The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
Senator Gordon,s Views.

Senator G0rd0n'S VIEWS
Senator Gordon, of Georgia, has been
interviewed on the political situation,
and, as might be expected, his views are
correct and conclusions sound. If there
were. more Democrats in Congress like
Senator Gordon the Radical scheme fol-
stealing the Presidency would have come
to naught. The interview is as follows
never doubted, said Senator Gordon,
and l am now absolutely assured of the
fact land from Republican sources, too,)
that, if the Democrats had from first to
last presented an unbroken front, and
given notice of their inexorable purpose
Of resisting to the very last extremity any
attempt to seat fraudulent President,
the Republicans would never have at
tempted 10 seat Hayes. 1 know this to
be so. The uncertain policy of the Dem
ocrats, the reported divisions in the ranks,
and their alleged willingness to submit
peaceably to any usurpation, encouraged
the Republicans to such an extent that
the electoral bill became q necessity.
Now, mark me: if the Democrats had
presented an unbroken front the Repub-
licans would never have gone to extreme
measures, and the electoral bill would
never have been thought of.
What course, then, would the Demo-
Gratis have pursued? Why, simply this
The House would have thrown out Flori-
da and Louisiana; and if the Senate did
not follow suit, the House would either
have elected Tilden outright, or would
have provided a bill ordering new elec-
ton next November, making some decent
Republican acting President until that
time. Of course the new election would
have resulted in Tilden's triumph. But
I believe that the Senate would have
voted to throw out Louisiana, and possi-
bly, Florida, if there had been no Elec-
toral Commission; if the Democrats had
been determined and undivided from the
first.
But that is all past, and we must look
to the future. Hayes prompt disavowal
of the offensive article "a the Ohio State
Journal prevented the Inauguration of
movements that will keep him out of the
White House. What will become Of the
Democracy in four years? A grand,
sweeping victory awaits them, beyond
the shadow of a doubt, if they will re-
main in ranks, and keep the party intact.
The country will repudiate the fraud by
which the Republicans have established
their usurpation just as surely as the time
arrives for them to vote. Our only dam
ger is this: that Hayes, by glittering
offers, by really conservative and liberal
action will disintegrate our Southern
Democracy, and put US in danger of
losing some of the Southern States. Such
prospect as this would demoralize our
friends in the North. The Republicans
will make herculean efforts to capture
Southern Democrats and debauch the
Southern party. His friends have al
ready petitioned Grant to "hold his
hands off" of Louisiana and Carolina,
and leave the solution of those problems
to Hayes, Their object is plain. 1t is
intended that the new President shall
have Eli the applause that the recogni-
ton of the Hampton and Nichols gov.
ernments will win. You will perceive at
once that this advantage viii be tire.
mendous one. The full and prompt re.
cegnition of the honest governments of
those two,States will give him an oppor-
tunity to signalize the opening of his 'ad-
ministration that few Presidents, if any
President, ever had. A judicious distri-
button of the Offices in bis gift among the
Southern Democrats is relied upon to
further or complete this disintegration.
1t is plain that no Southern Democrat
should accept Office under Hayes. 1t
shall be my purpose to advise all who
approach me upon the subject to have
nothing to do with it. Our only safety,
and it seems to me our only honor, is in
holding ourselves absolutely aloof from
this fraudulent and usurpatory admins
tration. IF this is done we shall reap a
glorious harvest four years from now.
The most horrible result, it seems to
me, that can come from division of our
party in the South is the demoralizing
and miserable scuffle that will ensue over
the negro vote. It will be sad day for
the South when we see decent white men
arrayed against each other, and engaged
in deadly struggle, the prize of which
is a batch of ignorant and corrupt negro
voters. I hope and pray that the party
will preserve its organization and save its
honor. And believe it will. l have no
idea. that Hayes or any other man can
J w the sentiment of the South with q
few petty offices, or debauch with patron
age party that has proved its heroism
and demonstrated its fortitude and purity
rs the Southern Democracy has.