Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-06-17
Southern Farmers and the Force Bill.

The Western farmers seem determined
on the formation of third party. Even
Ohio, where the agriculturists in conven-
ton recently decided TO stick by the two
old political organizations, it is stated that
the farmers will enter actively, and as a
body, into the campaign, and in many of
the counties and in not few of the soma
toTial districts farmers tickets will be
placed in nomination.
However the third party movement may
affect the farmers of the West, those Of the
South must necessarily discard all outside
alliances and remain loyal to the Democ-
racy. AS has already frequently been
shown in these columns, this is necessity
arising from the demands of self-protec-
ton and self representation. So long as
social equality between the races remains
the chief cornerstone of the Republican
party, so long must every element of the
white population of the South sticl, closely
together to guard their civilization. They
cannot commit social suicide, as they would
most assuredly do if by any act of theirs
they jeopardized Democratic SUCCESS and
permitted the Republican party to regain
power.
There is yet another menace which s9ri--
ously threatens to disturb and ruin Tie
South in Csc of Republican supremacy,
and that is the Force bill. That infamy is
only scotcbed not killed, and is certain to
be revived just as soon as the Southern
hating Republican party finds itself in posi-
ton to warm it into new life. Senator
German, of Maryland, whose heroic fight
against this revolutionary measure will
always be gratefully remembered, expresses
most emphatically the opinion that the bill
10 or
cordially Endorsed by equally as firm a
friend of the South, Senator Faulkner, of
West Virginia. This gentleman predicts
that Republican SUCCESS st the next election
will not only revive the Force bill, bnt guch
| success would fasten that measure upon the
South.
How, with his social and political life
thus Threatened, can the Southern f,rmer
| mink Ior munienJ I'll ruGni7~ TIC E;sk of
again turning the country o7.4 to the ter
der mercies of republicanism by deserving
the Democracy and allying himself with
the untried and doubtful experiment of a
third or "National" party? Outside of any
other consideration, there is no necessity
for his taking any such position. The
Democratic party has always proven itself
the tried and true friend of the farmers, as
of every other class of our population, and
never permitted an opportunity to pass to
advance their interests, Experience of the
past has abundantly shown that not only
the farmers of the South but of the entire
country can possibly do no butter than
trust their fortunes with the party of the
people. Certainly they cannot expect to
better themselves by any action which
makes possible return to power of the
party which, throughout its existence, has
invariably shown itself the friend of nc
nopoy and the advocate of advancing the
interests of the few at the expense of the
many.
Whatever others may do, then, the
Southern farmers must remain Democratic.
Social integ :ity and political liberty are
vitality necessary to their existence, and
they cannot afford to bring ruination on
themselves by directly or indirectly aiding
and abetting the party of negro equality
and bayonet ule.-Richmond Times.