The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1891-03-26

reached.
In the first place, we want to say
we believe Senators George and Wal
thall are entirely honest in their OPP
position to the Sub-Treasury bill and
really desire, as they see it, the best
interests of the people of Mississippi.
They may also be correct in their OBJ
jections to the Treasury plan !;
but us we see it, that is not really the
question as the matter now stands
with true Alliance men. The real
question is, whether Alliance men,
who demand relief from the results of
outrageous class legislation, and who
have by their representatives in Su-
preme Council, twice endorsed this
measure, shall stultify themselves by
surrendering their own Judgment and
convictions, and support men avow-
eddy opposed to their platform.
When the Democratic party or the
Republican party meets in nation al
convention and adopts a platform, the
rank and file are expected to stand up
On it against all opposition, and
he is considered traitor to his party
who refuses or fails to give it his sup
port. While the ub-Treasury plank
remains a part of the National Ali
ance platform, can Alliance men refuse
to give it their support without being
likewise false We think not.
But there is a good deal more i'll
volyc,l III this question than this As
already stated, it is not so much
whether the Sub-Treasnry plan is just
| the thing in itself as whether the
farmers and laboring classes are going
TO emphasize their demand for relief
and reform in n way to be heard and
needed by the old party leaders.
That is the vital point, and it will
never do to retreat or surrender at the
! first fire Of the enemy. Rather let
Alliance men resolve to press the bat
tie until they have stormed and taken
the eneny's strongholds.
When Alliance men supplanted
Hampton of South Carolina and In
gals of Kansas, the politicians Of both
old parties fairly stood aghast and
tremhled as they contemplated the
power of the aroused farmers in those
States, but nothing short of many SIM
liar examples will bring them fully to
their senses and convince them that
the people are terribly in earnest in
their demands for relief from tie OPP
preston of monopolists.
Senators George and Wslthall adj
wise the abandonment of the Sub
Treasury scheme and trusting to the
Democratic party for all needed re-
forms. That is simply an hallucina-
ton. If the Democratic party had
full coutrol of the Government and
Senator'S George Waithall could direct
the policy of the party, this would
doubtless be safe dependence. But
it is 10y no means certain that the
Democratic party will obtain full con-
troll of the government again for years,
if ever, and if it does, such men as
George aud Walthall will not be su-
preme in its councils. Ever since the
day of reconstruction Southern men
have had little voice in shaping the
platform of the National Democracy.
When work Of that kind is to be done,
they march up with obsequious air,
hat in hand for orders to the Democ-
racy of New York and other Eastern
States, and Wall street influences are
always the controlling factor there.
No better proof is needed of this than
the fact that Mr.. Cleveland, who re-
fleets Wall streets position in his OPP
position to the free coinage of silver.
is to-day the most popular Democrat
ic candidate for the Presidency,
though Southern and Western Demo-
Gratis are ardently in favor of free
coinage. The party is not agreed
among themselves on any platform
that would insure financial relief to
the country.
The appropri ations of the last Con-
gress were so extravagant, that the
next House of Representatives, which
is Democratic, will not only not be
bothered with surplus, but it will
have to meet and provide for def
cheney of about $75, 100000. For years
Northern Republicans and Democrats
alike have been bidding for the SOL
der vote by passing all sorts of ex-
travagant and fraudulent pension bills,
while Southern Democrats, afraid of
being accused of disloyalty to the
Union if they offer opposition, remain
silent and vote with their Northern
allies, and thus the Treasury is an
nually robbed of millions quite as
much by the fault of one old party as
another. Many other abuses also ex-
list for which both old parties are joint
ly to blame.
If Alliance men in this State and
elsewhere are false to themselves and
their principles by supporting men for
the U. S. Senate who are avowedly OPP