Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-17
The Alliance Resolution Needs Expla-

1t seems to have been understood in
Washington that a resolution adopted
by the National Conference of State
Presidents of the Farmers Alliance COM
mitted the conference and the Alliances
to the policy of antagonism to the forma-
ton of third party. We do not think the
language of the resolution justifies such a
construction. But even if it did, the reso-
luton, before il has any value. must be
endorsed by the Industrial Conference to
be held in ST. Louis next month. The
resolution we refer to expresses Its desire
to perfect fraternal relations with all the
labor organizations to be represented
in the st. Louis conference; but when 1t
comes TO speak of the great political par
ties it expresses merely wish to have the
Ocala platform used as basis for e new
platform of principles. and this new plat
form submitted for approval to the Demo-
cratic party, the Republican party, and the
Third party. But the resolution EN- phati-
cally declares against utilization with any
political party-including, of course, the
two leading national parties.
However. it does not matter how the
resolution be understood. A platform
based upon the Ocala demands will not
command hundred votes IN either the
Republican or the Democratic National
Convention. These demands we have more
than once laid before our readers. One
demand is for the abolition of the ma
tional banking system; another is for the
issuing of money "full legal tender" di-
rectly to the people. This latter language
means the substitution of fat currency for
good currency-of irredeemable, valueless
greenbacks, good nowhere, for redeemable
currency, good everywhere. The words
full legal tender" are used to describe
treasury notes which are expected to be
made current by the mere fat of the Gov
eminent. Another demand is for eradu-
ated income tax. We have no objection to
this tax If it can be levied upon and COL
lected from all the persons who ought to
pay it.
These are only O few of the demands !"
made in the Ocala platform. To expect
the Republican party to approve of the
whole batch of them is as il we were to
expect that party to approve OF the re
bellion of 1861 and the creed OF the slave
holders of time previous even to that.
To expect the Democratic party to APP
prove Of the whole batch OF them is as If
we should expect the southern people to
endorse the national platforms Of the Re-
publican party which have so long and 30
often denounced the southern people in
unmeasured terms. There 10 more in these
illustrations than appears when they are
first read. seeing that If the Democratic
National Convention were to second the
wild demands Of the Ocala platform the
solid South would no longer continue to
be solid. and Republican misruls would
again take the place in this section OF
Democratic ascendapsy. In word. for
the Democratic party TO endorse the Ocsla
platform would be TO commit suicide.
Nevertheless. we await with interest tho
action Of the Farmers' Alliance and Indus
trial Union in st. Louis on the 22d Of
February. though neither the Republican
nor the Democratic party can afford TO bid
for recognition BY it. The Third party
may possibly make such bid.
The presidential election OF this year u
not yet over.