate form and for the information of your body, the details of the work of my of­fice during the year.

DrVFEltEXT DKPARTMKNT8.

It gives me pleasure to testify to the fidelity and efficiency of the officers of the different departments at your national headqnarters. Especially I am indebted to the ready cooperation and wise council of your national executive board, for valuable aid in the discharge of laborious and difficult duties, and to the prompt and faithful service, which at all times has been rendered by your national secre­tary. No higher commendation of the service of your national lectures could be furnished than the gratifying manner in which it has been received and approved by the brotherhood throughout the coun­try. For a statement of the work done in these various departments, I respec-fully, refer you to the reports, respec-. ively, of the officers. • In compliance

with our law. I herewith submit a re­port of the proceedings of a meeting of your national legislative council, held in the city of Washington, D. C., On the 4th day af February last. V

• • •> ' n . ;'-v - '.*«•?t w «» ontloued

Jii®. rtijruu rSanray TaWtiMp.

' Corn- husking is coming to a close. Most of it will be finished this week.

A magnificent residence is being put upfor Re'v. Hauge. The nextthing for him to do, is to get a wife and go to housekeeping.

Norway Township contains three politi­cal parties; independents, republicans and democratic.

The independents take the lead; and is constantly and rapidly increasing in number, which is. an assurance that this is the party which will be victorious in the end.

The old republican party is now al­most extinct and the few, who yet clings to the old shattered platform, will un­doubtedly e're long fall into the ranks of the independents.

The township does not seem^'to be adopted for either republicans or demo­crats; the latter numbers one.

We congratulate school district no. 61 on their success in securing the service of Miss Martha Hilden as a teacher. She has for many years been one of Lincoln county's most proficient teachers. Her natural ability combined with high educational qualifications is assurance that she will prove a credit to the school.

Quite a number of our young girls and boys are members of the singing school, held every Sunday afternoon in Jensvold's school house, Highland town­ship. Professor Glasoe, from Augustana college is the instructor.

We are glad to note the interest our boys and girls take in music;, as, we know, to become proficient in this art is one of the most difficult, but on the other hand, one of the most beautiful accomplishments.

Mr. John Overseth, Helge Kogness and Ole Thormodsgaard, left for Canton last week, where they expect to attend school at Augustana college the coming term,

Miss Nettie Satrang is teaching in school district no. 92. She is doing ex­cellent work.

Frank Jame's Advio* to Rider*. When a man rides along the streets on

horseback, with his feet crowded' into the stirups of the saddle until the front of the heel is caught by the bottom of the tirup. People are apt to look at him and say he does not know how to ride. They will declare that the proper style is to rest the ball of the foot on the stirup, with the toes turned inward. That is English, you kuow, but it is not the style in which cowboys or long-distance riders carry themselves. I can give as my authority for this latter statemeut Frank James, who in a rather adventurous career cer­tainly did some long and hard riding. We were talking about the. proper scat of an equestrian while he was on trial at Gali latin several years ago, and he said:

"I have no doubt that the English seat \s all right for park purposes, but should

Mm Si

you ever desire to put forty miles between "yourself and a given point before sun up next morningyou will find it best to push your feet into the stirrups as far as they" will go,, sit back into the saddle; jn such a;. &*ythat you.rfeetarcbhi'oedagaiiist.l^ie iw^Jifc'.SWch will;be jtuiihid. forward*i and, then let her go." S'1.1

I have never had occasion to ride forty miles before sun up, but I am perfectly willing to accept Mr, Sames's statement, as it is no doubt founded on experience. ,.... ^v .. —St. Louis Globe-Democrat. - - -

— 9 ; V Botes Froiq Highland Towaihip.:

Corn mostly picked.

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to Larch-

fin !• bunch of' U. . GininMl, of ,

of Campbell;

Threshing nearly finished. L. A. Lorenson, drove up

wood, Iowa, Saturday.

G. OsmuDdson, sold corn fed steers to W. Canton, Friday.;

S. O. Steensland ir. county came down Friday. He will visit ; with relatives here during the winter. Sander Brynjulson, went up near Len-C nox last Saturday, to visit friends there,. returning the following morning.

The alliance meeting advertised for thefK" Steensland school house December 2nd was a failure, owing to the intense dark­ness and threatening rain, only a few had grit enought to come out.

The Highland Literary Society will hereafter meet every Thursday morning, at 7 o'clock, at the Steensland school house. j

Andrew Fossum, who was severly ;

kicked by a colt last week, is well enough to be up be up, and his complete recovery is only a question of a short time.

Prof. Glasor, of the Augustana college,-V has a vocal music class, which he in-: structsevery Sunday at the Jensivold school house. As a vocal music teacher the Prof, has few equals and no superiors * in the state.

W, L. Mrineer, the efficient teacher of district number seven, visited with hia . sister Mrs. John Weaver, near Canton. Sunday.

Oam'd Osmundson, Frank Steensland, Chris, Clara and Maria Jensvold left last Monday for Canton, to attend the Augus­tana college during the winter term.

Miss Bertha Osmundson, late of Madi- A-

son, Minnesotaeainedown this fall and will now make her home with her parents.

Two scarce article—water and repub­licans. Would that we could get along without the former as well as the latter.

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O. A. RUDOLPH SELLS, THE

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