Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-15
PRESENT POLITICS.
AsuRvEy or THE FIELD BvAwsLL-
KNOWN ORATOR AND WRITER
Unsy Of ths Democrass TO Heartily
Espeuss the Cause Of the
Axriculturissa

Es0ouss the Cause OF the
Axricalturisss
10 1< Editor Of De Dispd,ch.
In full view of the whole Geld OF Amen-
can politics at this time. II cannot be de-
MED that there Is an imbroelio. Ana .ne
imbroglio makes it togey ahead OF us but
fog or no fog we have got TO move on ana
meet the future and make the best OF u.
So far as organisation goes the Dcmccratic
party and the Republican party are octn
intact, each holding its distinctive ground,
The one facing the other as they have been
doing for twenty-five years now. Judging
from the results of last falls elections the
Republican party IL perceptihly weaker
than il was two years before. by the
eame token we may safely say the
Democratic party Is perceptibly, stronger
than Il was two years before. though We
are not prepared TO assert that the IN
crease Of strength on the Democratic side
Is in direct ratio TO the decrease on the
Republican side. Still rs the two parties
etand before the country to-day the indi-
cations are 30 strongly in favor OF the
Democratic party that no well-informed
Democrat would be in the least afraid OF
national test Of popular power between
them.
THE FUTURE.
To-day il not tomorrow, however. and
before the time between now and Novem-
Der Of next year shall have oil gone py
there NAV be changes that will 80 shape
the result of the presidential eiectioan :,
ne not 20 give the race 70 the s"hs
nor the battle 10 the strong. The Farmers
Alliance is the forceful factor which, nom
present appearances, - TO be the decisive
agency in giving the sceptre TO the ono
one side or the other. IL the Alliance with
its allies should espouse the cause and the
candidates Of the Republican party spen TO
Enforcement would render the hepuonssn.
party irresistible. On the other band u
the Alliance shall ioin its fortunes with
the Democratic party there must be IN Al
most unprecedented triumph Tor the
Democrats. How may il be, though, IL
. tbe Alliance with it's allies deem 1t best tor
its own interests 10 set itself in the field az
n contestant with both the old parties TOR
the prize of the presidency
That IL the question; and thero "o nnu
Che imbroglio.
oUR FARMERS.
But Il may well be asked If it can be pos;
sible that the farmers OF this country VIII
for n moment think Of risking everything
for which they are contending in the peri
Ions adventure of new party IN the presi-
dental election; for il the Republican,
nartv-the party of the plutocracy-shall
secure the succession the Farmers ALI,
ance will find its measures OF redress ana
reform received with derision by an ohgar-
chic government of gold-bugs and monopo-
LETS Vet the Farmers Alliance is so
strong both in its cause and Its numbers
that II may lose its head and rashIy pring
about its own destruction.
LET Us ACT.
In view of this possibility IL behooves
The Democratic party now and all over the
Union. especially in the southern and west
ern States. TO be boldly making 1t known
that the rights and the interests of the
apriculturIsts of this country are 70 be
matters of especial consideration when the
marty of the people shall be intrusted
with the reins of government, again.
Heretofore tho farmers, as farmers,
have quietly moved along in the procession
of the people going TO the polls, making no
particular demands for their own particu-
lar interests, but willingly accepting IN
general terms the broad promises and
prophecies for the common good OF the
country. The time has come, however,
when the economic conditions OF the
country are so operatively. rulnous TO the
men Of agriculture that they have been
forced TO mass themselves industrially ana
MONEY oEsIIoN.
They say there must be largely-in-
creased volume Of money brought into
circulation: that the men who own land
must have the same opportunities and IA
cilities as the men who own stocks in the
money markets; that there must be lower
rates of interest for the farmer than he
can find anywhere now; that silver must
be put upon an equality with gold at the
minis of the Government. They demand,
too, that they be protected from monopo-
lies, from trusts, from extortlon and OPP.
preston of whatever character OF kind
ensuing from capital concentrated to crush
the man of small means when he Is an Cd
stacle in the way of men of large fortunes
madly bent upon making them illimitably
LARGER. In fine the farmers are crying out
for fair play all along the line. That is all
they want, and they mean to make
mighty effort to get 1t.
FARxKRs' ALLIANCE.
The Alliance as a new and sudden power
IN the land. springing into existence under
the impulse OF organization, could not be
expected to be wise or judicious In all the
measures il. may propose for righting the
wrongs that forced into formulation the
elements that compose it. Nevertheless, 1t
is sufficiently conservative to set at rest In
all intelligent minds whatever apprehen-
sion of ruin from rashness have been ex-
cited by its first appearance as factor in
notifies. The farmers of this country are
not Observation-Disclosures. On the con-
trary, they are the truest and trustiest OF
all American citizens whenever, wherever,
or however the security OF property
and the good order of society may
be concerned. They have solid values
a. stake, and they have sense enough TO
know il. In putting its foot down with all
its force upon sectionalism the Alliance
has entitled itself to the applause OF every
patriot in every section and every State OF
this Union. II has adorned itself with a
laurel-wreath that even the Democratic
party NAV covet. II has achieved by an
edict of the farmers of this Union closer
reconciliation that more than quarter or
O century has been otherwise able TO ao-
complish. This in itself makes the ALI
ance luminous with love of country-the
whole country. Such party-it party we
may call it--must have power. power WITH
the people and from them.
IT'S NUMBERS.
IL is said TO number from four to six
million voters already IN its ranks, and
every day Ia adding TO its hosts. Is IL then
saving too much TO say that the Farmers
Alliance will probably determine the re-
suit of the next presidential electionl
In its organism, in its antecedents,
IN all its principles, in all its associations.
the Democratic party is essentially the
party OF the people. To be consistent
with itself it must embrace the Alliance
aud be embraced by it.
SALTWATER DxMocRAT.