The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-11-22
THE STATES ARE SAFE.
Why tho South has Nothing to Fear.

ATLANTA, Ga, Nov. 14.-In his adj
dress yesterday Governor Gordon said !:
eff there be one principle of government
dearer than all others to the American
freemen it is the independence, equality
and freedom of the States This is the
central thought of our political faith. 1t
is the keystone in the arch of our consti.
tuition; and when that is destroyed the
doom Of constitutional freedom is sealed.
When the independence and equality of
the States are struck down the Republic
falls. Oh, no! The strangulation of the
States BY Federal Intervention will never
be tolerated by the American people.
What possible excuse could be given for
interference by the general government
in the affairs of Georgia that would not
also Justify interference with any State in
the Union? What evil exists here that
does not exist elsewhere and which is so
full of danger that to correct it the fun.
damental law must be Ignored and state.
hood imperilled? /? With the colored race
in Georgia represented on the tax books
by its millions of accumulated wealth,
with 10000 colored children in our pub.
lie schools against 10000 prior TO our
recovery of the State government, with
equal laws administered by impartial
courts for the protection of all, with the
ballot in colored hands and its full use
secured to them whenever and wherever
they may choose to WELD its powers;
with the race problem gradually working
out, under Providence, its own solution;
with the relations of the races becoming
more and more amicable; with the inter
est Of both races assiimilating aud i'm.
proving smoothly and rapidly, what
justification OF. possible pretext, repeat,
could be found for plunging this Conn
monwealtb with her sister Southern
States again into the abyss from which
our people have so recently and bravely
delivered them?
81 can not doubt that there are men in
high places whose misjudgments OF
Southern people or whose sectional bias
would lead them to the very threshold of
revolutionary and destructive legislation !;
but in the light of public sentiment as
illustrated by the cordial re union of both
armies at Gettysburg and elsewhere, with
the cause of sectional strife dead and
lingering diecord rapidly dying; with
peace and prosperity Frightening and
cheering alike both Southern and North
ern homes; with the ties of social inter
course multiplying and Strengthening; !;
with Northern products in the hands Of
Southern consumers and Northern money
in Southern bonds, railroads mills and
mines with material interests and pollt.
ical liberty at stake how can we doubt
that condemnation by the great conserv-
atire masses of our Northern countrymen
would cause even the most inconsiderate
fthe leaders to turn from the brink OF
such precipice?
"Take courage, then, in the thought
that our interest is their interest; and
our prosperity is their prosperity; cur
State freedom is their State freedom !;
and that whatever the demands of parti
san leaders, the day has long since passed
when the American people can calmly
contemplate the destruction ofthis Union
by destroying the equality of the States
that compose it. We owe it 10 ourselves
and to our children, we owe it to both
races whose interests are linked by I'M
mutable DEGREES to common destiny; we
owe it to each and all of our sister States |;
we owe it to the vital principles OF our
free institutions to renew our VOWS OF
fidelity and Of nnfaltering support of a
Union of equal and independent States"