The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-29

= 90
Joseph Blackburn pale with envy. The
plan would make the people,o Of this en-
tire country as rich IS we're the citizens
sof the Southern confederacy when private
soldiers played old sledgc for thousand
dollar bills and school boys carried RI
their pockets fye hundred dollar notes
with which to buy slate pencils.
But in spite Of the curative properties
of this panacea the convention also pass
ed q resolution favoring "the free coinage
of silver" quite an unnecessary addition
tits true; but as no platform framed in
the interest Of the ndown trodden masses"
seems complete without it, the resolution
was adopted amid sthunders of applause"
Another clause is as follows:
We demand tlle passage OF laws prohibiting alien
ownership Of land and that Congress take prompt
action to'devise some plan to obtain all lands now
owned by alien and foreign syndicatcs and that all
land held by railroads and other corporations IN ex
cess Of such as is actually used aud needed by them
be reclaimed by the Government and held for actual
settlers only.
Here the convention rapidly approaches
the perfection of government. Though 1t
is not definitely stated what plan must be
devised to obtain tall lands now owned
by alien and foreign syndicates promptly,
| it is manifest the only prompt and efiec-
tive and altogether satisfactory plan
would be wholesale confiscation. Then
MS no railroad or other corporation shall
hold lands "in excess of such as is actually
used and needed by them the Govern
ment must "reclaim" their property too,
regardless Of any triaing constitutional
difficulty that might stand in the way.
| AS there is hardly ga railroad or other
corporation in the country which actual
| lv uses all its lands the enforcement OF
this provision would certainly make "the
Government very rich, almost rich
enough to pay the three or four millions
of Office holders and employees who would
he necessary to carry out the preceding
and other provisions, one being the man
| agement and operation, indeed the abso-
lutte ownership, of all -"means of popular
communication and transp or lon,
which would include all railroad, tclc-
graph, steamboat and stage lines.
A resolution was also adopted providing
for the payment of all pensions i'll gold
or its equivalent, SO the overthrow OF our
present standard of value and the inevi-
table depreciation which accompanies
fat money would not affect the bounty
| Jumpers and coffee coolers and the in
Vulnerable other frauds who have sue
ceeded in getting their names on the pen
sion list. They at least would be amply
protected whatever might be the result to
| the laboring classes whose pay would DC
worth only fifty cents or even less on the
dollar.
The application of such platform
would involve the utter destruction OF the
| National as we'll as the State Constitu-
| tions and the annulment Of all the decls-
ions of our>courts of law. 1t would over
throw the accepted maxims OF Govern
ment which the wisdom and experience OF
ages have shown to be necessary for the
preservation of society. But Why use so
many words to accomplish the work OF
demolition? The platform is not half SO
we'll put as that which landed Parsons on
the galiows and Herr Most in Jail.
But we should omit an unctuous part OF
the proceedings were we not TO record the
following incident.
Mr. Davis, of Texas, lank sixtooter in light suit,
vino had electrified the convention during Donncy's
speech by long, weird whoop circulation, was
conducted to the platform, and to the intense deieht
OF the convention, repeated the mccarthy lndla-ke
ltrill Then he announced himself as an cx.Confeder-
late and declared himself for the platform-efery
| plank and every resolution
| An extraordinary spectacle followed. Mr.. Wads-
worth, of Indianas an ex-Unon soldier rushed up TO
ex Confederate Davis in full view of the convention
and the two one-tme mortal foes grasped hands
W. II. Humphreys, OF Texas, organizer OF the col
ored Alliance seized with the inspiration OF the mo-
nent suddenly joined the exsodiers and amid per-
feet cyclone Of enthusiasm delegate moved the adop-
sion OF the platform read.
The convention went wild, and the delegates, mount
ing the tables and chairs shouted and yelled like
Comanches portion OF the convention in thunder
QUE chorus sang to the time OF sGood-by, Ny Lover
Good-by, the words: .Good-by, old parties, good
by" and then the Doxongy
AS long as those who belong to the
s.People's Party" confinc themselves to
these exuberant but harmless demonstra-
lions to which the beer and whisky OF Gin
cinnati doubtless contributed considerably
they will do little or no harm to any one,
but they had better never undertake TO
enforce their doctrines by other means
than by the exercise of their lungs.
Happily the tendency of civilization is in
the opposite direction and Mr. Donnelly
and his blatant companions are not likely
to divert its course.
Protection in France.
The measure introduced by the govern
ment in the Chamber of Deputies the
other day increases the French duty Ss,-
000,O00 francs with tile minimum tariff
and 49,, COO, OsO with the maximum tariff.