The Opelousas courier., 1892-11-05
why Is It?

Why is it the third party and so,
called Farmers Alliance organs in
Louisiana persist in their unfavorable
illusions to the Democratic party ?
Are these organs The allies nf He Re
ru;sir;ins9
Why is it these reform organs do
not tell their readers that the Repub-
lican party, long accustomed to the
exercise of despotic power, incident to
the war between the States, is respon
sibIc for the evils of which the farmers
and laborers complain, and which did
not exist during the fifty years of Dem
ocratic rule?
Why is it these reform organs do not
give the cold facts, cleaned from official
statistics, instead of appealing to the
them to believe that reforms which
they seek must be obtained outside of
the Democratic party?
In speech delivered recently at
Searcy, Ark, Colonel Fishbacl gave
an interesting and forcible illustration
of the one sided growth which is in
creasing the power and wealth of the
plutocrats protected by Republican
legislation.
Here are the facts:
Under the Democratic tariff of 1916
the farmers owned in 1860, 80 per cent
of the bank stock in the agricultural
States. Under the Republican tariff
they owned less than | per cent in
1890.
Under the Democratic tariff of 1860
less than per cent of farms were nn-
der mortgage nAE there are nearly
80 per cent in the most fertile States.
Under the Democratic tariff of 1860
rs per cent ct the students in colleges
were farmers sons; now less than s
per cent.
U51der the Democratic tariff in 1860
ST, aes and trampa were almost IN,
klaSsn now they number about 5000
strikes aud nea,ly u $50, ,000 tramps.
Undrr the Democratic tariff in 1860
their were no tIusts Now nearly
eyAy protected industry is going or
has gone into a trust.
Uuder The Democratic tariff of 1876
fafna Increased in value from 1850 to
1860 uvrr 100 per cent in ten years.
Under the Repubican tariff from 1870
to 1880 they have increased only per
cent in ten years.
Under the Democratic tariff from
1850 to 1860 the value of live stock in
creased over 100 per cent in ten years.
Uu.l,r The Republican tariff from 1870
to 1880 il actually decreased $25, ,000,
900, notwithstanding the enormous in
ei,.,tSe. in numbers.
Under the, Drn,nct;,tic tariff the aver
aye value of the farms increased, from
1850 to 1860, 1898 per farm. While
under the Republican tariff in 1880 the
average value had fallen off to $652
PEI farm in twenty years. Under the
PDrmOeratic tariff from 1850 to 1860 the
per capita wealth of the farmers in
creased from $17l to 1854, or so per
cent While under the Republican
tariff Of 1880 it had fallen to $24l, or
$l3 per head decrease.
Under the Democratic tariff from
1850 to 1860 the wealth owned by the
farmers increased l0l per cent. Under
the Republican tariff from 1870 to 1880
the increase was only9 per cent. Un-
der the Democratic tariff of 1860 the
per capita wealth in agricultural
States was $507, and in manufacturing
States $500. Under the Republican
tariff of 1880 the per capita wealth in
agricultural States was $673, while in
The manufacturing States it was ST.
353, or aeafly double.
The Republican party has been in
power since the beginning of the war.
When Cleveland was president Re-
publican Senate impeded and defeated
every measure of reform dictated hy
Democratic policy for the good of the
people.
The House of Representatives is
Democratic, but the Senate and the
president are Republican. With these
no reform that will relieve the burdet
of he masses is possible.
How, then, can any sane man hold
the Democratic party responsible for
the outrageous inequalities of the Re
publican party which has made posi-
bile the legalized plunder of the MASSES
and gives license in free America TO
men like Carnegie to build forts and
override the law by numbering work :
iDgmen with arms in the hands of
Pinkerton's hirelings?
The third party and so called farm
ers' organs, in Louisiana at least,
should stick to the record. In their
vain efforts to belittle the Democratic
party they appear ridiculous -Cauca-
sian, Shreveport.