Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-07
A Better Way.

As we suspected, the president OF the
National Alliance when he said, in hicn-
mond, that the lower house of Congress
would not pass a free coinage bill TINS
Winter, or if it did that it would be in the
belief that the Senate would veto It, 10
spoke in the interest of third party move
ment ard to discredit the Democratic party:
It has not been very long since Colonel
Polk laughed at the idea Of third party
as a medium through which the Alliance
would seek its redresses and reforms. 1t
was very far from his thought or the
thought of any prominent Southern Al
lance men to work outside the channels OF
the party to which they belonged, but it
did not take very long to change the tune,
and now things appear to be so that MOTH
ing but third party will do for some. The
main effect of the Alliance agitation in the
South now is to make Democrats dissatis-
fed with their old party ties. 60 that they
may break away and weaken the forces
upon which they have hitherto relied for
every political success that has been achiev-
ed in the South since the war. Every de-
vice and scheme that could be thought of
has been used during the past two decades
to accomplish this objeot-to disorganizs
and render, politically impotent the States
that have large negro populations; or, to
subject them to bondage through the negro
vote, but without success, because the
farmers have been solid for the principles
of Jefferson and for the maintenance Of
honest, safe administration in local Gev-
eminent. Now the idea Of redressing the
few real and the many fancied wrongs OF
agriculture is brought to bear for the pur-
pose of accomplishing what nothing else
has accomplished. 1t is sought to divide
and weaken.
United we stand, divided we fall Those
who would have us fall are seeking to dt-
vide us, with this maxim fully in view
Have our farmer friends ever thought OF
how effectually they could express theil
political views and purposes by going, Of
we have often urged them to do, to the prl
maries of their party and thus make them
selves felt through the regular channels
| 1t is far easier to exercise influence. .py
| adopting already organized and WORKING
machinery, whether social or POLITICAL
How many of the farmers in Virginia who
| now belong to the Alliance and are listen
| ing to the teaching of POLITICAL heterodoxy
ever attended their primaries when nomlna'
| tions we're to be made? How many evel
stopped the plow for a few hours and rode
across the county to see that good mar
should be sent to the General Assembly
| If the farmers had taken as much interest
for the past five years in their county, State
and National politics as they are now ap,,
parently taking in the Alliance and third
party movement they would have already
found themselves in possession OF every al
vantage they seek, which is reasonable
They would have Democratic administra
ton at Washington. They would have
greatly modified tariff and would have all
the benefits that come from conservative
and we'll regulated Government. Tht
farmers of the country can always hav'
equal share in the Government and Civ
character to it if they will take an interes
in their politics. The trouble is that the.
grow Indifferent and let local politics rur
themselves, just as the people of city d.
often. and the natural consequence of thi
is that control drifts into other, and oftel
into alien hands.
If our Alliance friends-we mean thu
members-not the leaders alone-will re-
fleet, they will easily conclude with US thai
all they need to attain in politics can be at
tanned with much greater certainty AM
wi bout any risk by giving the same atteE
ton to their regular party politics that the
are giving to Alliance politics. The thir.
party idea is delusion and snare as vii
much more fully appear when perhaps it
too late to avoid the snare or prevent tn
delusion -" Norfolk Landmark"