Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-04
The Farmers.

We stated yesterday that either the
silver question was destined soon to be-
come an overmastering issue in this
country or else the free coinage of silver
would be authorized by law passed
with the consent OF members of both
parties. We recur to the subject this
morning because the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union, which as
sembled ia Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday last,
composed of delegates from all over the
United States, declared through its
president that the farmers of the coun-
try would demand the free coinage Of
silver as one of the measures which they
regarded as indispensable to their pros
perity.
The farmers are a power in the land.
They are in earnest, too, in their deter
mination to see that tho future legisla-
tion OF Congress shall he in the interest
OF themselves. We have watched their
movements with interest. and have not
been much surprised at their rapid In
crease in numbers. We have warned all
concerned-especially all aspirants to
the presidency-that these farmers may
be the instruments through which our
country may at last free itself from tho
misrule If the Republican party.
But why should the farmers destroy
the Republican and not the Democratic
party? Because the Republican party
has no sympathy with the farmers and
cannot stand upon their platform. whilst
the Democratic party is the party Of the
people, sympathizing with the farmers, as
well as all other working men, and ready
at any time to adopt any measure which
promises to benefit the classes Of men
upon whom all the rest of the people
depend for their prosperity, not to say
bread and meat.
In the speech TO which we have re-
ferred the President of tho National
Farmers Alliance catalogued the mea-
sures which he expected his party to
"keep before the people" The mea
sures are, first and foremost, the free
coinage of silver; second, the issue of
Government currency directly to the
people third, the equalization of taxes
fourth, prohibition of alien ownership of
land; fifth, ownership and control Of
the transportation lines by tho Govern
ment ; sixth, limiting of the public
revenues 10 an economic administration
of the Government seventh, graduated
taxation of incomes, and eighth, the cleo
ton of United States senators by direct
vote Of the people.
These measures all have an element Of
popularity IN them.
The first and second of these measures
We have heretofore discussed fully at DIFF
ferent times. The third everybody IA
vors the fourth used to be the law in
most il not all the States. OF the merits
of the fifth we are not yet convinced.
The sixth will meet with universal favor.
The seventh is growing in popularity
day by day. We can understand that it
will operate well for time; but Gs all
sorts Of taxes adjust themselves to the
end, we should not expect this measure
TO accomplish all the good results which
its advocates believe Will follow its adop-
tion. The eighth may be good measure.
Certainly the United States Senate is now
30 much like ga club Of millionaires that
ii has been called by that name.
Which of these measures will the Re-
publican party dare to advocate or to
incorporate into its national platform
Will it be tho silver question? That
party as e party cannot do SO ; neverthe-
less we expect the silver question to
disorganize it in the West and North
west
But how as to the Democratic party ?
Wen, We are not authorized to speak for
any party but we think VIC can foresee
that the Democrats, who are already al
most a unit in favor of tho free coinage
OF silver, will be wise enough to play
their game so as not TO drive from their
support the immense number Of voters
who will soon be members of the various
"alliances now becoming SO strong
and 80 numerous from Maine to Cali
fornia-