New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-13
CpOpS IND POLITICS.

Presumably everybody remembers that lnteli-
gent fisherman who voted against the party Ill
power because there were no cells In his eel po1
that YEAR lie was the prototype OF the Alliance
calamity walters. who wanted new party be-
cause drouth last summer cut of quarter OF
the corn crop, fifth of the wheat and more than
a quarter Of the oats These dlSSterS leii WiO,
crushing force upon men who had bought lana
with mortgages and could hope to get OUT oiiS
with long and unbroken succession OF Dig
crops. Also those suffered who had bought lana
on speculation beyond their means and those
who had bought in unwise localities, ana those
who had lived beyond their resources. 1t was
bad year for all these, and they solemnly re-
solved that the party in power could no longer
be trusted. .
II is curious phenomenon-thls habit OF
growing at political party because crops are
not good, but it is not new. For many years
practical politicians have been accustomed 10
expect political reaction whenever there came III
dustrial or business misfortunes, ana TO reckon
general prosperity worth thousands OF votes TO inc
marty in power. Grant that the great majority OF
voters are too sensible 10 change their political
action for no better reason, yet comparatively
small minority shifting from one opinion to the
other is often enough to turn the scale Even Oh
those who thus suffer their political actions to be
governed by temporary circumstances Ho'U
would Indignantly repel the idea that perSonai
il-success preiudiced their minds against parry
or National policy. But the influences Oh
which a man is not conscious are often tnoSe
which have the greatest power
Shrewd wives know that good time to ask
favors from crusy husband is after good
dinner. When man is prospering and making
money, he is apt to think the world comfort
able sort of place, and to conclude that MS
country is nightly well governed, but when he
is in any difficulty, it is not his own fault, OF
course. Something or somebody must De u
blame. One man charges his ilI-succeSS to that
malignant fend, Bad Luck. Another holds his
nechbor accountable, and another his agent
his landlord or his creditor But the untutored
American who supposes that the business OF
Government of the people is to give every IN
dividual what he cannot get himself, is prone in
time Of trouble to believe the assertion OF any
demagogue that this law or that policy has
robbed him of the splendid prosperity which
was his birthrght.
Hence it is that good crops are likely to have
a political meaning, especially IN agricultural
States. Whenever things prosper, the farmer
is not so sure that the railroads are robbing him,
or that creditors are sharks, or that money
monopolists have sucked out the life blood of the
country. At such time it does not appear to
him imperatively necessary that the monetary
circulation of the whole country should be de-
based and debauched in OF der to help him out OF
trouble. lie is not SO ready then to burden Tl
the rest of the people indefinitely, by means OF
legislation for his own benefit. The demagogue
who tells him that particular law or policy is
reducing him to starvation exctes laughter
rather than sympathy.
The official reports of the Agricultural Bureau
do not look as if the calamity walters were going
to multiply this year There is fair prospect OF
larger crops on the whole than have ever been
produced in any previous year. If these fore
shadowings are answered by events, the mem
bers of the Farmers Alliance who went out OF 1t
a month ago or more will congratulate them
selves that they started in time. For when this
movement moves no longer and the Alliance re-
solves itself into its constituent elements, it
will be reckoned somewhat honorable thing to
have pulled out Of it early.