The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-26

them deeper and deeper into the slushes. Hence
tho absolute necessity for sober, careful and
com,non-scnso consideration just at this point
In our history We have men ind parties who
prefer TO fight, quarrel and criminate and
rccriminatc. Such men end such parties
never lifted people out of trouble. While
ell this goes reason and judgment arc
acthroncd, and tho inspiration so much
readec from tho skies never pcnetrates their
tntellccts There others who sit down by
this hard and stony pathway and complain
Of its rovghncss and Representatives, and while
nw2y the passing opportunity TO save II nation
Or y people Neither the one nor the other
can settle tho great questions that are upturn-
ing and uphcaving nation'S hope and destiny.
The remedy lies to-day in the hands of those
who must go unthanied and unhonorcd for
the present. The settlement of the questions
If settled at all with advantage to the people
aud retention of our present form of gov
crnmcnt-;nust be left in the hands of cool,
deliberate and brave mcn-Inen who dare
TO cross public opinion-mcn who dare to face
public scorn and ridicule-men who dare TO do
their duty II this whole people could be
brought to sober standpoint and IL we could
eliminate from the public ostrum and public
press ard matter that tend to initiate and
mystify, and in their places could get advisers
and teachers who are moved alone and melted
exclusively for the public good, this country
could he turned about. and once more peace and
prosperity would perch upon our banners and
the glorious sunshine of contcntmcnt would rest
upon every section Of this land. Whether tho
alliance people, with their Irresistible power in
the form OF ballots and q righteous cause, can
be held down to u judicious and safe exercise OF
that'power and influence is the question. have
great confidence in the masses of the people
when degree of intelligence exists such as OBJ
tains among DUR people, and / am satisfied
that in tho near future, IL allowed to
do so, they will cluster around peaceful and
profitable solution Of this question: solution
that will not harm eny section or any class OF
our citizenship This depends very largely
upon those who are now leading cndeavoring
to lead the masses OF the people. people
often do what individuals do-frittcr away their
strength and opportunity trying to accomplish
impossibilites. know one poor mortal man
who spent thirty years, in the prime of life,
trying to invent perpetual motion, to be applied
to machinery. He was honest, earnest and
confident, and yet he died prcmaturcly, I'M
honorcd and unsung, with the great object of
his life wrapped in STROUD of eternal dark;
ness. II may be possible that the alliance pco-
pic will, like this man, following in the foot
steps OF some honest, candid and confident
leaders, waste their youth and strength. and
disappear while the procession goes by.
hope not and 1 believe not repeat that
believe the alliance people to be an honest
people, an earnest people and u confident people,
ana at the same time cautious und thinking
people. Those who arc now diclScring with them
whether for the purpose of breaking up their
organization, or for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
or from misplaced judgment and conviction, may
for awhile excite them and rnislcad them: but
sober sense will soon return, and they will ask
these important questions: Arc your methods
and your plans for our relief safo and advisable
and can you guarantee ability to lead us
through the wilderness, over tho Jordan, and
into the land OF Canaan? In other words methods
may be apparently all right, consistent and
plausible, and ut the same time with no force
or power OF execution. There arc three political
parties organized in this country Two of them
are powerful and controlling-the other IS weak
and impotcnt The great Qucsti that is dis
turbing lie alliance people to-day is TO which OF
these parties shall they look for immediate and
permanent relief, whether thcy shall con-
tinuc 10 educate and appeal to oil alike. de-
pending upon the righteousness OF their cause
ana On increased strength that would neces-
sarily be drawn from each and all, and In the
end, as balance OF power standing between
these political parties, recover their rights It
makes great difference in the solution OF this
question which OF these parties is both willing
and able to accord the needed legislation. Both
Willingness and ability must combine to give
relief from either party. Our people are now
steering between Scylla the one side and
| Charybdis on the other, touching independent
political action. II the masses OF the alliance
people In their choice on this point should mako
mistake and see thar organization mutilated
and despoiled-all that they have acquired up to
the present lost, ond their future hopes dashed
to the ground-they will have themselves and
their advisers to blame. Hence 1t is extremely
burdcnsomo and dangerous to assume the posi-.
ton OF leader ut this juncturc- A short time,
perhaps, will bring to tho surface sufficient light
10 enable our people to walk this difficult path
with safety