The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-04
GORDON AT EAT0NTON.
u,s APPEAL FOR HARMONY IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

rrn,ro,s That Gov. Gordon Favors.
p,,,allment OF Come of ais Prophe-
c,es-Some Facts from His Record.
Tine MORNING News published asynopsis
81 Gov- Gordon's speech at Eatonton the
,,,ornine following the day Of its delivery.
There having been some inquiry for it.
,,owever. the full text of it is published:
~. President. Ladies, and my Friends of The
FARMERS Alliance:
i.ha ~ Won for your complimentary invita-
aion and am assured by your applause that you
49, neither misjudged me nor failed 10 appre
;,e nv connection with your patriotic cause.
I conne 10 YOU therefore, not ike Paul before
tba bigh court of King Agrippa, TO answer Tor
- things whereof l am accused but rather
like Paul on his mission VI pooSo W H4S O"H
brethren at CoFinth.
NV countrymeD, we are orethEen' democratic
brethren. Georgia brethren, southern brethren,
bo1nd together in the bonds of common inter
80 common hopes, common wrongs ana IN
Che still higher holier bond OF sad out glorious
ond immortal memories We are American
brethren. sons of kindred sires, inheritors OF
common freedom, anu OoonO W PiSSe''9 ~ ~
rber is nothing inconsistent with this senti
ynent in your organization. The farmers ALL
ance is not banded together. as L understand H.
for any warfare upon other interests. They DO
war however, and ought TO war, upon Inose
Iyho nv blupder or design have imposed upon
them unjust and unequal laws Ihey 90 var,
and ought to war, upon those who by hign
bigb tariffs by national banks, by contraction
of the currency. by restrictions upon silver, ana
nv the imp )sition of unequal burdens, nave
depressed and oppressed tne ulers Oh 'S S so fo-
snch a war have long been an enlisted soldier,
with knapsack packed, ready for the conflict,
until the victory is won and the shacKles lah
from the limbs of American agriculture
In view of the somewhat strange circnm-
stances around me, you will pardon me if |
shall give personal phase to the discussion.
Whatever arguments shall present will be ad-
dresed TO the candid Judgment Of honest. sober
and thoughtful men. Whatever appeals snail
make will be in the interest OF democratic
unity, and of the concord and success OF the
alliance brotherhood. ~
Until very recently the whole people of this
state were practically unanimous in my support:
Now however, it seems there Is determined
and persistent effort to secure my dereat. WIN
your permission, propose to inquire as 10 tne
reasons tor this remarkable change.
HIS PURPOSES BEFORE THE STATE ALLIANCE.
NV course before the state alliance at Atlanta
had far deeper significance than many or my
friends imagined had seen for weeks a ten
dency to a split in the Democratic party caused,
by making the Endorsement of the sub-treasury
hin a test of democratic fealty had observed
that many Georgia democrats complained bit
terly that such test, which was not made by
the democratic platform, had ostracised them,
and they were inquirinS ITO what party do we
belong II no man is democrat worthy of sup.
port unless he indorses this particular bill" l
plainly saw that, unless this feeling among
hand and the demand of the al
dance leaders on the other, could be
modified, a split was inevitable, and We should
see two sets Of candidates in various localities
in Georgia, both claiming to be democrats. 1t
was certain that such a conflict would not only
threat en- the integrity OF the Democratic party
but would assuredly defeat some alliance can
dates and bring serious embarrassment TO the
alliance cause in Georgia. Deeply burdened
with a sense of our peril, l calmly awaited the
coming of the convention.
Realizing to the fullest the danger to myself
politically. and still more fully trust, my duty
to the democratic party, as well as to the ALI
ance cause, ! resolved, whatever fate might
await me, TO make an appeal for democratic
unity. and endeavor to lift the alliance cause
out OF the narrow confines of a specific bill to
the higher plane OF good principles and liberal
policies knew full well that silence on my
part meant my unanimous election to the Sen
ate; but could NOT afford silence with misap-
prehenSi0n. | could not afford to be silent and
see unauthorized tests applied which were sepa-
rating democrats, and which, If persisted in must
rend the party in twain. and also drive from the
alliance cause throughout the union millions of
votes
NO THREATs-No DEFIANCE.
Hence spoke, not defantly, as L have been
falsely represented, but with heart full of de-
votlon to your cause as my life had. been full of
labor for your principles. | spoke for peace
and brotherhood, for democratic unity and
white supremacy in Georgia. | spoke for the
best interest of the alliance brotherhood, and |
left that hall with the calm reflection that,
sooner or later, the wisdom of the liberal pol
icy which had advocated would be abundantly
indicated.
PLAN TO BE SUGGESTED.
But it is objected that offer no substitute.
My friends, have no desire to thrust upon you
at present my personal views as to the best
method OF securing relief. / will say, however,
mat have given this subject much thought,
hAlIRVA q an no al ~s.A
viii secure all we desire, and upon which all
may unite. But il a plan of my own should
prove acceptable, should still urge you not to
FISK your hopes on any specific bill.
A REACTION WILL SURELY COME
Every thoughtful candid, unbia sed man in
Georgia, after this election is over and the nm
just passion excited against me Is gone will see
That this liberal course for which have pleaded
was the wise one. Yet this is the sum of my
How passing strange is the situation around
US Wll you pause and reflect? Here is the
. slrglnla state alliance voting down the sub
treasury Dill by vote that lacks but
seven OF two-thirds majority; here
Is the Missouri alliance putting forth
another plan. Here is the Texas alliance in
v .b OF going to pieces in its quarrels over
ene suo-treasury; sixteen counties refusing co.
operation and forcing the state alliancs to re-
cede from It's demand for the sub-treasury and
70 resolve ~ That it is the sense of this body
f snaI an member of the farmers alliance are
the discussion of said hill''
PRESSING HOME THE QUEsTIoN-PoLIr1cA1 Pts
Tolls.
L press home this question: Why is H. In view,
VI inese remarkable facts, that this war is
inaue upon me by thu leaders of your brother
nTGu III Georga? Why is it when the Virginia
s a,loIce YoGes II down and the Texas alliance ia
I'eu only oy receding from its demands. and
wheH Ihe Missouri alliance adopts another Dian.
MY, l repeat, do your leaders with political
pa5 9 aU my head, demand of me- Endorse the
Suo-treasury bill or dep ''''
rhAl1S TO TRUE FRIENDS OF THE ALLIANCE
10y aniance friends you who are its true
sanri9oot you who are rzady to make personal
s5a ,l.lUes Tor 1t; you who have no axes to be
haIiap, oneI on alliance grindstones; you who
the s,,a ~ lts nigh and glorious aims and prefer
an, SuSceSs OF the cause to the qualification of
Snl man ambition-do Won not nair1Iv Geo
STAT 'a1 ~ ou are being drifteds With Georgia
VrgiAli iance urging the sub-treasury; and the
traeslr oCaee Alliance voting down the sub
tbrao.iy and the Texas State Alliance
snbt ".ened with disruption on account of the
wnr ,,,,uasury DO you not plainly see that this
unirstt 81 I'M me Is utterly untenable and wholly
any I1arnAeeF But far more important than
sestbst qua considerations. do you not plainly
untiI ~ you can never win national victory
In III gu lnscribe on your banners onIv vour
gia All F. TInclples, for which Virginia and Geor-
for VII e&as allancemen can all stand and
unitas ~ tne friends of reform everywhere can
Does - - Ihere any answer to this proposition?
man in ~ every Intelligent, fair-minded alliance
ueorgla see it?
APPEAL TO DEMOCRATS.
alGinnr5 brother democrats in and out of the
yonr ,1e you who realize that the Integrity Of
acy Of ~ is essential to the continued suprem-