The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-16
what Issues viii be Presented7

What Issues Will be Presented7
The conference which will meet in Cir
cinnati next Tuesday will, doubtless. adopt
resolutions of some sort, in which the politi-
cal principles Of its members will be stated.
1t cannot very well avoid making a state
ment of this kind. because failure to do so
would be equivalent to an acknowledge
ment that there was no reason for its ex-
istence.
There is. Of course, a very general desire
to know what new issues, il any, it will pre-
sent viii it favor the doctrine of protec-
tion. or free trade or a tariff for revenue
onlyi VIII it dems d the free coinage Of
silver. or only the coinage of all the silver
produced in this country Will it indorse
the sub-treasurY plan, and will it give more
importance to that plan and the currency
question than to the TARIFF
Although the farmers alliance will not,
it is understood, take any part in the con-
ference, it will have its representatives
present for the purpose of keeping itself
Informed respecting the sentiment among
the delegates relative to a new party. And
while little or nothing may be done at Gin
cinnati toward starting new party, it may
be determined from what is said there
whether new party is practicable or not.
The fact that such a prominent alliance
man as Congressman Jerry Simpson of
Kansas is now saying that the tariff is the
only national issue in which alliancemen are
deeply interested, and that the sub-treasury
plan is species Of class legislation, justi-
fies the statement that the alleged Cincin-
natl reformers will find it difficult to pre-
sent any new issues which will attract
attention throughout the country. or con-
vince any considerable number of people
that there is any reason for a new party.
If the sub-treasury plan is class legislation
it would not answer as the basis of a politi-
cal party. 1t would only array all other
classes against the class to be benefited. A
party, therefore. having it for its main issue
would not stand much chance for success.
The tariff is an issue which touches all
classes. And the farmers are waking up
to the fact that they are much more deeply
interested in it than they have heretofore
understood they were. They have been told
often that they sell in the cheapest and buy
in the dearest market, but for some unac-
countable reason the majority of the west
ern farmers have, until recently, voted to
continue that policy. 1t is evident that no
class of people that buy in the dearest and
sell in the cheapest market can be prosper
Gus, and the main reason the farmers find
it so difficult 20 bear their burdens is that
they have been doing that very thing.
But if the Cincinnati conference should
advise that this policy be changed it would
present no asis for new party, because
the effort Of the Democratic party for years
has been to change it. All that it is neces-
sary to do to change it is to give the Demo-
cratic party control of the legislative and
executive branches of the government.
1t is difficult to see what issue or issues
the Cincinnati conference can present that
will appeal strongly to the people. And if
it can present no such issues it would be
folly to attempt to start new party. An
assortment Of complaints against existing
parties and demand for legislation Tor the
benefit Of one or more classes would not do
for found alton for a new party.