St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-07
MAY HELP DEMOCRATS.
Edmunds' Opinion ofthe Farmers
Alliance in 1892.


Alliance in 1892.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The Star this
afternoon printed an interesting inter-
view with Senator Edmunds upon the
present state of political affairs. A re-
porter found him in the judiciary COM
mIttee room of the senate. where he
was occupied in disposing of various
odds and ends of work before retiring
to his home in Vermont for the sum
mer.
us not the present political situation
one OF extraordinary interest and i'm
portance?" the reporter asked by way
OF an introduction to d broad aud gen
eraI discussion.
Yes" replied the senator. after
moments thought. Il think it is in one
sense as applied to one aspect Of affairs.
namely. the Farmers Alliance subject
In other respects L do not see that it Is
essentially different 10 what 1t has been
for several years. The attitude OF the
two great parties IN respect to each
ether, and public affairs are apparently
the same. In respect to the Farmers
Alliance matter. it IS in its present
form new experiment in this country.
but not an unnatural one. There have
been analogous fOments in former
times; but the present condition makes
the political situation in this respect
interesting and important. for what its
effect will be on the next national cleo
ton. L take it, no one can foresee with
precision
What gives rise to the feeling of I'M
rest which appears 10 be abroad in the
land? ," the reporter asked.
II think." Mr.. Edmunds replied. "a
large part of it arises from intrinsic
qualities Of the human mind which has
its periods Of rest and then of excite
ment. Just as nature has in respect to
storms and diseases, and the time hap
pens TO come when one of these periods
OF levers IS at hand. Some people are
trying 10 persuade farmers of the cOun-
try, who always have been and always
will be the most useful and important
traction OF the community. that laws
have been made which operate unjuStlv
upon them. ana that laws have not been
made which would or should furnish
them more rapid and steady prosper
Ity. In both these cases. l think. they
are IN a large degree mistaken. and in
due time they will discover il. Indeed.
l presume that the largest part of the
rejecting ones perfectly understand
that crops cannot be increased
by legislation or debts honestly
paid by cheapenIng the value OF what
is called money The most of them. /
think. understand that money, to be of
value and serve its only true purpose.
must be stable, just as every other
measure must be-as Of weight and
quantity-In dealing with commodities
or lands. and that II a farmer agrees to
sell his next years crop for so MANY
dollars he must be able TO know what
that number of dollars Will be good for
when he gets il"
what dangers to both parties and to
the country are there in tie situatiOn?''
L don't think there is any danger to
the Democratic party, the senator re-
piled with q faint smile 'EfOr in the
next presidential election. if the Farm
ers' Alliance should carry many states
without having a majority of the
whole electoral college, the sim
pie result would be that there
would be no election bv the
people, and the present house of repre-
SentatlYeS, having 4 very large Demo-
cratic majority Of states as well as mem-
berS. would elect the Democratic caDdI-
date III a constitutional and regular way.
although he may have carried the
smallest number OF states. As to the
danger of the Republican party. it is
that the Farmers Alliance NAV carry
in the next presidential election some
states that would otherwise vote for the
Republican candidate. and thus. in
effect. if there should be no election bv
the people. give the election to the Dem
Ocratic candidate by the house of repre-
SentatlYeS.'
do you think that silver viii be an
issue In the next eleetion?"
Il don't think it viii be an issue be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties, for think that the Democratic
party viii hardly wish to make the sill
yer question an issue to the extent of
running any considerable risk of SEN
aratng gold and silver as the coin
money OF the cOuntrys and the great
body OF the Republican party am sure
will not. Up to the point of safety
have no doubt the Republican party will
be IN favor OF using silver as money. as
1t always has been. What the Farmers
Alliance platform. II it should nOmi-
nate candidate for president. will be
on the topic l am quite unable to saw
"HOw Is the feeling of unrest among
certain classes 10 be metz"
- think 1t IS best to be met as every
other disturbance in society ought to be
by candid consideration. by correct
Information. just reasoning and the en-
actment OF such laws as may fairly an
pear TO be prOmOtive OF the general pub-
lie good. 1t is upon such considerations
that every government of the peonle
must be carried on"
is a third party movement likely.