Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14

ASHlNGION, ID. c., SAT
sighting for reform which win protect them
tralizing or class measures proposed by the
Farmers Alliance, which are designed to make
them the beneciaries of such Legislation % il now
improperly enjoyed by those Who have grown
.,Sn on Of upon the people and
one as we do the other. Our function is to re-
peal.
There 10 no wisdom or justification for the
special legislation In the interests Of money
Lenders. manufacturers and the seekers of sub
sidy. Every subsidy, Of whatever character,
Is an assessment upon the taxpayers without
their consent . robbery under the form of law
The Supreme Court and all the other courts
when they have had chance to pass upon such
legislation have invariably pronounced it rob-
berry. But by subtlety and deception. by in
spring the masses with sectional and senti-
mental politics, the republicans have been able
to continue this systematic robbery through
many years. The time has about come when
the people see it and il must cease, or it will
become question merely Of whom shall do the
stealing. The Farmers Alliance. labor organi-
cations, socialism, communism or whatever
form the opposition may take. will come into
power by the bloodless revolution Of the ballot
and BY the same legal forms by, which they
have been robbed, will proceed TO take back
the stolen property; they will grant subsidies
upon farm products, upon horses and CATTLE
corn, wheat, rye, barley, DC. They will not
borrow. They will take, just as their substance
has not been borrowed but taken from them.
''All this is involved in the present situation
OF unrest and very much will depend upon
the result of the next presidential election. II
we can succeed in starting the reforms which
the democratic party is struggling for, if we
can begin to correct the abuses from which the
people are suffering. the arguments and provo
cation which are leading and forcing men to
retaliation will be removed. II we are defeated
and subsidies are continued to the manufacture
ers and others in various ways and forms, those
people who with the aid of the republican
party have been growing rich by taxation levied
upon labor will be destroyed by the men they
have long oppressed, and for whom they have
contempt An income tax, inexorably enforced,
can be tur ned upon them to their ruin.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
1.-THE free coinage of silver does not belong
among those things which the Farmers ALI
ance demand for their special benefit, which
may be termed special legislation. 1t means the
repeal OF present class legislation. 1t is within
constitutional bounds and cannot be subject to
the objections which are urged against subsi-
dies on the one hand. farm loans and subtreas-
ury schemes on the other. The democratic
party, with perfect consistency and without over
stepping the constitutional bounds, could put
free coinage Of silver in their platform. All
AHoW tidt tulS is Tue money OF the CONSTITUTION.
But they may not consider it wise Mt this
time to g. even as far as to make free coinage
vital test. Men are not members of party by
compulsiou. The last national platform of the
democrats had nothing in it about free coinage;
the republicans brought up that issue then in a
spirit OF demGgoguery, and now they run
ming from the issue. think it likely that free
coinage, as a matter Of temporary forbearance
to advance points we are all united upon, may
find no place in the next democratic platform.
Our party should offer a place of refuge to
liberal and conservative men of all classes, with
substantial relief to the masses, without which
gerous politics"
UNNECESSARY AND rMpoLrrIc
STAR reporter had long talk with Mr..
Oates Of Alabama today. Mr.. Oates said that
while no one could help admiring the courage
Of Mr.. Cleveland, he regarded the writing of
the letter as unnecessary and impolitic. 1T is
like the man, he said. ''It was so with his tariff
message. In that he might have called atten-
Of duties, and it would not have hurt him. But
he was not willing to let it rest there. He went
into great detail and told how it must be done.
In this case his position was known and there
was no necessity Of his saying more. like him
and greatly admire him. He is strong and able
his party associates in Congress particularly
angry for the reason that they have been work.
ing SO hard for this measure and at this critical
moment comes the letter to annoy them. can
sympathiZe with Mr.. Cleveland and understand
his position. l have been greatly in doubt on
this question myself and have voted against
free coinage, but should vote for the Vest bill.
for the reason that believe that a majority of
the whole country want free silver.
TIE EXTENT OF THE MOVEMENT.
'The movement is not confined to the agri-
culturists of the south and west, but the labor
ing people all over the east are in it. Free sill
yer is an experiment. 1t may be a dangerous
one. do not know, but this is a great conn
try and what a majority of the people want
they are apt to have and to maintain. The
Farmers Alliance and the labor organizations
are almost as a man on this question. 1t is an
issue that the democrats can afford to
take the popular side Of It will be lead
ing issue in the campaign. We have won on
the tariff, but it will not have the force of
new issue in the campaign. We will be obliged
to pass tariff bin at the next Congress,
and we will not then be in as safe
position as when we were merely
criticising the Mckinley bill. We cannot make
a tariff bill, however good, that will not offend
some people. Here is o vast element all over
the country asking for free coinage; most of
our folks favor it. and the party espouse
the cause without sacrifice OF principle. There
fore think this letter was unfortunate.
WILL SET MANY AGAINST HIN.
"Mr. Cleveland was very strong among the
alliance men and the laborers of the country,
on account Of his position on the tariff, but I
fear that this letter is going to set many of
them against him. They are united on silver and
feel it to be matter in which lie their
vital interests. This movement. this political
revolution, we are all conscious OF. The up
rising OF the people, with q determination to
have something to say on economical and
social questions has communism at the bottom
Of it. II We do not yield something to the dis
contented people of the land, the communistic
element. which is not numerically SO strong
and does not show itself openly, win get con-
troll of the movement. We must recognize the
wishes OF the people and relieve them from
those things they complain Of. 1t is better to
give them free silver and other things they ask
for than to stubbornly resist them and to drive
them to communism.
Returning to Mr.. Cleveland's letter. I think
it will defeat free coinage if we get q vote on
it in the House.. think we had q small ma
jority for it on q direct vote, but democrats
who would have voted with the majority of the
party will follow Mr.. Cleveland"
A COLORED LAWYER RATTIED