The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-07
SENATOR EDMUNDS
Interviewed on the Present Po-
fticaI Outlook.
FARMERS ALLIANCE MOVE.
The Reported Spirit of Communion
in the Land-The Silver Question
and Kindred Topics Inter.
estingIy Discussed.

wAmiSa7ox, D. G., April e.-The
Star this afternoon printed an interest
inc interview with Senator Edmunds
mon the present state Of political Affairs.
SIS not the present political situation
one of extraordinary interest and i'm.
Dortance?" the reporter asked by way
Of an introduction to a broad and gen
eraI discussion.
"Yes," replied the Senator, N think
tits in one sense as applied to one as.
meet of affairs, namely, the Farmers' Al
lance subject. In other respects l don't
ace that 1t 10 essentially different to
What il has been for several years. The
sttitude OF the two great parties in re.
sSect 10 each other, and public affairs,
il apparently the same. In respect to
the Farmers Alliance matter, tits in Its
n,gsept IoYm new experiment in this
country. but not an unnatural one.
There have been analogous toments in
former times, but the present condition
makes the political situation in this re.
snect interesting and important, for
What its effect will be upon the next ma.
tioual election, take 1t no one can FORE
see with precision"
"What gives rise to the feeling Of
unrest whieA-appears to be abroad In
he laudW tho reporter asked.
~ think" Mr.. Edmunds replied, "a
large part Of it arises from intrinsic
Qualities OF tho human mind, which
bag ts periods OF rests, and then OF ex-
element, inst as nature has in respect
IN storms and diseases, and the time
bappeus to come when ono OF these
DeTiods OF fevGrs is at hand. Some
people are trying to persuade farmers OF
Inc country who have always b9en, and
always will be, the most useful and
important faction Of the community,
that laws have been made which operate
uniustly upon them, and that laws have
moi been made, which would or
should furnish them a more rapid and
steady prosperity. In both these cases
I think they are in a large degree mis-.
taken, and In due time they will dis.
cover it. Indeed l presume that the
largest part Of rejecting ones perfectly
understand that crops cannot be In
creased by legislation. or debts honestly
paid by CheapeniDR the value Of what is
called money The most OF them, !
think, understand that money to be Of
value and serve it's only true purpose,
may be staple Just as every other meas-
ure must be-ss OF weight and quantity
in dealing with commodities or lands,
and that il farmer agrees to sell his
next wears crop for 60 many dollars, he
must be able to know what that number
Of dollars will be good for when he gets
it."
"What dangers 10 both parties and to
The country are there in the situation?'
~ don't think there is any danger to
the Democratic party" the Senator re-
plied, with q faint smile.
Continuing be said: "For in the
next Presidential election, If the Far.
mers' Alliance should carry many States
without having majority OF the whole
electoral college, the simple result would
be that there would be no election BY
tbe people, and the present House OF
Representatives having a very large
Democratic majority OF States, as well
as members, Wonld elect the Democratic
candidate in constitutional and regu..
lar way, although he may have carried
the smallest number Of States. AS to the
danger OF the Republican party, It 70
that the Farmers Alliance may carry IN
the next Presidential election some
States that would otherwise vote for the
Republican candidate, and thus, 10
eject, il there should be no election BY
the people, give the election to the
Democratic candidate by the House oil
Representatives"
"Doy you think that silver will be au
;ssUe In the next election 2"
"l dt, not think that 1t will be an issue
between tie Republican and Democratic
parties, for think that the, Democratic
party will hardly wish to make the sil:
Yer question an issue to the extent Of
running any considerable risk OF tssparat::
iup gold and silver as the coin money ol
the country. aud certainly the great
body OF the Republican party, lamsure,
will not"
"How is the feeling Of unrest among
certain classes to be metT
~ think it is best to be met as every
other disturbance in society ought to be
by candid consideration, by correct in-
formation, Just reasoning and the en-
aCtnent OF such laws IS may fairly ap-
pear 10 be promotive ofthe general public
good. 1t is upon such considerations
that every government OF the peopie
must be carried or"
"ls q Third Party movement likely,
and il 80 what might It lead TO? Is COM
mnnism at the bottom OF lit"
~ donOt think that communism ID "
the bottom Of the Farmers' Alliance
oS2ment. The percentage OF the com;
munis.s in this country ia, believe, at
present almost inhnitestInally small.
The great body OF laboring people OF the
country, which, taking all the depth Of
human activity, embraces probably
ninety.five one-hundredths of the whole
grown up people, ara altogether too in.
telligent Ond 100 honest TO think that
communism will be OF any benefit TO
them or their iSmilies; but they believs,
that it is destructive OF private rights, OF
persLnAl prosperity and personal hap
piness, md II carried into practice, would
effect the maintenance OF the vieioHs
and the lazy aud the ignorant, out Of the
toll Of the intelligent aud industrious
people,"
How might the finances Of the couu
Sry be Affected by the moyement?"
"Ths finances OF the country always
depend very largely upon the confidence
that people engaged in business, and
people having capital have in the admin:
istrauon Of its Government. II any oil
the movements OF which We have been
speaking should appear SO formidable %
TO make uBsouna legislation OF Gil prob,
able, the finances Of the country you'd
bo very greatly disturbed, and that o.
course would disturb every branch o.
labor and business. This everybody
perfectly understand"