Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-05
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Their Safety and Success Lies in the Demo-
cratic Party.

cratic farty.
To ne Editor Of he Dispatch:
IL is dangerously unwise to be counsel
ling an expectaut policy for the Demo-
cratic party IN tho present coniuncture of
our political affairs. The Democratic par
ty can not afford to drift along Indifferent
ly on the tide of the times, trusting to its
cardinal principles, its prestige. and its re-
cent record alone TO sustain and strength
en- il. IL must be up and doingn IL
must be Strengthening itself up to Its full
height, 20 see. and see clearly. everything
that is going on in any direction around
it, 1t must be laying hold of the
order of things. II must be catch
ing the inspiration of the energies of
the age. of the active rather than the
passive factors and forces Of these prolific
times, and If it would be in the future. as it
has been in the past, the peoples pillar OF
cloud by day and of fire by night TO guide
them as they should go. 1t is a great
thing for powerful party to be conserva-
tive enough not to abuse its power, but
there is a wide difference between con-
servatism and inertia, between bourbon
ism and q liberal spirit of intelligent pro-
gress, between obstinately antagoniZing
everything that is not literally "nomina-
ted in the bond" and gracIously adopting
anything. come when or whence IL may, If
il is conducive to the public welfare and
the genius of the Government is not against
IL. And in all this, which is but the ex-
preston of patent truth. there is salu-
tary lesson for some of the chiefs of the
Democratic party TO learn before they
mako their bows TO the next national con-
vention and ask to DO heard as advisers
again.
CHANGES REACHING THE GROUNDWORK OF
SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
Politically as we'll as industrially-per-
haps indeed politically because industri-
ally--there are changes going on in this
country that are striking down deeper to-
wards the groundwork of our social struc-
ture than is very clearly indicated on the
surface. And 1T is the appointed part Of
the best men-the best men morally and
intellectually-all over the Union TO be
studying these changes and periodically
providing for them. The great movement
of the predial population Of this country
that has quickly crystalized into the power
full organization known as the Farmers
Alliances Is nothing more. nothing less
than the natural response OF newly
awakened comprehension OF economic
conditions to intelligent appeals crying
out from n social organization suffering
from the Associations of its own short
sighted follies that dazzle the benefciaries
while they throw better light upon the
heads as we'll as hearts of the many, who
though less wealthy, may prove to be more
wise than the few. There is no disguise
for the fact that the enormous abnormal
fortunes of the multi-millionaires in
this country are beginning to be
regarded by all fair-minded men of rehec-
tion as resultants and proofs not of the
great resources and opportunities of an in.
comparable country altogether, but OF
financial systems, economic methods, and
political, social, and commercial usages
incompatible with the fair play and the
free spirit that ought TO obtain among
free people. No right-thinking man can
deny to his fellow-man either the right or
the duty TO make call the money
he can make legitimately and pro-
perly. Nor can any right-thinking man
DENY that il is the duty of all government
to protect all men in the possession OF
their property. BIT when giants, whether
financial or physical giants, assume TO
assert their superior strength in making
weaker men walk between their colossal
legs, it Is but reasonable fol. the people OF
free country TO begin 10 ask On what
meat doth this our Caesar feed that he hath
grown so great ?" And it is this and thus
that the Farmers Alliance Is now asking,
in view of the monoplies, the trusts, and
combines that have cropped and are still
cropping out of the economic conditions
of this country in every direction. 1t IS
this and thus. too, that the Democratic
party as the party of the people should
be asking in earnest tones in justice to
itself.
WHAT WILL OUR sExT PLATFORM BE?
The next Congress will in all probability
pass a free coinage bill and in oil proba-
bility the President Will put his veto upon
IL. Then IL will be left as an issue Tor
both parties to consider IN the formula
ton Of their platforms for the ensuing ma,
tional campaign, and 1t will be the pivota
issue on which the result of the election
will tnrn. II Is hardly TO be expected that
the Republican party will proclaim for the
free coinage of silver. Whatwill the Demo
cratic National Convention dor That IS
the question, the vital question. i oeiieve
the Democratic Convention Will declare
boldly tor free coinage and for tarln re-
form, but not for free trade. And so pc
heying, | expect the Democracy 10 sweep
the country-West and South. with great
ground permanently gained IN the North
With a third party in the contest the Re-
pubhcaus would have no vantage ground
for while they would lose the West they
would win the South, and without the
South the Democratic party Is rope OF
sand But IL Democracy will be true 10
itself there will not be another Richmond
in the field. The agriculturists OF this
country are sound. sensible thinkers, ana
they have more than patriots than poiiti-
clans alnoncst them. They are making
their wants known, and the party OF the
neople Is the party towards which they
ggreyitate naturally and logically. VIII
fiat party meet them half wayl / trust
az think sol had almost said l know
so The truth is, the safety Of the Alliance
IL in the success of the Democratic party
and the success OF the Democratic party
is IN the cooperation Of the Alliance.
SALTWATER DRMocRAI.