Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-19
THE GORDON BOYCOTT.
The Georgia Governor Says He Quit
Fighting at Appomattox.

Gov Gordon of Georgia has written an open
letter to the New York Herald, in which he says
MY telegram in reference to the boycott
(about which have had no interviews, as you
charge), has evoked q degree Of feeling and
provoked an amount Of adverse criticism which
think unmerited and unreasonable. have
waited for more tranquil audience before
making my reply.
1.-THE spirit in which wrote has been wholly
misunderstood, but If public attention has been
arrested, public interest increased and public
demonstrations in any degree developed in
reference to the Lodge BILL then my telegram
and the much-needed agitation have served
their purpose. If should denounce the force
bill and yet deny that its passage would tend
to disturb commercial relations and impel the
south IN the direction of commercial independ-
ence, should have denied a proposition which
every thoughtful and candid man in the Union
must admit to be true, and my reply would
have tended $50 far as it could have any influ-
ence) to dwarf the dangers and discourage
popular demonstrations against the Lodge bill.
Secondly, in the haste and heat of your
criticisms, among other extraordinary state
ments, you charge that had gone over to the
Farmers Alliance movement and sought to
rekindle sectional passion at the south in order
to secure an election to the United States
Senate.
II hold now, and express now, the identical
opinions on these subjects that have stead
lastly, uniformly and everywhere held and
expressed for twelve or fifteen years. For
fifteen years or moro / have persistently urged
the farmers to a compact self-defensive
organization. The united and earnest support
given me by the Farmers Alliance in Georgia
Is not due to any new and sudden conversion
on my part to the great principles of govern
mental reform which they advocate, but due to
the unceasing war have endeavored to make
upon the wrong from which they have SO long
and uncomplainingly endured. Appeals 70
passion and prejudice have never been, even
amid the bitter experiences of reconstruction,
the Observation-Disclosures by which have sought
political preferment. Precisely the reverse is
true. and IN this assertion / would be sustained
by the overwhelming testimony of the truth
loving men Of both parties and both races in
this state.
The guns at Appomattox had scarcely ceased
their roar when, upon the very field where our
dead had fallen, sitting on my horse, with the
distressed remnants of my command around
me. sought to sustain them by two sugges-
tons: First, that impartial history and their
own posterity would take care OF their honor
and their own heroism would secure for them a
place in the front ranks Of the worlds soldiery.
Secondly, that the brave men Of the Union
army who had just triumphed over them were
our own countrymen and would recognize the
fact that this great American republic and its
liberties were established by southern as well
as northern proves and statesmanship, and
that these brave soldiers of the north would
see to 1t that this common government Of ours
should be administered in the spirit of its
founders. No man can point to word or act of
mine from that day to this inconsistent with
that effort then made on the bloody field of