Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-22
VIRGINIA and the Alliance.

VIRGINIA il is not our fault. We have fur
nshed full and accurate reports of the
proceedings of the State Convention and
published all the resolutions, reports, and
demands" which have been made by
those whom we called allies" of the
Democratic party before the convention
assembled. and whom we have no idea of
denouncing now that they have finished
their work and returned home. Among
those allies of the Democratic party were,
however. some Republicans. We suppose
IL il allowable 10 Say that the convention
as body hardly measured up TO the
standard Of the Democratic State Conven-
tons Of Virginia. But il could scarcely be
expected that the old leaders of that party
would he willing to figure. before receiving
full information as to the designs of tho
new organization, in any such convention
as that which has just finished its labors
IL Richmond.
Our readers know what we think "a to
many If not most of the demands
made in the Ocala and Lynchburg plat
forms. We have several times described
the sub-Treasury scheme as visionary and
are not willing to believe that the people
of this country will ever lend their aid to
any such scheme. 1t would utterly ruin
the best financial system in the world
and make the United States the laughing
stock of all Christendom. We now have a
circulating medium of fifteen hundred
millions of dollars. II Congress were to
add five hundred millions of irredeemable,
full legal-tender treasury notes to that
sum the purchasing power of the cur
Iency, despite its nominal increase
by 33h per cent. would not be
increased by per cent, but would be
reduced. As there is no royal road to
learning so there Is no royal road TO fnan-
cial success. We must all tread the beaten
path if we would reach commercial or
agricultural prosperity. The Government
cannot make real money. No man can
make real money unless he mines the gold
and silver. Paper money is no money at
al::except in so far as it is redeemable IN
real money. Nevertheless, we cannot but
feel that there is some way leading out of
the present condition of thugs. We must
wait with patience until we can see
the path which the rural classes are feel
ing after.
We hardly know what 10 say as to the
demand for graduated income-tax. Un-
questionably 1t would he q popular tax if
only it could be made to reach everybody
who ought to pay II and force everybody
to pay his full share of il. Nothing but
the sense of justice of the masses could
- fay
how, seeing that II would fall upon no
body whose income did not exceed two or
three OF perhaps five thousand dollars a
year.
We DO not feel uneasy as to the de-
mands" made for Government regula-
tion or Government control of railroads.
As we said yesterday. the railroads can gen.
orally take care of themselves. The peo-
pie also an take care of themselves. The
demand tor the election OF men to the
Legislature who are not employed by the
railroads is not "a reflection upon the legal
profession. The Alliance men evidently
meant only to signify their belief that If
there was to be conflict between the
Legislature and the railroad companies
the people would do well TO elect lawyers
on their own side of the question. We
trust. however. that there is to be no such
conflict. There is no necessity for 1T. The
railroads are willing to do whatever Is
right in the premises and if not, tho Gen
eral Assembly can exercise all Its powers
in the effort to control them in the inter
est OF the people without keeping up or
countenancing warfare upon these in
dispensable commentaries. Every OBJ
struction thrown in the way of railroad
enterprises and every attempt to shackle
railroads unnecessarily must result in in-
Jury to the people for whom the railroads
were constructed.
We cannot but approve the Alliance de-
mand for judges, legislators, and other
Government officials who do not accept
free passes at the hands of railroad com
panies OF any class, kind, length, or in
fucnce. 1t does not please the people to
see their servants either in the cities or
The rural districts paying their way on pub
JIG conveyances with coupons.
As to the abolition of the national banks |
we beg leavs to say that we must do IN |
their case as the Virginia Alliance Conven- |
ton did in tho case of the sub-Treasury |
scheme. They declared that they wanted |
the sub-Treasury scheme or something |
better. So we say "a to the national |
banks-we want them or something better. |
We do not believe that there were any in |
fallible financiers in the Virginia Alliance |
Convention, and We are not going TO fol- |
low the lead of fallible financiers who |
propose 20 take US into strange and dan |
gerous places. There are so few bank |
notes now in circulation that il they |
were all withdrawn their disappearance
from the channels Of currency would |
hardly be noticed. Our own opinion, fire. |
quently expressed, Is that our financial
system is the best in the world. He, there
fore. will be truly skilful fnancier and
banker who can devise better system. |
We must know the man. however. and un-
derstand his new system before We give in
CUR allegiance TO it.
But enough for to-day on this subject.