The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-29

crat c-Th. Ocals Platform Reviewed
Plank by Plank.
COLUMBIA, s. g., Nov. 2l.-The
Register of this morniug publishes the
oilpwny open letter to Gen. Wade
HanptDr:
Hoa. Wade Hampton. Washington
D. e.:
In recent Communication over youl
signature in Tue State we note especially
The following passage among others o.
equally surprising tenor:
The tlne has com. when the line
should be drawn between those who
iaud upon Lhe Oaala platform aud those
who stand up,n that of the national
Democracy. No man who upholds the
former can properly claim to be q
Democrat"
A little further on you refer to the
'sfallacias of tho Ocala adherents."
As tie platform refarred to by you ls
the platform of the Farmers Alliance in
this State, we as representatives Of that
BODY of sturdy citizens VINO have never
voted any but The regular Democratic
ticket, State and national, respectfully
ask that you point out the tallacies IN
that platform, and show wherein any
plank of that platform is inconsistent
with the principles OF broad Democracy
by Jefferson and preserved
unimpaired through a century Of strug.
gle IN the platforms of the Democratic
party.
live are wrong, as individuals or as
an Alliance, we desire to be set right.
Truth, right and justice to all are our
objective points, and light leading IN
those directions is gladly received.
Whatever the source, whether highest
or lowest, whether from friendly or an
unfr1endly quarter, light aud iogi: will
always be accorded a rational analysis
at least. This is the teaching OF our
order and IN this spirit we address you,
desiring and expecting an an.
swer. Aud we may add that the great
we represent, comprising
not only the backbone OF the States In
dustrial progress, but the majority OF
the people; comprising the great malori'
ty of those who bsred their breasts 10
the bullets of South Cardinals foes, and
who have furnished the great majorltn
Of the votes by which Democracy woy
the fight that placed yourself In the
chair aud subsequently, in
the United States Senale-tbat great
will expect 90 answer be.
fitting the memories of the past as we'll
as the exlgencies of the present.
For your convenience in answering
we will summarize the several planks IN
the OcaIa platform whi,h you have de-.
nounced as tallacles, and will indicate
The questions we wished answered.
l. The first Ocala demand is for the
abolition of national banks and the issue
Of the peoples credit direct to the peo.
ple upon such security as thetpeople Gao
1--WE aud at such interest as the national
bankers have epj9yed for near thirty
years past. Where is The tallacy in this9
Is this undemocratic? What is fallaclous
Or undemocratlc in the demand tor an
Increase OF the circulating medium to
the same per capita ratio that existed
when the public debt was made?
2 We demand that legislation be en-.
acted that will prevent a relative few
from gambling in the peoples bread and
meat aud clothing, whereby millions OF
dollars are forcibiy wrested from the ne.
csssities of the pc )ple. Is there any
thing undemocratic in that9 Where Is
the fallac,?
3. We demand the free and unliiuited
coinage OF silver at the ratio of l6 to l,
IN order that our debts may be payable
IN the same sort of dollars that were
current when the debts were made. We
maintain that it is infamous to req uire
us by legislation to pay the mortgages
on our farms in dollars that cost double
as much of our labor 20 get. Is this un'
democratic? Where is the fallacs'
4 We demand that the public lands
shall be held for actual settlers, and
that holdings by aliens or sYndicates for
speculative purposes shall be prohibited.
Is this undemocraJic? Who're is this
5. We demand tariff for revenue
only and that the government be eco
nomically and honestly administered;
that The tariff be taken Off the nscessa
ries OF life and levied upon the luxuries?
that the bulk of the taxes be raised upon
the incomes of the people rather than
upon their necessities. Is this the plank
you had in miud when you said mo
luan who upnolas G) can clalm to be a
Democrats" Is this "fallacy?"
6. We demand "the most rigid, hon.
est and Just State and national govern.
mental control of the means of public
communication and transportation,' u
and if the peoples suffrage be still
abused then that the people construct
and operate their own railroads and tel
egraph lines. Is this undemocratlc:
Is it fallacous?
7. We'demand the election of United
States Senators by direct vote of the
people of each State. Is this undemo'
cratic? Is 1t fallaclous?
Your early attention will greatly
oblige the organization we represent
and at the same time the great majority
of those who voted for Mr.. Cleveland
last year on the same principle thai
they voted tor you in 1876.
Very respectfully yours,
W. D. EVANS,
President South Carolina State Farm
ers Alliance.
J. VIM. STOKES,
lecturer South Carolina State Farm
ers Alliance.