The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-07
A TALK ABOUT POLITICS.
WHAT SENATE EDMUNDs THINKS
OF TIL SIT CATICN.


Tho Democrats Have Nothing to Fear
from the Farmers Alliance Move
ment-It Nay Throw the Pre- identisl
Elec ion Into Congress-The silver
Gu stion as an Issue.
WASHINGTON, April 6-The Star to-
ui-ht publishes a two-column interview
with Senator Edmunds upon the present
political situation aud outlook AS between
the two great parties, the senator does not
see any great difference between the situa-
ton now and what it has been for several
years. But as 10 the farmers alliance, the
situation is one Of extraordinary interest
and Importance because Of its possible
effect upon the next national election.
The reporter asked: What dangers to
both parties and TO the country are there in
the situationT
NO DANGER TO THE DEMOCRATS.
81 don't think there is any danger to the
Democratic party" the Senator replied
with faint smile, for in this respect all is
fish that comes to its net, or, indeed, goes
into the net of the farmers alliance, for in
che next presidential election, If the
farmers alliance should carry many states
without having a majority of the whole
electoral college, the simple result would
be that there would be no election by the
people, as it is called, and the present House
of Representatives, having very
large democratic majority of the states as
we'll as members, would elect democratic
candidate in the constitutional and regular
way. although he may have carried the
smallest number of states. AS to the danger
Of the Republ can party, it is that the
farmers alliance may carry in the next
presidential election some states that would
fr.,.N md Iafa
and thus In effect, if there should be DO
election by the people, give the election to
the democratic candidate by the House of
Representatives"
THE ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
''What do you think will be the issue of
the presidential campaign"
''The republicans will doubtless stand by
the same ground for Justice and equality
for citizens OF the United States, for fair
elections and for the protection Of American
labor and industries that it has maintained
hitherto"
''Do you think silver will be an issue in
the next electionp
81 do not think it will be an issue between
the republicans and democrats, for | think
that the Democratic party will hardly wish
to make the silver question an issue to the
extent Of running any considerable risk Of
separating silver and gold as a coin money
for the country, and certainly the great
body Of the Republican party, am sure,
will not Up to the point of safety l have
no doubt the republicans will he in favor of
using silver as money, as 1t always has been.
What the farmers alliance platform, if it
should nominate candidate for president,
will be. l am quite unable TO say"
UNREST 70 THE MASSES.
show is the feeling Of unrest among Ger.
tain classes to be metz
e "a a
dis urbance IN society ought TO be-by can
did consideration, by correct information,
Just reasoning, and the enactment OF such
la as as may fairly appear to be promotive
OF the general public good 1t is upon such
considerations that every government Of
the people must be carried on.h
THE THIRD PARTY MOVEMENT.
SIS third party movement likely. and,
If so, " hat mightit lead tol Is communism
at the bottom of itF'
"a third party movement" replied Sena-
tor Edmunds, docs not exist in the farmers
alliance enterprise. II successful to the ex-
tent of having a President and both houses
of congress it would doubtless lead to the
enactment of measures they have already
indicated, and then in very short time
whether these measures were good for the
f rmers or extremely bad for them would
manifestlS appear.
~ do not think that communism is at the
bottom of the farmers' alliance movement.
The percentage Of commu lists in this coun-
try Is, believe, at present almost inhni-
tesimally small. The great body of the
labOring people of the country, which, tax
ing ali the departments Of human activity,
embraces probably ninety-fiye one hun
dreds of the whole number Of grown
I'D people, are altogether too in
telhgent and honest 70 think that
communism will be Of any benefit to them
or their families, but they believe that it is
destructive Of private rights, of personal
prosperity and personal happiness, and If
carried into practice would effect the main
tenence of the vicious and lazy and ignorant
out OF the toll Of intelligent and industrious
people"
EFFECT ON FINANCES.
"How might the finances of the country
be affected by this movement2'
THE finances OF the country always de-
pend very largely upon the confidence that
the people engaged In business and the peo-
pie having capital have In tie administra-
tion of its government. II any of the move
ments of which we have been speaking
should appear SO formidable as to make IN
sound legislation at all probable, the finances
Of the country would be very greatly dis
turbsd, and that, of course, would disturb
every branch of labor and business. This
everybody perfectly understands"