Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-27
AwARNINo TO FARMERS.
A Calm and D,spasssonate Review Of Mr..
Folks Recent speech.
To n,e Editor ofhs Dispd'ch:


To Ghe Editor ofGhs DisDnch:
Tn common with all farmers ! admit the
GRIEVANCES that underlie the Farmers AZ
lance. But it appears 70 me that some OF
the remedies demanded by the late con-
ycntion in Richmond ore new 10 al 'he
people of Virginia and startling TO most OF
c,,ss them here. Rather I prefer TO leave
them. nj least for the present. to be d.
cesiei in the mind Of the people by. the
all M those "secoud thoughts" which
long Iefore the days of Martin Van Buren,
Euripides said ARE always the best"
What want 10 do now Is 20 call atten-
ton TO certain utterances OF Ear. POLK. the
president of the National Alliance. given
ont at Mozart Academy on the 18th OF TINS
month. In doing 50 mean TO be candid
and dispassionate, FOR wouiu auuress nv
almost all the men of worth and rcspecta-
b;litv In rural virginia who were
Democrats long before they became Alli-
once MON. who know and can count the
occasions ON which they have rescued the
state from General Malone end his negro,
scalawnR. aud Republican allies: who
know the desperate efforts THIS coinpin,-
ton has made and is still making TO RUE
the State. and know by the recent all
III
ming oyertures made to the Alliance men
in n late secret circular that the danger -
not yet over: and who know that ~ IN
Virginia. so in oil the South, the organiza-
tiop OF tho Democratic party II recos-
nized condition OF white supremacy.
But Mr.. Polk does not know all this; or
knoUinc. he suppresses IL AZ fact end
ignores II rs a necessity. For hs told the
Alliance mot to be frightened any more
bv the cry OF negro. SUPREMACY. lie
Thus announced that he wouiu uisregaIu
~ of white men in Virginia have always
seen. and still plainly see. browning npon
them from every negro and Republican
cornfenance. And SO he separated hiu-
self from tho established policy of this
state and section and advised his audience
10 the same course.
Tho ~uIy mod so far IN which this
policy has been maintained has been N nm
organization oflice-ed and led by Demo-
cratic politicians. /. Il fresh III all our
memories that nnder the guidance Of poll
t.cians ike AbshlOm koiner, John :. Bar
hour. Basil g. Gordon, and j. Taylor Ely
son. nj different times charmen OF the
Democratic state Executive Comm ttee,
other politicians like General titZhugh
Lee and Governor L. W. Mckinney, were
able 10 thwart such enemies or tile State
~ John =. Wise and william Malone, and
that still other politicians taken. first one
and then another, from the great body Of
the people. have kept the Leglsiatures out
of tho hands of our enemies. And 50 OF the
whole South.
But Dir. Polk. who. think. has himself
been a politician, more than once IN hts
speech abused this class If mon without
Distinguishing friend from foe. and held
them up to indiscrminate Tidicule and
contempt. In his anxiety 70 save the
South from the domination OF white capi-
talists he seemed to close his eyes to the
fact that the men he sought TO discredlt
we've the men who had saved IL from Dlaek
barbarians led by white renegides. Was
he insensible to their services! IL would
seem SO; for in another place he said with
great emphasis: " II there Is Inan IN the
house who can point to one act OF theirs
(the late Congresses) in favor OF the peo-
pie he will hold up his hand. l want 10
know what it is 2" How Is it possible that
aDy southern man can. In so short time,
too, have forgotten that "one ACT OF
theirs" One single act has Won the last
ing gratitude of all patriots and MINOR
taized tho Democratic politicians OF That
Congress? How can any southern man
think of that Congress without thanking
ALMIGHTY God that of His great mercy he
mt il into the head of that Democratic
politician, Arthur y. German, of Mary
land. to organize the other Democratic
politicians of the body into phaianx
which,
Firm as a rock In stationary night,
In motion rapid IA the bghtnings CLEAN,
foueht the magnificent series of battles
that resulted in the defeat of the force
bill and thereby saved the civilization OF
the South and the liberties OF the whole
Unionf
But MIR. Polk would appear to deny that
this work of these politicians has been OF
any service to the country and to forget
that Mr.. Lodge and other Republican enc
mics OF the South and of liberty still sur:
viye to plot treason against the hopes OK
mankipd.n Is this course the resnlt OF IN
difference. or blindness, or recklessness
on Mr. Folks partl One or more OF these
il must be. and any one of them should be
enough TO dscredit leader who Under
takes to conduct men through the grave
task of sweeping reforms
One would suppose that statesman,
PLAYING for great stake but dealing with
TOPICS whose discussion. in the mere state
meut of its terms. must. unayOidably ex-
asperate friend end foe alike, would not
discard and divide the policy. which has
rescued his country from the fearful con-
WILSON'S of reconstruction and preserved
ii In some sort Of order for twenty-five
years: anG would not reject with con-
tumely the compani onship and services Of
allies, not free, indeed, from the faults OF
humanity. but who In all that time had
been no true 10 the liberties of our COM
mon country rs any. other class OF their
fellow-citiZens.
respectfully invite the calm considera-
ton Of the members OF the Farmers AL
lance 10 the above structures. They are
not aimed at the order, with which have
no quarrel, but on the contrary warm
sympathy. They are aimed at tho mis-
taken policy of President Polk which con-
POUNDS the Democratic friends with the
Republican enemies of Virginia and tends
TO divide the only party which has ever
helped Virginia and TO give aid and COM
fort TO her worst, because her internal,
enemies. Look before you leap Is the