The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-09
POLITICS FOR 1892.
Blaine, Harrison and Something About
the Alliance Party.
CLEVELAND AND SILVER

WAsnISGroH, D. c., JAN. 1.-The con-
tingcnt clamoring for Blaine as again
the presidential Richmond must take
him rather for what he was than what he
now is. The disparity Of comparison be-
tween the man twenty years ago and now
is marked Then he had pluck, dash,
aggressive force, the qualities to dazzle.
The Blainessof to-day no is more than the
slippered Pantaloon. Not only has age
touched him with lis infrmity, but in
every attribute which heretofore marked
him great the decadence is too manifest.
This man has been the striking charac-
ter in American history. But he never
won his honors save in the battles of his
party In action superb, creative, magnet
ic, courageous, passive, though the trans
ition is so great as to be the metamor-
phosc.
When Mr.. Blaine became Dir. Harrison s
secretary of State he placed himself in
voluntary exile. The large following
which had faithfully followed under the
white plume of his leadership was lost.
Either powcrlcss to aid them or disin-
clincd, he did not. His became the exile 5
life, and access to him almost barred
His interest suddenly became self inter
est only, and those who had claims upon
his generosity were expected 10 remain
contcut with his own elevation.
This criticism MAY indeed seem harsh
but it is trruc as Holy Writ The active,
virilc, relentless slim Blaine" Of the
crstwhilc days has been absorbed in the
more scdatc Blaine Of the sere and yellow
leaf The aggressivcness which in the
earlier years made him both conspicuous
ard great, has given away to a conscrv-
atism, which, if either genuine or as.um-
ed, has so completely changed him as to
leave in him only the grateful reminis-
ccncc of what he was.
| do not really think Mr.. Blaine desires
the presidential nomination. Those who
speak as having authority assume to say
that he seeks this high pretcrmcni only
should it unanimously gravitatc to him.
This prcdicates the impossible thought
that ambition in every other aspirant has
died out. 1t dismiSseS president Harrison
Sherman, Algcr, Mckinley, Reed and 9TH
ers worthy to he named, OF their own vol
untary act II is Impossible to expect
such sacrifice two years hence az ii
proved itself to be two years ago.
But if Mr. Blaine is not solicitous 10
make the battle president Harrison is
What the premier of The administration
now lacks in mcttle, the head Of it has in
largesse. The want eff courage can not be
charged truthfully against the now ncum-
bent of the executive Office. And survey
ing the entire horszon Of his administra-
ton, it is loyal certainly to the party; in
policy in direct line with it. No laconic
from any public writing or uttcrancc OF
the president served as a club against il
in the recent disastrous campaign. Mr.
Blaine can not plead so well, for he gave
to the opposition memorable shibboleth
The necessity of the republican party
just now is for great leader. The time
was when, under existing conditions
james G. Blaine would have taken advan-
tage of the situation. But under the dis
agreements now prevailing within it no
small man can take the helm. Ii is be-
cause Mr.. Blaine has been in his day the
colossus he is now looked to to safely
deliver the hosts. 1t is a great party will
ins to tie itself to the shadow OF what once
was. The "Reminiscences is so0thicg to the
senses, but the actual personality no Ion
ger is.
Upon fiscal policy the entering wedge is
driving deeper To-day the majority ia
vors free silver, and will get it unless
intercepted with the tyranny oflegislative
rules or presidential veto. On the Mckin-
lev tariff the division is marked. The
radical strides made in The legislation OF
the last congressional session has given
away States bordering on the Ohio and
Mississippi line. This detection means
DEATH for the life of the republican party
is with the western rather than the east
ern States.
1t seems to me that free coinage is the
simple problem OF the clamor Tor more
money. 1t is the choice between Il metal
lie currency and fiat money. The protest
acains, it comes more largely from the
national banks, and yet these institutions
may he hurt otherwise. Already bill is
pending in the banking and currency com
mittec which will make every individual
who has public security of the United
States national banker. Under il every
such holder can, upon demand, deposit his
bonds and receive thereof Il new medium
of circulation, to be called 4 national bond
certificate These are to he interchange
able as money and pass as currency.
Meanwhile the bond in the treasury, held
as collateral for the issue, is to draw inter
est,
But, saws the national banker to this
Individual: "Such plan is preposterous. y
But the answer is found in the fact that
that is precisely what the national banks
now do. The plan simply makes the
government lender of money Oh lis own
securities, and gives the privilege of bor-
rowing il TO the individual rather than
combining it to the money corporation.
This would be a blow at discounts which
might quite materially affect bank profits
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
The defeat OF Wade Hampton as United
States senator from South Carolina, and
the possibility of the defeat of Mr., Ingalls,,
in Kansas, recalls wildly to my mind the
statements made six months and more
ago bv Colonel l.. L. Polk, the president
of the National Farmers Alliance, | had
chatted with him at much length touching
the aims and purposes of the organization
of which he is tho executive head. | re-
call his statement that the organization
was after new blood, and would get it even
though it invaded States and politically
endorsed its older idols. Il would not
he surprised, said he, ''if in the attainment
of such ends to see the condition Of affairs
of South Carolina such that the Alliance,
and not the Democracy, would choose the
next United States Senator from that
State, and that the Alliance, and not the
republican party, would choose the next
United States Senator from Kansas.
When such prediction was made il SEEM
ed boastful, forasmuch as South Carolina
- e...,I ndInd To Tho Dnmncranv nnd