The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-12-11
THE VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
sTAUNTON. VA.
The Alliance.

1a0 AlllduC0.
The meetings of the National Alliance
Association at Ocala, Fla. which ran
through all entire week, were interesting
and suggestive. The effect throughout
the country of their deliberations, so
far as the public could gather, as the
proceedings were with closed doors, has
been to somewhat disturb politicians
AMI put to thinking party leaders.
While there has been no formal an
nouncement of a purpose to form third
party, there are indications that even
tually that will be the result. The pres
ence of Mr.. Powderly, chief of the
Knights of Labor, and other move
ments, looking to combination of for
ces, may mean more than urging
reforms upon the two old parties. 1t,
indeed, is logical to conclude that the
organizations can be better attained
through it's own efforts and the efforts
of those of the societies cooperating
with it, than through either the Demo
cratic or Republican party, against both
of which there is threatened warfare
The Democrats will accede to anything
for power the Alliance and labor inter
ests may demand, however radical and
impracticable it may be. All they want
is the offices and power When once
entrenched in them, they would turn
their backs upon those who had con
ferred them, as readily as they would
denounce their traditional opponents.
The Alliance nor the knights can ex-
pect nothing from that party but de
ception in the long run. Whether they
will be wise enough to take time by the
forelock and set themselves supremacy
against the seductions of Democratic
politicians or not is matter for the fu-
ture to unfold But to return to the &C
ton of the Alliance. In the proceed
ings on the 9Th, the platform adopted at
St. Louis was endorsed, which in sub
stance is as follows:
Under call OF the States, the st. Louis plat
form was adopted unanimously, after amend
ments made here in Ocala. The sub treasury is
free coinage Of silver and expansion OF the cur
rency by the issue of treasury notes direct to
the people, without the Intervention of banks
in sufficient volume to meet the business re
quirements of the country and as cheaply as
the banks now get it, The issue is to be based
upon the products Of industry, and not on bonds
as at present, through the national banking
system. This plan omits details that have
given rise to discussion, and it is widely differ
emit from the bill which has been introduced in
Congress-
The St. Louis platform also called for the
ownership and control by government of the
lines of transportation and communication,
railroads and telegraph companies. The Ali
ance amended this plank by adopting COM
promise from Mr.. Livingston, giving the gov
eminent the liberty to control these lines, and
if that is not done satisfactorily, then for the
government to assume absolute control and
ownership. There is also plank in the st.
Louis platform requiring that the duty levied
by the government on imports, the tariff shall
bear evenly on all consumers, embodying the
idea Of equal Justice to all and favor to none
and that the revenue shall not exceed the need
of economical expenditure for government
purpose, with no surplus. There is also clause
prohibiting the alien ownership of lands in the
United States, and requiring the government to
recover all such holdings and open them to &C
tual settlers. These are the chief points of the
platform Among the other amendments adopt
ed to it was one requiring that all Alliance Off
Gals shall support the same, with the Ocala
amendments, under penalty Of suspension, and
that no candidate for national office shall re-
ceive the support of Alliance membership I'M
less he pledges himself in writing to support the
ST. Louis platform. Any subordinate Alliance
not in accord with the platform will be sus-
pended at the will of the president.
The effect upon the old parties will be
to cause suspense. until it is disclosed in
what particular form the Alliance will
approach the political questions of the
day, and until then comment would be
out of place. The scare and doubt will
be cruel, but the politicians will have to
endure them.
The following is the call for third par
ty conference, signed by Gen. Rice and