Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-09

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The Dot that the Peoples party seems
70 b. comparatively small organization In
0hio-ons whose msmbsrship does not
exceed IN numb6rs the membership Of
some very small factions which nave for
years been heard II In that 6tste-does
not prove BY any means that that organi-
sation win not hold tlp balance Of power
~ between tho Republican and the Demo
cratic parties. For years the negro voters
have held the balance Of power in num-
Der OF the porthern States. and II they
hsd had any talent for politics would have
forced tho Republican party to recognise
them for Ill they were worth. In
1880 New York had 10000 negro voters ;
New Jersey. 10000, Pennsylvania, g..
600; Ohio. $1,000; Indiana, 1900, ILL
nois. 1900. That II to say, II the
negro voters bad deserted the Republican
party and voted with the Democrats in
any one yew out OF the last ten or 6fteecn,
their votes would have sufhced TO defeat
the Republican party. The taking Of
$4,000 votes from one side and adding
them to the other makes difference OF
10000. Thus 1t appears that in each OF the
States named above the few negro voters
might long ago have compelled their hc-
publican allies to divide honors. Offices,
and emoluments with them. So as to the
Peoples party. II IL can command 10000
votes in Ohio, IL can throw the State into
tho hands Of the Democrats. We say no
thing Is to the strength OF the Democratic
party in Ohio because We take it for grant
ed that in that State OF least the Peoples
party would much rather that the Demo-
cratic party should carry the State than
that the Republican party should carry it.
What is the creed Of the Peoples party
In Ohlo7 We must look to their platform
if We would learn what these Reformera
propose Is remedies for the ills which at
present afdict the body-politic. In fact.
the public cannot mako creed for any
party, new or old. Each one must DO
allowed to formulate its own creed in its own
terms. And this il right and logical; for
it il to be presumed that If the people elect
q Governor or Q Legislature. that Governor
or that Legislature will carry out tho prin-
ciples Of the party that placed iii power.
The platform Of the Peoples party in
Ohio favors number Of impracticable OF
local schemes which we shall not mention
this morning. One important plank Is
that calling for the election OF United
States senators by the people. We cannot
on principle object to this plank, seeing
that there is no longer any such thing az
state.riehts. or q "sovsreign States" en-
titled in the very nature Of things to elect
their own United States senators. An
other plank demands the passage of laws
prohibiting tho alien ownership OF land.
Another demands o graduated tax on in
comes. To say that tax levied upon no
income,of less than Ave thousand dollars
would be an unpopular tax Is to say very
foolish and illogical thing. There are, for OK
ample. $4,000 voters in Virginia, of whom
$40. 600 have incomes of less than Eve thou
sand dollars. Oh, no. Tho income-tax
may bc opposed for other reasons. but not
because it would be unpopular. The dan
ger il on the other side. Ataste OF blood
might cause the Reformers to levy oil
Federal taxes on incomes, abolishing all
tariff and all internsl-rsvenus laws. But
not in our day.
But bore is "the milk IN the cocoanut.'
Il Is plank upon which tho fiat-Green-
backors may stand. It declares that tho
RICH. to make and issue money Is a sove-
reign power" Well, there is no doubt as
to the truth of that declaration. 1t must
be sovereign power" indeed that can
make money" But surely the "sove-
reign power" that can make money" need
not call in the assistance Of an act of Con-
eress to get this money" into the hands
OF the people. We don't believe there is
any nation IN the world that can mako
money" Gold and silver are already real
money" You can determine the value OF
real money by weight as well as by tale.
Real money does not melt when placed in
the fire. and does not lose its value when
transported across the ocean. 1t Is not
this kind of money, however. that the
Ohio reformers have in mind. They de-
clare for "full.legal-tender money"-that
is, irredeemable greenbacks. which are not
money at all. What conglomeration OF
foolish notions possesses the heads Of these
Ohio reformers. Their money plank is too
absurd to be occupied by tho strong
minded Buckeyes.
Another plank denounces dealing In
futures" But our Raformer friends must
either quit denouncing this thing OF deal
ing in futures or else they must discoun-
tenance that great system Of dealing in
futuresn which Is called tho sub-Treasury
scheme. Doubtless the plea will be set up
that this scheme will be amended so as to
obviate some Of the objections to 1t.
The Peoples party in Ohio fsvors liberal
pensions to soldiers. 10. Every northern
party lauds this dsmagogical scheme. The
Democrats and 1.-The People'sparty" donot
wish to bs behind tho Republicans In their
efforts to increase the largest pension the
world ever saw.
Enough Of the Ohio People's-party plat
form. Its other planks are too rickety to
constitute . popular standing-plsce fol
plain. common-senSe folks.