Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-20
THURSDAY. AUGUST 20. 1891.
The Alliance Convention.


the future 70 discuss the platform Of prin-
ciples or list OF measures which the VIZ
ginia State Alliance deems worthy OF the
consideration and approval Of the people
everywhere. We cannot say that we are ut
ali surprised by the demonstration which
we have had before us here in Richmond
this week. We saw the cloud no bigger
than mans hand "a 1t marched up the
western political sky. and we endeayored
70 keep our readers thoroughly posted as
TO what was probably coming. over ana
over again have we printed the Ocala plat
form. Day after day have we warned tho
money-changers that instead Of making
gold contracts they would do well 70 collect
in any good money what was owing
20 them. Again and again we have at
tempted 10 show TO the people who do us
the honor to read our editorials that to
nominate a monometallist for President OF
the United States would, under existing
circumstances, lie an act of suicidal folly
on the part Of tie Democratic party, seeing
that the people are bent upon having the
dollar Of the daddies coined in sufiicient
quantities 10 enable every man in the COM
munity to jingle at least two OF them IN MS
pocket. 1.-TWO dollars n day and roast
beefn was the cry relied upon to elect
President of the United States a genera
ton or two ago. 1T least two dollars III
silver must constitute the silver lining
which il soon 10 ornament the pockets OF
the masses of the hard-working people.
Fewer dollars than two will not Jingle"
The BENTON mint-drops were gold, we
think. but our folks will content them
selves with silver mnt-drOps
We do not forget that the next Congress
ia already elected. The next House OF
Representatives will be Democratic by an
Overwhelming majority. whilst the Senate
will be Republican. SO that there is no
occasion for alarm at present. But the
fact that the peoples hands are thus tied
il the very fact which will furnish the fuel
that will blaze upon the Alliance fires. A
presidential term Is short time for an is
sue to last which causes the voters to di-
vide themselves into two large parties.
We say that there is no occasion for alarm.
The people will do what they consider
right. They never fail to do Alright. That
is to say, they never fail to try to do Alright.
All men are liable TO err. But the masses
NAV be so badly treated as to render them
incapable OF forming just opinions. And
when we consider their standing
grievance-namely, that the men who do
all the work receive less money tor doing
il than the rest receive for doing nothing
we cannot but feel the force OF the ap-
peals which these hard-working men make
for even-handed justice. We acknowledge
that we cannot see the way that Is to lead
the world out of troubles OF this kind.
at is all a middle" But we think we
can see that in the case before us blind
unbeief is sure to err" Why will wall
street and Wall streets correspondents
persist in a course of conduct that cannot
but result in injury to the best interests of
our beloved land2 Why cannot men so
sbreyd in dealing in bonds and stocks and
money see that all these things derive their
valne from the recognition of the rights OF
property by the community generality
Possibly the Alliance movement may be
"a short-lived as was the Greenback party.
What swath this latter party cnt in 1878 !
How greenbacks promised to become as
plentiful as the leaves of the forest! How
the leading Greenback organ in Virginia
called upon Congress to snow green
backs ITO cover the ground with them,
not in layer one-sixteenth of an inch
thick. but several feet thick! How the
ignorant masses flattered themselves that
they would walk the streets of the cities
and the highways of the country with
their pockets full of UNCLE SANS Treasury
notes. Are we not about to repeat that
experience
1t il happy thing for the people of the
United States, who are so often ridden by
demagogues. that radical measures cannot
become laws suddenly and without due
consideration. If the people are now II
favor Of the sub-Treasury system that Is nc
sign that they will be in favor Of 1t IN 1879.
or thereafter. On tho other hand If the
people are now favorable to that scheme
and shall continue TO favor it until they
are afforded a chance TO enact il into law
this fac. will be good evidence that it is {
meritorious measure. As at present adj
vised we regard il as visionary and imprac
ticable; but We are willing TO hear what
can be said in advocacy of it. Here delay
will work for the men who are in the right
Error rs harmless when reason is left FREE
to combat it," We have all learned tina
lesson from Mr.. JEFFERSON and from ex
perience.