The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-18

The interviews published in TIE TIMYs Of
l Sunday with farmers from all sections OF Viz
einia on the subject OF Third Party will DO
read with interest throughout the United
States. for, by common consent. the people Of
the country have always looked to Virginia to
find out what she thought whenever anything
new or startling in the political world was being
discussed. What will give additional interest
10 them also is the fact that they were had
with the leading farmers throughout the
State, and therefore present the intelligent
sentiment of our agriculturists.
As mentioned in a brief editorial allusion
TO this subject Sunday, it is gratifying 10
| note from these interviews that the farmers of
| Virginia are almost a unit in opposing the
! Third Party fallacy. Theold line Democratic
party they see is good enough for them, and
they propose in the future, as they have in
the past, to make it their chief reliance. They
reason. and with justice, that the Democratic
party of the country is the farmers friend,
and if they cannot secure wholesome legisla-
ton in their interest through the medium Of
that party it will be useless to try to do 30
through any new organization.
This is eminently sensible The Democratic
party is not only the avowed enemy of every
thing like class legislation and monopoly. but
1t recognizes the fact that agriculture is the
foundation of all prosperity and wealth. Ii
therefore has always sought in every legiti-
mate way to advance the interests of the az
ricultural element Of our population from
motives of right and principle. and although
there may be differences Of opinion among
the Democratic leaders of the country on GER
tain ideas deemed to be wild. mpractcable
and injurious -such as the sub Treasury
scheme for example--the party can always be
relied on to champion and defend whatever
will tend to enhance tho true welfare Of ali |
the people.
There is another reason. however, which |
must necessarily keep Southern farmers in |
the ranks of the Democracy, aud that is the |
prime necessity Of maintaining the integrity |
of Southern civilization and Southern society.
The Republican party is the acknowledged |
enemy Of Southern progress, and is eagerly
watching with iynx-like eyes the first
opportunity to further humiliate and
degrade this section by means of Force
bills and negro supremacy For Southern
white men to abandon the Democracy, there
fore and form a new political alliance, is sim
ply TO play into the hands of their enemies
and weaken their friends How any man in
the South can think seriously for moment
of thus committing political and social sui
eide surpasses comprehension No man of
Intelligence can contemplate the terrible con
dlti0n Of affairs which would result in the
South should the Republicans again at
tain 20 power in this section without q
'hudder. Society would be subverted
chaos and disorder would come again. and
The terrible scenes which characterized the
lark days Of reconstruction would be re-en-
acted. In comparison with these the free
and unlimited coinage of silver. the sub
Treasury scheme, and every other PROPOSE
ton alleged to be for the direct benefit Of the
agricultural classes sink into insignihcance.
'elf-defense and self protection are the first
avs of nature. and obedience to these laws de-
hands that Southern civilization should be
maintained at all hazards
Our State Alliance then. which meets here
o-day, will in all likelihood discuss fully and
ibly all matters relating to the welfare Of the
armers Of Virginia but il is safe TO predict
hat, after all SAID and done. they will realize
he paramount necessity of white supremacy
n the State. If they 60 they will discard at ;
nee all doubtful and dangerous experiments.
nd unhesitatingly renew their allegiance to ,
he only party which has, and will. make that ,
supremacy assured.