Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-06


tons by the Farmers Alliance and every other
element representing the discomfort Of mass
of people, is one which gives all political lead
ers and students of public affairs considerable
anxiety and apprehension for the future That
there is spirit of discomfort abroad in the
land is agreed by the leaders in both the great
political parties, though there is a wide differ
ence OF opinion rs to the cause.
The Farmers Alliance agitation az merely
move of selfish politicians seeking power by
fermenting discord would be matter Of but
little moment that would command no more
than passing notice from statesmen, but
there is general belief that the present evil
dence of discomfort not the result of the
alliance movement but is the cause which has
led to that movement.
Therefore the matter is one which is provok-
ing serious discussion by some of the ablest
men in the country, and the problem which
perplexes is how to cure the discomfort before
the afflicted have. in desperation, been led to
adopt dangerous remedies.
TALK WITH SENATOR EDMUNps
A representative of The STAR had very in
teresting talk on the general subject with
Senator Edmunds. touching the question of
how firm hold the feeling Of unrest has upon
any considerable number of the people and
what might result from it. As a man of unu-
sual ability and OF long experience in public
life, who has an acute and philosophical mind
anything said by Mr. Edmunds in such dis
cussion must be of interest and worthy of con-
sideration. STAR reporter found him in the
judiciary committee room OF the Senate. where
he was occupied in disposing Of various odds
and ends of work before retiring to his home in
Vermont for the summer.
lis not the present political situation one Of
extraordinary interest and Importance" The
STAR asked. by way of an Introduction to .
broad Ind general discussion.
THE TWO GREAT PARrIFs coNTRAsrxD
eyes," replied the Senator, after a moments
thought, Il think ii is in one sense as applied
to one aspect Of affairs, namely, the Farmers
Alliance subject. In other respects do not
that it is essentially different to what il has
been for several years. The attitude Of the two
great parties in respect to each other and pub
lie affairs is apparently the same. The repub-
licans continue to be in favor Of protecting
American labor and industry and enterprise of
every kind equally and fairly and to give all
the protective work that is to be done, as far
as possible, to the laborers and producers of
the United States, while the democratic party
under the present name (often changed) Of
tariff reform appear to be in favor of en-
couraging the consumption Of foreign-made
articles Of every kind. and thus, of course, Civ
ing employment to the absolute extent of such
consumption to foreign labor and foreign en-
terprise. This Of is on the theory that the
American consumer can buy the foreign-made
article much cheaper than he can the homemade
article. Whether this is true not is open to
great doubt, but if it were true. the question at
once arises what is to become of the home la
borer and producer who. to just that extent. is
deprived of the means Of earning a livelihood
BY purchasing foreign article. In the other
principal questions between the two parties
their attitude remains the same. The republi-
cans have persisted and Will persist doubtless
in trying to make and execute national laws for
the protection of national rights under the Con-
siitution in all the states ard to make, as one
instance of it, the House Of Representatives q
body composed of members fairly elected by
the honest votes of the people of their respect
i've states. freely given and honestly returned
which suppose would hardly be contended is
now everywhere the fact. Obviously, from very
recent experience. the democratic party does
not wish to do that thing, but prefers that
minority of the people III some states at least,
shall be the electing and governing power.
In respect to the Farmers Alliance matter.
it is in its present form a new experiment in
this country. but not an unnatural one. There
have been analogous foments in former times
but the present condition makes the political
situation in this respect interesting and i'm
portant, for what its effect will be upon the
next national election, take it, no one can
foresee with precision"
''What gives rise to the feeling Of unrest
which appears to be abroad in the landy' The
STAR asked, presenting another leading ques-
ton.
A FARMRRs' FEVER.
81 think" Mr.. Edmunds replied, "a large
part of it arises from intrinsic qualities Of the
human mind, which has its periods Of rests
and then of excitement. Just as nature
and the time happens to have come when one
Of these periods Of fevers is at hand. Some
people are trying to persuade farmers Of the
country, who always have been and always will
be the most useful and important fraction of
the community. that laws have been made
which operate unjustly upon them, and that
laws have not been made which would or should
furnish them more rapid and steady prosperity.
In both these cases, think, they are In
a large degree mistaken and in due time they
will discover it. Indeed, ! presume that the
largest part of the rejecting ones perfectly un-
derstand that crops cannot be increased BY leg
islation or debts honestly paid by cheapenine
the value Of what is called money The most
Of them. think. understand that money, to
te OF value and serve its only true purpose
must be stable, just as every other measure
must be-as Of weight and quantity-in dealing
with commodities or lands, and that IL farmer
agrees to sell his next years crop for 30 many
dollars he must be able to know what that
gets it. The most Of them must also know that
any depreciation Of the value of money or
currency will, whenever there comes break
Gas there always does), fall most
able to bear that kind Of calamity, namely,
those Of small means and those dependent upon
their daily avocations for their support All
these things have been proven by actual ex-
perience in many countries for many CEN
turies A discomfort, therefore, resting upon
such conditions will soon cure itself, either by
q return to better view Of things beforehand
or by the test Of the DISASTROUS experiments,
whichin these respects has always followed
such expedients a. many Of these that are now
being agitated."
DANakRs TO BorH PARrTKA
''What dangers to both parties and 10 the
country are there in the situationf"
II don't think there 10 any danger to the
democratic party" the senator replied With .
faint smile, 'for in this respect al Is Ash that
comes 70 it NET, or indeed goes into the net Il