Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-14
THE TIME TO STAND STILL.

W bpth. AS wv NIAttu III buCot WI
umns few weeks ago, party shackles
have not rested as lightly upon the
masses of the people of Mississippi in
% years as they do to-day. Numerous
letters received at this office from men
who never voted any other than the
Democratic ticket, and the declarations
and resolutions of various Alliances
and public meetings looking to- co-ope-
ration with new party all betoken this
political unrest Many Alliancemen and
earnest Prohibitionists who are loath
to sever old party ties, but have about
despaired of securing needed reforms
through either of the old political par
ties, are seriously inquiring what is
best to do.
A large majority of the Alliancemen
of Mississippi are Democrats and men
who have always voted that ticket. To
all who have not already made up their
minds to join either the Prohibition or
Peoples party, and who are not resolv-
ed to stand by the present Democratic
organization right or wrong whether
it endorses the reforms demanded by
the Alliance or not-the LEADER will
offer word of honest counsel. 1t is
the advice given by President Jamison
-''stand still"
If we had not ourself decided on
severing our connection with the DEM
ocratic organization, it would still be
the counsel, as an Alliancemen, we
would give our brethren and act upon
ourself And when we say stand still.
we mean it literally, so far as any i'm
mediate party action is concerned. The
best thing Alliancemen can do at this
time is to stay out of all the Democratic
county meetings called to choose dele
gates to the Democratic State Conven-
ton appointed by the Executive Com
mittee to meet in this city June 8,
which convention will in turn elect
delegates to the National Democratic
Convention to be held in Chicago June
DIST.
Why do we say this? For several
reasons.
First, because the delegates selected
by the Mississippi Convention, whether
it be controlled by Alliance Democrats
or the politicians who ran last years
will have no voice to men
ton in naming the party nominee for
President or shaping the party plat
form, on the questions which most vi
tally concern the masses of the people.
That business will all be attended to
by the doubtful State of New York,
whose electoral vote is deemed abso-
lutely essential by all to Democratic
success. and which there is no hope of
without satisfactory conces-
favored interests of that and other
Eastern States. The truth is. when
it comes to fiscal questions, pension ex-
etc, there is precious little
difference between an Eastern Demo
orat and an Eastern Republican. There
is some difference in their platform
declarations, but the actual difference
is never discoverable to the naked eye.
This was illustrated by the recent
defeat of the free coinage bill by East
ern Democratic votes, and has been
demonstrated time and time again.
When it comes to a measure which
benefits the masses and hurts the in
terests of Wall street and the money
power the Democratic party cannot
present united front, for the Eastern
contingent and the Republicans vote
together. In this particular the South
ern and Western Democrats are I'M
yoked-the Eastern contin-
gent controls the party.
What Wall street may lack in dictat-
ing Democratic nomination for
the Presidency and shaping the plat
form, is supplemented by whisky soak
ed Tammany, with its 5000 saloon
keepers and the National Liquor
Dealers Association, with headquarters
at Louisville, Henri Watterson's home,
and which through the influence of Mr..
Senator Carlisle and other
Democratic leaders high in the coun-
ellis of the party, has maintained sys-
tenn which secures special favors from
the government to liquor manufacture
ers, while the chief demand of the AL
lance is secuted by these same leaders
as an undemocratic heresy.
If the whole battle ground were
right here in Mississippi the LEADER
would say to Alliancemen and Prohibi-
tionists, the issues involved can be
fought out and settled inside the party,
but National issues must be settled by
National parties, and Mississippi Dem
ocrats, as we all know too we'll, are not
except out of courtesy, in
National party matters.
A second reason why Alliancemen
should not participate in any way in
electing delegates to Chicago, is that
they will not then be under any obliga-
ton to support the party's plat
form or candidates, unless they are
satisfactory. Not only so, but by the