Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-07
ONLY TEMPORARY FEVER,
But What Its Effect Will Be in 1892
No One Can F0resee.
DANGERS FROM THE ALLIANCE.
1t May Throw the Presidential Election
Into Congress.
HOW CURRENT UNREST MAY BE STAYED

man, given out this afternoon, oeVoteu
chiefly to the Farmers Alliance, or third
party movement, excited good deal of at
tention among the Alliance people at their
headquarters in this city. The interview
was OF that character TO which alone Mr..
Edmunds would submit. The questions
were put to him by the reporter, his an
swers were taken by stenographer, and the
proofs were revised hy the Senator. 1t is
therefore entirely authentic.
The Alliance people are much gratihed
that he did not underrate their probable
strength or influence, "but," said one of
them to The DISPATCH correspondent,
1--WE are much amused at his explanation of
it, that it arises from the intrinsic qualities
OF human nature, which has its periods OF
rest and then of excitement. just nature
has in respect to storms and diseases, and
the time happens to have come when one OF
these periods OF fevers is at hand. He thinks
we are mistaken and that we will soon dis
cover it. That is about as near as Sena-
tor of the United States can come to under
standing anv new popular movement L
suppose he would have said in 1898 that the
French Revolution, or earlier, our own
Revolution, were mere fevers of the mind
and that the people would soon see their
mistake and get over 1t. "
Communism Versus Socialism.
"a very amusing passage in the inter-
view" continued the Alliance man, ''is
that in which Mr.. Edmunds says he does
rot think that Communism is at the bottom
Of the Alliance movement, and then he goes
on and discusses Communism as though it were
a serious proposition in this day. Now, is there
ANYBODY in the world who ever suspected that
Communism has anything to do with the move
meut? There is good deal of State Socialism
back of it. such as the operation of means of
transportation and communication by the
State aud gas. electric, water street railways
and other such works by municipalities; though
we dom; even have these things in ou- plat
form. But is it possible that the great Senator
Edmunds does not know the tremendous differ
euce there is between Communism and State
Socialism,
There are still some rumors afloat that Mr..
EGmuuds Will resign his seat, aad tie fact that
lie submits to the interviewer, a thing entirely
foreign TO his practice while in the Senate, Is
accepted as new proof that the able Nermonter
Conlemplates change.
Tapping the Great Vermonter.
The reporter found him in the judiciary CON-
mIttee room of the Senate to-day where he
was occupied IN disposing of various odds and
ends of work before retiring TO his home in
is not the present political situation one of
extraordinary interest and importancef' the
reporter asked. by way of an introduction to a
broad and general discussion.
Yes" replied the Senator. after a moments
thought 81 think 1t is IN one sense, as applied
10 one aspect of affairs, namely, the Farmers
Alliance subject. In other respects do not see
that il is essentially different tn what it has
been for several years. The attitude of the
two great parties in respect to each other and
public affairs is apparently the same. in respect
Tlno I'.rT A aTr iS irS
present form 4 new experiment in this country,
but not an unnatural one. There have been
analogous fOments in former times; hut the
present condition makes the political situation
IN lhlS respect interesting and important for
what lis effect will be upon the next national
election. take It, no one can foresee with pre-
"What gives rise to the feeling of unrest
which appears 10 be abroad in the land?" the
reporter asked.
Merely Human 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 has in respect
to storms and diseases, and the time hapnensto
come when one of these periods of fever is at
hand. Some peOple are trying to persuade
farmers of the country, who have always heen
ana always will I've the mos useful and import
ant 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 h0th 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
understand that crops cannut be increased by
legislation or debts honestly paid by cheapen-
ing the value OF what is called money The
most of them, think, understand that money
to be of value and serve its only true purpose
may he staple just as every other measure
must be-as of weight and quantity-fh dealing
with commodities or lands. and that if a
farmer agrees to sell his next years crop for So
many dollars he must be able to know what
that number of dollars Will be good for when
he gets it,
Dangers From the Alliance.
"What dangers to both parties and to the
country are there in the situation?"
II don't think there is any danger TO the
Democratic party" the Senator replied with a
faint smile; for in the next Presidential elec-
ton if the Farmers Alliance should carry
many States without having 4 majority of the
whole electoral college, the simple result
would be that there would be no election by
the people, ana the present House of Repre-
sentatlves. having a very large Democratic
majority of States, as well as members, would
elect the Democratic candidate in a coustitu-
tIonal and regular way. although he may have
carried the smallest number of States.
LAS TO the danger of tie Republican party,
ii is that the Farmers Alliance may carry in
the next Presidential election some States that
woald otherwise vote tor the Republican can
GiGate. and thus. in effect, If there should be
no election by the people give the election to
the Democratic candidate by the House of
Representatives.
'Do YOU think that silver Will be an issue in
the next electiUn?'
No Issue in Silver.
'Idon't think it will be an issue between tn
Republican and Democratic parties, for think
that the Democratic party will hardly wish to
make the silver question an issue to the ent
of running any considerable risk ot separating
gOld ana silver as the coin money of the cOun-
try. and certainly the great body of the Repub-
llcaE party am sure will not. Up TO the point
Of safery. ] have no doubt the Republican
party W Il lie in favor Of using silver as money
a. ID always has leen. " NLaL the Farmers
Alliance platform, If it should nominate can
didate fer President, will be on that topic
am quite unable to say"
How i the feeling of unrest among certain
classes be metz
i think it is best to be met as every other
disturbance in snCiety ought TO be-by candid
consideration, Dy correct Information, Just
Te Is"ulng and tile enactment of such laws as
NAV fairly appear to be promotive OF the gen.
eral public good. 1t is upon such consarrl-
tions that every Government of the people
must be carried on
As third party movement likely, and if so.
what might It lead to? Is communism at the
bottom OF it -
No Communism in 1t.
"A third party movement" replied the Sen
ator docs not exist in the Farmers Alliance
enterprise. II successful TO the extent of hav-
ing the President ard both Houses of Con-
gress, it would doubtless lead to the enactment
of the measures they have already indicated
and then, in a very short time, whether those
measures were good for the farmers OF ex-