Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-15
GOVERNOR GORDON
Delivers "a NpIeDdId Inaugural Al.
dress.
M telegraph y be- Dlspatch.l

BY Telegraph " ine DlHpAt'hsl
ATLANTA, November l4.-ln his inaugural
address Governor Gordon said. II there be
one principle Of the Government dearor
than all others 10 the American freemeu, it
is Independence. equality, aud the freedom
Of the States. This is The central thought OF
our political faith. II u the keystone in
the arch Of Our Constitution, and when that
is destroyed the doom Of constitutional free
dom Is sealed. When the independence aud
equality Of the States are struck down the
republic falls. Oh, moi The stranguatIon
OF the STATES 10y Federal Intervention will
never be tolerated by the American people.
What possible excuse could be given
for Interference by the General Government
IN tho afairs OF Georgia that would not also
Justify Interference with any state In the
Union? What evil exists here that does not
exist elseW here aud which j. 50 fuil VI dan
ger that 10 correct It the fundamental law
must be ignored and the statehood i'm
perilled? WIN the colOred race III Georgia
represented on her textbooks hy It's millions
OF accumulated wealth; with 10000 col0red
children in our pubic schools, against 90 geo
prior 20 our recovery Of the State govern
ment; with equal laws administered by in.
partial courts for the protection OF all; with
the ballot in the coiored hands aud its full
use secured 10 them, whenever and wherever
they may choose to WELD IFS power; with
the race problem gradually working
out, under Providence, it. own sOlu-
ton; with the relations Of the races
becoming more and more amicabIe;
with the interests Of both races asSimi-
lating aud improving steadily snd rapidly,
what justification or possible preteXt, | re-
peat, could be found for plunging this Com
A. 81 -.
again INTO the abyss from which our people
have 80 recently and brayeiy delivered them :
/ cannot dOuo that there are meu in high
places whose misjudgments OF the southern
peonle or whose sectional bias would lead
them to the very threshold OF revolutionary
and destructive legislauOn but N the light
OF public sentiment IS illustrated by the
cordial r., Onion OF both armies az Gettysburg
aud else here; with the cause OF sectional
strife dead and lingering discOrd rapidly
dying; with peace ard prosperity bright
eniug and cheering alike both the southern
aud northern homes with the ties of social
intercourse multiplying and Strengthening;
with the northern products IN the hands OF
southern consumers, aud northern money
ia southern bonds, railroads, mills, and
miAes; with material interests aud political
liberty at stake, bow can we do with that
condemnation by the great conservative
masses OF our northern countrymen that would
cause even the most inconsiderste OF leaders
10 tura from the brink Of such preci.
pice Take courage. then, IN the thought
that our interest is their interest;
our prosperity their prosperity; our
Slste freedom their State freedom,
and that whatever the bounds Of
the partisan leaders the day has long since
passed when the American people can calmly
contemplate the destruction Of this Union by
destroying the equality OF the States that
compose 1t. We owe II to ourselves aud 10
eur children; we owe it TO both races,
whose interests are linked by inimitable de-
crees 10 o common destiny; We owe Il 10
each and all Of our sister States; ere owe It
TO the vital principles Of our free institutions
TO renew our VOWS OF fidelity and OF uu-
fsilering support to union Of equal aud in-
dependent States.