The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-24

backs when the greenback itself is saved
from me annihiiation which now threatens
IL ihe Republican party is now com
mitted 10 currency system which neces-
states perpetual debt, While the I'opu-
list finds himself in agreement with the
Democrats. who believe in paying off tbs
national debt as rapidly as possible
"If belief in an income tax justified a
Populist In acting with the Democratic
party in 1856, what excuse can he find for
aiding the Republican party now. when
even the exigencies of war have not been
sufficient to bring that party to the sup
port of the income-tax principle?
GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION.
.j>opuiists believe in arbitration now as
| much as they did in 1886, and are as much
! opposed to government by injunction and
the black list as they were then, and upon
these subjects they have as much reason
for cooperation with the Democratic party
to-day as they had four years ago.
Democrats ana PopuIists alike favor
the principle of direct legislation. If any
differences exist as to the extent 10 which
the principle should be applied, these dif-
ierances can be reConciled by experiment.
Democrats and Populsts agree that
Chinese and other Oriental labor should
be excluded from the United States.
Democrats and PopulSts desire to So
enlarge the scope of the interstate com
merce act ss TO enable the commission to
protect both persons and places from dis
elimination. and the public ut larSc from
excessive railroad rates.
THE PopuliSts approve the demand set
forth in the Democratic platform for Ia
Dor bureau, with a cabinet officer at it's
head. Such al official would keep the Ad-
ministration in close touch with the wage
earning portion Of the population and so
far toward securing such remedial Icgis-
lation as the toilers need
THE TRUSTS.
I'm 1886 the Populists united with the
Democrats in opposing the trusts. although
the question at that time appeared like
cloud scarcely larger than Il mans head
To-day that cloud wellnish oversprcads
the industrial sky. The farmer does not
participate in the profits of any trust,
hut he sorcly feels the burden Of them all.
He is dependent upon the season for his
income When he plants his crops he
knows not whether it will be blessed with
rain or blishtcd with drougllts: he knows
not whether wind will blow if down. or hail
destroy it, or insects devour it, and the
price of the crop is as uncertain as the
quantity. II pricate monopoly can sus-
pend production and fix the price OF raw
material az We'll as the price of the finished
product the farmer, powerless 10 protect
himself when he sells. is plundered when
nc tllftSsS Sd!l iiiSi ~
throw the influence OF his ballot upon the
side of those who desire TO protect The
public at large from moiopolics?
The fact that the trusts support the
Republican party ought to be sufficient
proof that they expect protection from it.
The Republican cannot be relied upon to
eNtinguiSh the trusts so long as 1t draws
his campaign contributions from their
ove!flnwing vaults.
The prosperity argument which the
Republicans bring forward to answer all
complaints against the Administration, will
not deceive the farmer: he knows that two
factors come into his income-frst the
size of his crop. and second, the price
which he receives for the same. He does
not return thanks 10 the party in power
for favorable weather and a bourtiful har
vest and he knows that the Republican
party has no policy which insures a per
rlanent increase IN agricultural prices.
Since he sells his surplus IN a foreign
market he is not beneficiary of the
tariff. and since ne produces merchandise
and not money. he does not profit by the
appreciation of the dollar. Ee knows that
the mach-wanted prosperity, of which he