Smyrna times., 1890-12-10

THE attention of the whole nation
was called last week to the delibera-
tions of the Farmers Alliance in Ocala,
Florida. This party has come into al
most as sudden prominence in its po-
ltical possibilities as did the Know
NOthings 80 years ago, and promise to
play as important part in the politics
of the next two years. There is a
strong party in the Alliance in favor
of Third Party. The Philadelphia
Press in discussing this feature of the
Farmers Alliance movement says:
1t is the mistake of all social reform
ers that they look to legislation as a
panacea for whatever ills they may
wish to cure, and it is not strange that
the farmers should believe that the de-
preston under which agriculture has
been labOring for a few years past can
be remedied through politics. The
idea is encouraged also by the success
achieved in the recent election in a
few States, and by the hope some de-
signing men have of reaping a personal
advantage through the formation of a
new party.
1t being taken for granted, then,
that the Alliance, in connection with
some kindred organizations, is going
into politics, an examination of its
principles becomes pertinent. The
first complete platform was put forth
by the National Convention of the
Farmers Alliance and LabOrers' Union,
which met in st. Louis last December.
What is known as the "SeVen Demands -
were then formulated. They included
the Sub-Treasury scheme, and abOli-
ton of national banks, the prOhitiOn of
alien ownership of land, the prOhibi-
ton of speculation in agricultural pro-
ducts, Government control of lines OF
communication, and the free coinage
of silver. 1t was on this platform that
the Farmers Alliance began its career
as a national organization.
Most of the planks of this platform
express ideas Identical with the Green
back platforms framed fifteen years
ago. The one new idea is the sub
treasury plank, which demanded that
the Government shall build warehouses
for the storage of agricultural products
and issue certificates of deposit to the
owners to so per cent. of their value.
1t is significant, however, that this
plank has been practically discarded
already. 1t was not continued in the
platform of the Peoples party of Kan
sas on the lines of which the new party
purposes to work. Many of the lead
ing delegates at the Ocala convention
openly repudiate it also, and it will
probably find no place in the platform
to be adopted this year.
1t is easy to discover, from the plat.
| forms, discussions and expressions Of
views, that the central idea of the new
party will be a demand for more
money. The other planks will be only
subsidiary. In the words of a Mary
land delegate "All we want is recog
milton of the principle looking to the
creation of a greater circulating me-
dium issued directly to the people, anC
one that will contract or expand as
the needs of country may require.
That is simply initiation, a doctrine
that came near carrying the country il
lS7375, when the financial depression
swept men from their mOOrings anC
led them to grasp at any straw which
promised help. 1t is easy to see now
what ruin and bankruptcy would
have resulted had imitation then pre-
vailed
There is no reason to believe tia
any other results would follow a cbeaI
and unlimited currency to-day The
Farmers Alliance by adopting thi!
principal as the central idea of thei
organization have assured the early
death of the new party. There is to-
much sturdy common sense among tn,
farmers and the workingmen to permi
them to advocate a scheme which cal
only end in national bankruptcy
They will repudiate it and stand by
stable currency, which is as much tn
basis of agricultural prosperity as q
any other calling.