Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-04-17
Senator Edmunds Gives HIS Views or
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WASHINGTON. April S.-The Star
has long interview with Senator Ed
munds on the general political situa-
ton. Speaking OF the farmers alli-
ance movement the senator said that
some people are trying to persuade
the farmers that laws have been made
which operate unjustly upon them and
that laws have not been made that
would furnish them with more rapid
and steady prosperity. He thinks
they are to large degree mistaken
and in time will discover it. Indeed.
he presumes that the largest part OF
rejecting farmers understand that
crops cannot be increased by legisla-
ton or debts honestly paid.
Asked what the dangers were to
both the great parties in the situation,
the senator said that If in the next
presidential election the farmers alli-
ance should carry many states without
having majority OF the electoral COL
lege there would be no election by the
people, and the present house OF rep
resentatives. being largely democratic,
that party would elect its candidate.
AS to the danger OF the republican
party, it is that the alliance may carry
some states that would otherwise go
republican, and %hus. if there was no
election by the people, give the cleo
ton to the democratic candidates.
Asked If he thought silver would be
an issue in the next campaign. the sem
ator did not think it would be an issue
between the republican and democratic
parties. for he thinks that the demo-
cratic party will hardly wish to make
it an issue to the extent of running any
considerable risk of separating gold
and silver as the coin money of the
country, and certainly the great body
OF the republicans will not. Up to the
point OF safety the republican party
will be in favor of using silver as
money, as it always has been.
What the farmers alliance platform
will be- If the party should nominate
presidential candidate, he could not
say. The third party movement"
continued Senator Edmunds. 'undoubt-
edly exists in the farmers alliance. II
successful to the extent of getting the
president and congress it would doubt
less lead to the enactment OF measures
that they have indicated, and whether
they were good or bad for the farmers
would soon be known" The senator
did not think communism is at the bot
tom of the farmers movement and
added that the percentage OF commun-
lists in this country he believes to be
very small. AS capital was always
watching the conditions Of the govern
ment OF the country, the success OF any
movement which would render unsound
legislation probable would greatly dis
turb the finances of the country, and
that. OF course, would reach every
branch OF labor and business.
ROME April 8.-Cardinal Lavigie's
toast at Algiers and the events which
rapidly followed that striking utter
ance are still much discussed in church
circles. Everything clearly indicates
the decided drift Of the Catholic church
toward modern democracy. But those
who have enjoyed the confidence of
Pope Leo know that he has ALWAYS
considered it OF prime Importance for
the church to free itself from identifi-
cation with old dynastic properties.
But 1t was necessary to move slowly so
as to wound royalist ana aristocratic
susceptibilities as little as possible. In
all countries the pope has favorite cor
respondents, upon whose advice he
places special reliance, and who
are charged with carrying out
his personal policy. Cardinal Lavi-
gier is one of these and
when on October 9 last Cardinal
Lavigere arrived in Rome the Pope
charged him personally with the i'm
portant religious and political mission
OF bringing the church in France into
harmony with the republic. Lawyers
speech brought u storm OF letters to
the vatican. All France grew infuri-
ated. While the idea OF the text was
suggested and approved by the vati-
can, the form it took was not satisfac-
tory. The ardent primate of Africa
went somewhat beyond bounds. He
attacked the old parties and tainted
them with having been in alliance with |
Boulangism. But this vigorous lam
guage had good side. 1t made all
France understand Enthusiastically that
the church intended TO break with the
past. There was no more equivocal
meaning. The pope said with regard
to this: THE cardinal has done right.
1t was necessary to strike a great blow
in order to get out Of this condition OF
hesitancy and confusion"
The letter of Cardinal Rampolla to |
the bishop OF Tours repeated in gen
tier form the advice given in Algiers.
The support OF the whole Episcopal |
body shows that the work has been
successful. 1t will come to pass in
spite OF the opposition of parties. The |
pope sees that the future belongs to |
the democracy. He is convinced tina.
the United States will furnish form
for the conclusions OF European soci-
ETY. as well as eclesiastic questions. He |
believes sincerely that Europe is march
ing towards democracy. with republi-
can institutions as the predestined goal.
In his character as pontitf he dare not |
say so, but Cardinal Lavigier's address
was an echo OF close conversation with
Leo. Observations which reached the
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