The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-04-14
EpmUNos EXPLAINS.
Tho Farmers' Alliance makes tho situa-
tion Interesting.

~ tton interesting.
WASHINGTON, April 12. The Star re-
Gently published two column interview
with Senator Edmunds upon the present
political situation and outlook. AS be-
tween the two great parties the Senator
does not see any great difference be.
tween the situation now and what it has
been for several years, but as to the
Farmers Alliance the situation is one of
extraordinary interest and Importance
because of its possible effect upon the
next national election. The reporter
asked: "What dangers to both parties
and to the country are there in the
situation
II do not think there is any danger
TO the Democratic party" the Senator
replied with a faint smile. "For in this
respect all is fish that comes to its net,
or indeed goes into the net of the
FARMERS Alliance, for the next Presi-
dental election if the Farmers Alliance
should carry many States without hay
ing majority of tho whole electoral
college the simple result would be
that there would be no election by the
people, as it is called, and the present
House OF Representatives, having a
very large Democratic majority of States
as well as members, would elect Dem
ocratic candidete in a Constitutional
and regular way, although he may have
carried the smallest number of States.
AS to the danger of the Republican
party, 1t Is that the Farmers Alliance
may carry in the next Presidential cleo
tion some States that would otherwise
vote for q Republican candidate, and
thus in effect, IL there should be no elec
ton by the people, give the election to
the Democratic candidate by the House
of Representatives"
what do you think will be the issue
OF the Presidential campaign parties ?"
"The Republicans win doubtless stand
by the same ground for Justice and
equality of rights among the citizens of
the United States and fair elect and
for the protection of American la abor and
industries that it has maintained hith-
erto."
"Do you think silver will be an issue
in the next election 2"
81 don't think it will be an issue be-
tween the Republicans and Democrats,
for ! think that the Democratic party
will hardly wish to make the silver uues-
tlon an issue to the extent of running
any considerable risk Of separating silver
and gold as coiu money for the country
and certainly the great body of the
Republican party L am sure will not up
to the point of safety. l have no doubt
but that the Republicans will be in favor
of using silver as money as it always has
done. What the Farmers Alliance plat.
form, II it should nominate q Candidate
for President, will be am quite unable
to say
"How is the feeling of the union
among certain classes to be metz"
Il think it is to be met as every other
disturbance in society ought to be, by a
candid consideration, by correct infor.
nation, just reasoning and the enact
ment OF such laws as may fairly appear
to be for the promotion of the general
public good. Itis upon such considera.
lions that every government of the
people must be carried on"
us the third party movement likely
and If So. what might it lead to? Is
com munism at the bottom of it?"
"A third party movement" replied
the Senator, "does not exist in the Farm.
ers' Alliance enterprise. If successful
to the extent of having President and
both houses Of Congress, itwould doubt
less lead to the enactment of the mea
sures they have already indicated, and
then in very short time whether those
measures were good for the farmers OF
extremely bad for them would mani
festly appear. l do not think that
communism is at the bottom of the
Farmers Alliance movement. The per,
centage of communism in this country
is, | believe, almost inlinitesimally
small. The great body of the labor,
ing people of the country, which taking
all the departments Of human activity
embraces probably Dinety-iive one hun.
dr@dths of the whole number of grown
up people who are altogether too intelli
gent and honest to think that commun
ism will be of any benefit tothem or their
families, but they believe that it is des,
| tructiye of private rights, of personal
prosperity and personal happiness, and
it carried into practice would effect the
maintenance of the vicious and lazy
| and ignorant out of the toll of intelli
gent and industrious people,"
"HOw might the finances of the coun
try be affected by this mOvement?"
"The finances of the country always
depend very largely upon the confidence
that people engaged in business and
people having capital have in the ad
ministration Of it's government. II any
OF the movements of which we have
been speaking should appear so formi
dable as to make unsound legislation at
all probable, the finances of the country
would be very greatly disturbed, and
that, OF course, would disturb every
branch of labor and business. This
everybody perfectly understands"
FIFTY Liyes Lost