The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-09-24
The Mistake of the Farmers.

have some, they cannot be remedied by
rushing into the political arena with
ideas and notions at war with all the con
servatiye safeguards of society and de-
structive of the best interests of the coun-
try. There is no class of citizens " no are
more deeply interested in stable govern
ment-in strong and well proven poll
eies, than the farmer. There is no por-
ton of the industrial class, who would
feel more directly and perceptibiy the
effects of an unsettled and iuctuatlng
currency, or whose values would be more
seriously affected by a disturbance of the
basis of business. The political dead
beats. such as PETER aud Simpson OF
Kansas, and Polk of North Carolina,
who have worked to the front OF the
Alliance and seized upon the machinery
by which the organization is controlled,
have no interest in common with the
farmers. They are adventures, seeking
pelf and profit through the Alliance, re-
CARELESS of the effect of the notions they
present unon the interests of the farm
ers. The proposition for sub-treasury
system and the loan of money by the
government upon farm mortgages; the
Issuing of irredeemable greenbacks TO
the amount of $50 for each citizen; the
control of the railroads and telegraphs by
the government, are all in the direction
of agrarianism; and if possible to be
enacted into laws would bring irremedi-
able disaster upon the country, In which
the farming interests would be more
flagrantly implicated than any other
The projection of these false and dan
gerous notions into the politics OF the
nation. is not expected to benefit the
farmers. 1t is done to delude the igno-
rant; arouse the passions by false state
ments, and to excite prejudice against
conservative conditions and safe poll
cies, in order to promote the mercenary
ambition of designing demagogues. The
farmers have no interests in sHch objects
and results. They of all other classes,
ought to stand for well proven policies;
for practical legislation, and such in
fiuenees as will preserve just and equa-
BILE equilibrium.
What possible benefit would come to
the farmers by issuing pile of ire
deemable greenbacks, which would I'M
settle our monetary system, disturb and
derange all values, and lead to innumer-
able evils that cannot be enumerated?
What good could they derive from
placing the railroads and telegraph in
the possession of the government, at
cost, of which they would have to pay a
part, of hundreds of millions OF dollars,
and to be differed and manned by an
innumerable host of employees, under
| the control and influence of the party
in power? What advantage would they
derive from the free coinage OF silver,
| effected to enhance the wealth of the
mine-owners at the expense of the peo-
pie, and give medium of exchange a
dollar of which would be 20 cents less
than 100.
We have no complaint to make when
the farmers determine to enter politics
to control one or the other of the par
| ties and to enforce legislation in the in
terest of good government and sound
laws They have been at fault hereto
fore in permitting themselves to be
hoodwinked and fooled by demagogues
of both parties, and been made the tools
of professional politicians whose object
was Office and office only. Yet these
professional politicians have been Salts
fed with the emoluments of office, with
out attempting to revolutionize the
financial and civil systems OF the govern
ment. Their aim and ambition have
been satisfied when the Offices were OBJ
| tanned.
1t is not SO with the Alliance, as at
present engineered. The platform adopt
ed at Ocala, and endorsed by every State
Alliance, strikes out on an independent
| lipe-essays to break down and destroy
all the laws and policies, affecting the
monetary and commercial interests OF
the nation and to introduce wild and
revolutionary notions and doctrines,
i which would bring disaster and ruin upon
the country, should they be enacted
into law.
The farmers can have no interest in
such a destructive crusade against es-
tablished conditions and proven doe
trines, to which all the business of the
country, in all of its ramified relations,
has been adjusted. They can have no
interest in tearing up the foundation Of
our industrial fabric; wrecking the
vast interests of every branch of trade,
and threatening the very pillars upon
which our government rests.
Let the farmers pause and think
little before they go farther in the un-
wise direction the Ocala platform points.
Let them consider the aims and purposes
of the designing demagogues-th dead
beat politicians who have thrust them
selves to the front. and are drifting the Or
ganization into a national contest with
such proven adventures as Polk and
PETER and Simpson in the lead. There
is not one grievance that affects them
that they cannot have corrected by one
or the other of the old parties, or that
t lie Alliance cannot reach without
tilC WIN uiiC NSouA Nv
tive notions proclaimed in the Ocala
utteranceS.
The farmers have made a grievous
mistake in accepting the formulas of the
political quacks who have forced them
selves into their organization, and are
using it for the most mercenary and
reprehensible purposes. Let the farm
ers call a halt, and return to the con-
sentative methods and policies which
comport with their conservative calling.
Instructive Statistics.
Col Robt. E. Doan, of Wilmington,
Ohio, has been looking into the merits
of the calamity shriekers and the facts
II II