The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-04-18
EDMUNDS TALKS POLITICS.
The Farmers Alliance. Its strength and
Its Ends-The Coming Issues, Etc.

Its EnuS-Ehe coming ISSUES, ETC
WAsuINGToN, April G.-The Star
printed on Monday afternoon an interest
ing interview with Senator Edmunds
upon the present state of political affairs
A reporter found him in the Judiciary
committee-room of the Senate, where he
was occupied III disposing of various
odds and ends of work before retiring to
his home in Vermont for the summer.
Is not the present political situation
one of extraordinary interest and impor-
lance? the reporter asked, by way of
an introduction to broad and general
discussion.
"Yes," replied the senator, alter a
moments thought. Il think it is in one
sense as applied to one aspect of affairs,
namely, the Farmers Alliance subject.
In other respect do not see that it is
essentially different to what it has been
for several years. The attitude of the
two great parties, in respect to each
other and public affairs, is apparently
the same.
Iu respect to the Farmers Alliance
matter, it is, in its present form, new
experiment in this country, but not an
unnatural one. There have been analo.
gous foments in former times, but the
present condition makes the political
situation in this respect interesting and
and important. for what it's effect will
be upon the next national election, |
take it, no one can foresee with precision.
What gives rise to the feeling Of un-
rest which appears to be abroad in the
land?
think, Mr.. Edmunds replied, large
part of it arises from intrinsic qualities
of the human mind, which has it's periods
of rest and then of excitement, just as
nature has in respect to storms and dis
eases, and the time happens to come
when one of these periods of fevers is at
hand. Some people are trying to per-
suade farmers of the country, who al
ways have been and always will be the
most useful and important faction of the
community, that laws have been made
which operate uujustly upon them, and
that laws haze not been made which
would or should furnish them more
rapid and steady prosperity. In both
these cases, | think, they are in a large
degree mistaken, and in due time they
will discover it. Indeed | presume that
the largest part of the rejecting ones
perfectly understand That crops cannot
be increased by legislation, or debts
honestly paid by cheapening the value
of what is called money
The most of them, | think, understand
that money to be Of value and serve its
only true purpose must be stable, just
as every other measure must be, as o!
weight and quality. in dealing with C ON
modities or lands, and that il a farmer
agrees to sell his next We" crop for SO
many dollars he must be able to know
what that number of dollars will be good
for when he gets it. The most of them
must also know that any depreciation of
money or currency will, whenever there
comes break Gas there always does),
fall most heavily upon those who are
least able to bear that kind of calamity,
namely, those of small means aud those
dependent upon their daily avocation for
their support.
All these things have been proved by
actual experience in many countries for
many centuries. A discomfort, there
fore, resting upon such conditions will
soon cure itself, either by a return to a
better view Of things beforehand or by
the test of the disastrous sS pei II
which in these respects has always fol-
lowed such expedients as many of these
that are now being agitated.
What dangers to both parties and to
the country are there in the situation?
| don't think there is any danger to
the Democratic party, he said with a
faint smile, for in this respect all is fish
that comes 10 its net, or, indeed, goes
into the net of the Farmers Alliance;
for in the next Presidential election, if
the Farmers 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 the people, as it is called,
and the present House of Representa-.
tive, having a very large Democratic
majority of States as we'll as members,
would elect the Democratic candidate IN
a constitutional and regular way, al
though he may have carried the smallest
number of States.
AS to the danger of the Republican
party, it is that the Farmers Alliance
may carry in the next Presidential elec-
ton some States that would otherwise
vote for the Republican candidate, and
thus in effect, if there should be no cleo
ton by the people, give the election to
the Democratic candidate by the House
of Representatives.
THE ISSUES IN 1899.
What do you thiuk will be the issue of
the Presidential campaign proper? l
asked.
What | have said before substantially
answers your question. The Republi-
cans will doubtless stand by the same
ground for justice and equality of rights
among the citizens of the United States
and fair elections and for the protection
of American labor and industries that it
has maintained hitherto,
Do you think that silver will be an
issue in the next election?
don't think it will be an issue be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties, for l think that the Democratic
party will hardly wish 80 make the silver