Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-31
The sub-Troasury Scheme.

The sub- Treasury scheme which has re-
ceived the endorsement Of so many of the
"Farmers Alliances" is O thing we'll cal
culated TO excite the hopes Of the agricul-
tural classes and cause them TO expect as
the result Of the formation of those al
liances condition OF prosperity hitherto
unknown to tho farmers and planters.
But these hopes are not all that the new
organization will experience. The mem
bers will soon desire to take charge OF the
politics Of the country and make the sup
port of their sub-Treasury scheme the con-
dition upon which they Will cast their
votes for candidates for public office
candidates belonging 10 either OF the ex-
listing parties. 'In union there is
strength" but the attempt OF such or
psnizations TO form third party nearly
always results In the defeat OF this new
party. II Is not the right sort OF union.
But Colonel j. II. Mcdowell, lifelong
Democrat and president Of the State Al
lance of Tennessee. is convinced that
third party can be successfully organized.
In Nashville special TO the Washington
Post of yesterday he is reportedas follows:
"There is no doubt that there Is very strong
sentiment in favor Of third party underlying the
current Of popular opinion. know congress
sIonal district In this State in which the voters
are largely In favor Of third party, and they
only need a leader 20 come boldly out and effect
party organization. This sentiment has slum-
bered for long time, but the publication OF Mr..
Cieyeland's silver letter has crystaiized IL into
an outspokon desire 70 form party in favor OF
free coinage. There II no question bat he
has weak med himself In tho southern States
"Do Won think there will be n third party
movement I'm '92 and will the Alliance support
IT." was asked.
"There win undoubtedly be n third party In
the field In the next presidential campaign, but
II viii be labor party, not an Alliance party.
OF course IL will receive the support OF the men,
pers OF the Alliance, but only their Individual
support, for the Alliance Is not political organi-
yation and cannot as an organization support
any political party. Here In the South the ALI
nnce Is principally composed Of Democrats and
In national affairs they are likely 10 vote the
Democratic ticket"
As We have had occasion to say hereto
fore, new and powerful organizations find
IL almost impossible to resist the tempta-
ton TO form athird party. Mr.. MCDOWELL
evidently thinks that the farmers will
make themselves felt in the next presi-
Dental election. but that In the South they
will do this inside the Democratic party;
they will not leave that party because its
members are not unanimous in supporting
the financial schemes of the Alliances.
We have heretofore given pretty full
statement of the sub-1reasury schemea adj
yocated by so many Farmers Alliances. We
need not repeat that statement. But we
may say that we would have every good
Democrat 10 make haste slowly" in this
matter. The questions raised by the Ali
ances involve the neutrality-suspicious. of
monetary science.
The spectacle of powerful government
issuing It's paper obligations by the mil
lion, calling these obligations money, and
then lending these millions of so-called
money to its citizens at low rate OF
interest is one which the world has never
witnessed. 1t will require time and study
10 enable the people TO pass intelligently
upon such proposition. We have
faith in the masses. They never do
wrong Intentionally. Let them study long
and thoroughly tho sub-Treasury scheme
which seems so plausible.