Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-17
The Eighty Thousand.

The DISPATCH asks: What has become
of the 80 600 Alliance men OF Virginia
A short while ago they were standing
with bending body and eager ear. listen
ing to catch some sound of the rumbllng
thunder of Democratic Indignation az the
wrongs of the people. to hear some pro-
test against the insolent and ruthless
trampling under foot OF their nights and
liberties by soulless corporations ana
tyrsnnical trusts, but now they are
sitting in the ashes OF disappoint
ment ike the patriarchal old gen
tleman from the Land of Lud
when he "sat astonished seven days lis
tening TO the speeches of Ellphaz the
Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and some
body else the blatherskite, attri6uting his
Affections TO false causes and doing no
thing TO relieve them. The words Of these
men fell from silver tongues and flowed IN
golden numbers, but they darkened
counsel" and were nothing worth. Tor
fine words butter no parsnlps." But the
complaints OF Job were heard at last. and
relief came when he had rejected the coun-
sci of these miserable comforters." after
exclaiming in bitter irony: No douDt
but We are the people, and wisdom shall
die with you,"
If the DISPATCH thinks that this picture
looks like third partyism the answer IS
that it looks still more like truth, ana the
more's the pity. The $4,000" bat not
ali of them. are for principles before
party, and measures before men. Ihey
have learned the truth of Shakspeare's
declaration that there's nothing III
name" and value party only as an instru-
mentality for carrying out Their principles
in legislation. When they behold. rs IN
Kansas last fall, the virgin O. daughter
of Democracy clasped in the foul embrace
of reprobaIe Republicanism for the pur-
pose of defeating the Alliance, thelr
love of party is not increased.
When they know that then woes
cratic party tho popular branch OF the ma
tional Legislature by an overwhelming ma
iority in the reasonable hope and expecta-
tion that at least their most conservative
demand for free silver-the standard
money of the Constitution-wouldb be COM
piled with, and then see their servants
hating between their demand and the
counter demand OF their plutocratic OPP
pressors, and MANY of them making the
most strenuous efforts 10 side-trach tnls
question, their confidence in the party OF
| their first love is not strengthened. The
| party that undertakes TO side-track the
| known will of the people will itself be
| side. tracked. Those who create the ne
| cessty for Third party are the real author
| of the third party. 1 am, irdlylduaiiy
| opposed to third partyism, and tor this
reason fight with all my might against suct
| action of the Democratic party rs may
| give rise TO the necessity tor 1t. smother
| cd wrongs III party. or slde-trackeu rieheS
| of the people in the interests OF the money
power, viii destroy 1t more etectually
| than open divisions on questions OF pollcS
or choice of candidates. The way 10 keel
| a party strong is to keep 1t bold Tor th'
right. The way TO keep it right Is to stant
| by its principles rather than It's organiza
ton, aud compel the organization TO ope,
the will OF the sovereign people, Tor whon
and by whom parties and government
exist. The average Judgment of the PEG
pie is the highest tribunal on earth. ana U
1t all things must bow. 1t 10 far safe
guide than the single Judgment OF th'
wisest man. If this be not so, then repuo
lican government Is based upon iaIs
theory. and ought to be abolished, 20
pcpva. cor Del was the motto of the fatne
Of American Democracy, and the creates
law-giver SINCE Moses. Am.
Rut what has become OF the $4,000 ALI
auce menu" They are standing trmly D
their declaration that the wealth or tn
country, which has been created by IN
labor of all. has been gathered into tn
Golfers OF the favored few. not as the re
ward of greater industry or superior man
agement on their part, but as the result 0
an unjust. corrupt. and cunningiy-uevisse
system OF financial legislation, and the
demand the repeal OF these laws and IN
enactment of such others as Will remed
these evils. They know that II this stat
of things continues they and their chi
dren will be reduced to condition OF CON
plete yassalage to the money-power, an
they can see but little choice between mar
ciaI bondage and chatiel slavery. Inc
believe they will be equally slaves whethe
the capitalist is permitted 10 acquire cor
troll OF the products of their labor throug
the agency OF bonds or PHI OF a saie
their persons, but, with this difference
that in the latter case he Will be bound I
provide the necessaries of life and care ft
them in childhood. sickness, and old az
while In the former they can claim none
these things from him who owns the PR
ducts OF their labor. but not their persons
Now, as this condition of affairs has grow
up under Republican rule. 1.-THE $1,000
J together with their brethren all over IL
land, are looking to the great opposite
party, the Democratic, for rehef. wn'
will they offer them-bread or stones, ms
| or serpentsY
"What hos become of the $4,000 Alliant
man?" They are bordering the problem
of government aud reaching Conclusion
And one of.them is that the financial que
! ton is the great overshadowing questio
OF the hour, and tariff reform IS grei
issue because it embraces large part
this question. They have found that Il
} tariff Is a Tar when for revenue only ana
hef1 when for any other purpose, and TIN
: the greatest enemies OF the laborer AZ
, producer are moi in foreign lands, b
: here. They nave found that things ms
be as cheap as sou please. but II the o.
portunity and capacity are taken no
: them TO earn the money TO buy u W
. avail them nothing. They have -four
: that taxes and interest on bonds col
, sumo the net income Of labor. and tn
! this condition must last as long az q
: | policy Of dear money aud cheap produc
) | continues. They nave found that taxs
/ salaries, and bonds and interest call {
! | The ssme number u dollars without regs
! 10 the quantity Of the products OF lab
required - settle them; and that a. vain
: | ar6 measured IN dollars u d easy enouI
!, 4 go the .snsnpu ns,loasa "a N alter thia me