Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-11-20
THINGS NOT CERTAIN.

months. But two facts have already
become evident, which make Democrat.
ic rejoicing shade extravagant. In
many States and districts, especially in
the East, the only change discoverable
is failure of many thousand Republi-
cans to vote. The Democrats win, but
without casting as large vote as they
cast when defeated in 1888. At the
West, in other States and districts, the
Republicans have been defeated only by
the running of Farmers Alliance candi-
dates, in some cases with Democratic
assistance, but more frequently without
it. Three tickets being in the field, the
Farmers Alliance sometimes polled the
most votes, and in other cases sufficed
only to make Democratic success possi-
ble
The defeat at Bull Run did not end the
war, though Democrats expected that it
would, much as they are rejoicing to o-day.
The Indifference of Republicans in an
off year, and particularly at recurring
intervals of eight years, in 1874, 1882
and 1890, is not proof that the stay-at
homes have turned Democrats. 1t re-
mains to be seen how many of them will
be found Indifferent when President
ial election comes and the future of the
nation depends upon them. They arriv-
ed in time to defeat Mr.. Tilden in 1876,
and in spite of the Mugwump detection
actually defeated Mr.. Cleveland in 1884
had the votes been fairly cast and count
ed in this State. 1t would be safer for
Democrats to anticipate that this same
class of voters Will be found Jealous in
1892 to eounteract the results of their
Indifference this year.
The Farmers Alliance is different
matter Its chief organizers declare that
it has come to stay, that its Western
and Southern branches will be immedi-
ately united, ,and it will run its own Pres
idential and Congressional ticket in
1892, as it did in some States this year.
They may be over sanguine, but they
profess great confidence that the farm
ers two years hence will not be used
chiefly for the benefit of the Democratic
party. 1t is unnecessary to say that the
future of the organization depends en-
tirely upon its ability to do something
altogether different. Republican farm
ers will not be deluded again into serv-
frih
to triumph of the Democratic party so
complete that they get no practical pow
er themselves.
In the attempt to create a National
Farmers party differences of a seri-
Gus character will be encountered.
The antagonism between the Southern
Alliance, which passionately demands
the Sub Treasury scheme, and the West
ern organizations, which reject it, will
not be easy to remove. Neither will the
farmers of Western wool growing States
take the same view of the tariff ques-
ton which is taken by the South ern or
ganiZation. In treatment of corpora
tions and trusts, railroad and warehouse
and telegraph companies, the two organ
iZationS are not unlike. They follow
closely in the footsteps of the Changers,
excepting that they go much further to-
ward contiscation of property. But it is
entirely possible that the Western organ
ization may presently follow the Grang-
ers in another respect, and cease to look
for political results of a wise and use
full sort 10y action on the part of farm
ers exclusively.
In Judging of this sudden movement
it is needful to remember that it has not
as yet the active support of a majority
of farmers in any Western State. When
it can ever get such support will depend
largely upon the measure of practical
sense and justice manifested by those
who have been elected by the organiza-
tion this year. If they are as wild and
unreasonable as some of those who have
assumed to speak for the farmers, it
may be safely predicted that the organi
Zation will not live to be an important
political force at the West two years
hence. But if they are reasonable and
wise, and refuse to engage in undertak
ings contrary to right and to the true
interests of farmers, they are likely to
find themselves ostracised in their own
by the wilder and more
fanatical. The country will presently
learn whether reputation of honest
debts and legislation for the benefit of
foreign against American producers are
deliberately intended by the farmers of
the Northwest.