The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-08-07
The Alliance in Politics.

In discussing and protesting against
the Elections bill, we argued that its
adoption now would be a fatal blow TO
the Republican party of the South. We
also stated that there were influences at
work now in the Southern States which
would do more to dissolve the Demo
cratic solid South than all the legisla-
ton Congress could enact. The follow
ing statement, which we find in the
Washington correspondence OF the bal
timore Sun, emphasizes what the VIR-
GILMAN said The situation as described
in the extract given is significant as well
as pregnant of important results 1t
will be read with interest by all pollti-
clans, and especially those who are Civ
ing their support to the Elections bill,
measure that will drive the revolving
Democrats back into the Democratic
organization, and carry with it many
Republicans who do not believe in such
harsh, unreasonable and malignant laws.
Read what the correspondent says:
Congressman who have been defeated
| for denomination are slow in coming
back to Washington, as their interest IN
the pending business is considerably
lessened by the action Of their respec-
tive constituents Those who have been
overthrown through the efforts OF the
Farmers Alliance, are in some instances
quite bitter in their denunclatlOn OF that
organization, and their predictions are
anything but encouraging to the Demo-
| cratic party in the South A well known
| hn has
several terms in Congress, said while
conversing with a representative OF the
Sun Yesterday that he regards the Farm
ers' Alliance movement as but one step
| from Republicanism. He recalls the
outcome of the readjuster move
ment in Virginia, when Malone and
his followers declared their allegi-
ance to the National Democratic party,
but announced themselves readjusters
in State affairs. As time moved on the
lines widened until they found them
selves dumped head over heels into the
Republican fold, and they have never
been able to get back to the house of
their original friends. Continuing, he
said the alliance men, while insisting
that they are true to the Democratic
party, are making their principal tight
upon issues wholly undemocratic, and
against which the leaders of the party
stand committed. Under the circum-
stances, when the alliance contingent
arrives in Washington to participate in
the organization of the Fifty-second
Congress, they cannot cOnsclentlously
go into the Democratic caucus, and they
will be apt to make any combination
which is calculated to promote their in
terests and the interests which induced
them to bolt the regular ticket. While
the Southern States are losing many OF
their most valuable legislators, who have
won prominence and influence through
long and continued service, the North
and West are returning their best men
without serious opposition. This will
give the North and West decided ad-
vantage over the Southern States in the
organization of the committees, which
in a large measure control matters OF
legislation The alliance men will seek
to make combinations to insure the for
nation Of committees favorable to their
schemes, and if they decide to organize
a third party, with a view to holding
the balance of power there is no telling
what may be the result. Under the cir
cumstances it is predicted that the sue
cess of the alliance means the division
of the solid South, and it is further sug-
gested that the passage of the Federal
elections law is about the only thing
which will bind the white men of the
South together, without regard to then
alliance or anti-alliance predictions.
This is very extreme view of the stua-
ton, and there are but few conservative
men in the South who will concur in
them. 1t is but natural that the soon
to be eX-COngresSnan views the Sltua-
ton as through a smoked glass.