The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-07-09
THE ALLIANCES STAND.
PRESIDENT STOKES TALKS OF THE
NEW PEOPLES PARTY.


ORANGEBURG, 5. c., June Co.
Ever since the thirl party was promul'
gated there has been a certain amount
of curiosity Throughout the state and
elsewhere as to how DR.. j. w. Stokes,
president Of the South Carolina State
Alliance, stood on the matter.
This curiosity has amounted to anX-
iety and every once and a while some
one Of the states weekly journals comes
out with the great question of the hour:
"HOw does the president Of the Alliance
stand on the third party question:"
TO satisfy these papers and the public
generally, your correspondent visited
President Stokes at his office yesterday
and asked his views concerning the
third, or peoples party.
DIR. Stokes seemed perfectly willing
Tor chat, and what he had to say give
as follows:
ut docs seem .hat our newspaper
friends will get Icrvous every once in a
while, and then they try to make others
nervous and clamOr for somebody's
views on this or that question. | have
frequently expressed my views upon
cOgnate questions, ard have quite re-
Gently been in print upon the specific
questi, OF Alliance relation to the new
party, so that our inquistors are respon-
sible for the repetition.
"First, then. as to the action Of the
Cincinnati contcrcnce.' AS we UNDER
stand the proceedings Of that body, it
did not erect itself into a separate party.
Indeed, one plank in its declaration of
purposes explicitly scts forth a refusal
to erect party until the results of GER
tam other conferences to meet in '92 are
ascertained.
'Still, its avowcd purpose is to as
sumo distinct party cXistcncc, unless
satisfactory concessions are made before
the campaign of '92 opens.
"lts platform hugs the lines of Alli-
ance demands very close; and hence
good alliance men must regard 1t as q
good platform to fight on if Il separate
light is determined upon neAt year,
whether they elect to fight on 1t or not.
~. AS to the attitude of the Southern
Alliance towards the new party,-if it
become a party. 1t is isassumed that the
question has exclusive reference to ma
tlOnal ISSUES; Tor why should any new
party be recognized in local and state
politics aL the South? Surely the farmer
has the remedy for local abuses here, if
any exist, in his own hands. lie knows
this, and he is reasonably content with
his local affairs; his principal complaints
relate to a national legislation, and his
demands are addressed to national par-
ties.
"Oncc again, then, let us repeat that
tie Alliance will never assume any at
tltudc toward the new party, any more
IL a.,
ties. It's constitution does not admit o
lts assuming an attitude toward any par
ty whatever; and it would be bad policy
IL the constitution allowed. Its function
Is purely educational. 1t seeks to ar
rive AT anu promulgatc economic truth;
and then leave the conscience (political
as we'll as rellglous) OF the membership
Tree to express Itself in its own way.
"As q matter OF course, since the
platform OF the proposed new party con-
cure so closely with the conclusions al
ready reached by thc Alliance, its claims
upon the individual conscience OF Ali
ancc men must needs challenge careful
consideration. If the old parties turn
their backs upon the demands Of this
long suffering class Of people, if only in
coldncss, the case will assume great
gravity. II, however. as now seems de-
plorably prevalent, the Democratic
press and leaders, not only turn in cold
ness-but, refusing to listen with pa
tlcnce, ntolcrantly attempt to read out
OF the party all who are slow to accent
their dogma as to men and measures. |
the situation will assume the proportions
OF political tragedy.
'Ilns Is no mere alarmist uttcrance, |
An opinion Of existing conditions is |
asked; and frank, honest judgment, if |
any, should be given. And our dcliber-
ate Judgment is that if the current intol-
Grant expressions Of Democratic leaders
and papers fairly represent the spirit that
Will dominate the party, the party must
calculate upon losing Il goodly number
OF It's hitherto sturdy adhclcnts-bcar in
mind the national party is referred to.
1.-The Alliance masses honestly think
That the Alliance demands are more
than the Democratic party
is at presents; but they are
willing to submit their case to the arbi-
trament of reason before the masses of
the party, il met in spirit Of fairness
and tolerance. And why should ALI
hncr men not strive to control party rs
muci as ant-silver democrats? They
find in the Alliance demands every sub
reform that the Democracy has
conlcndcd for since its organization.
BESIDES these, they find certain demands
aimed at conditions that have arisen
since the organization Of the party
winch conditions are equally obnoxious
|" true democratic principles. In short,
lhcy lind in these demands more of the
spirit and principles of genuine democra-
cy, than appears in the practice of the
party which bears the name.
Take Tor instance the tarn and
linansial issues Of the Alliance for which
u has been most abused. The Demo.
cratic press and leaders have denounced
lhe Alliance most bitterly because it
VIII not make the tariff the single issue
next year; and yet seeking to look at the
question broadly as patriots, it is app,r-
ent that the difference between thc
Democratic tariff tax upon the people as
proposed IN the Mills bill, and that Of
the Republicans, as expressed in the
Nc kinley bill, is not proporuonate TO
the radical difference between tho Dn. i