The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-06-04
GORDON ENDORSES
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE FULLY AND
FREELY.

An Interesting Letter Which Appeared IL
,,,e S,,:t,:criG Alliance :arrncr-sivinS
issie> 's.>,',ss"t:
Edit. Brown. Of the Southern Al
ll;;s.lc" H::.-,ner, recently Wrote to Gov-
emo: Gur,,ou, asking his views upon
tie matters II which the Alliance IS
interested, anl also asking his ''ap-
proval an, endorsement" OF the or
der. Governor Gordon replied IS
follows:
ATLANTA. G,s., May, -, lS9o.-Mr.
Il c. D:own. E.:itoc OF the Southern
Alliance Farncr-My Dear Sir: Rep
resensirs as you do, SO large an<l
honorable body OF our best citizens
your right cannot be questioned, to
my opinion OF the great movement
10 which you refer in your letter OF
yesterday.
My answer vii be gwen with en-
tire frankuess, although the eNactlng
nature oflny duties absolutely for
bids any elaborate discussion:
I appreciate most scnsibly yo,:r
kind illusions TO myself ''as friend
Of the toil;ns millions who are but
seeking justice, This Testimonial
from one IN your position will Justify
the statement, trust, that as HE
member of the State Agricultural
Society f.om early manhoodand lden-
tiled IN every possible way with the
farming interests OF the country, my
highest concern il public and private
life has naturally been to protect
and promote the great agricultural
industry OF our country; not only as
the leading, primal and principal cali
ing oiour people; bat the one laosS
essential to Southern and national
prosperity and yet least favored by the
government or protected by its own
7otaries. Hence for fifteen years OF
more, I have labored IN conventions,
on the public rostrum and IN private
station to induce the farmers Of the
country to organize. For fifteen
years or more 7 have urged a close,
COMPACT union-an eD-elnbracing ag-
licuit,ral brotherhood, defensive II
its character and only aggressive N
protecting that industry from un-
friendly Legislation, unjust exactions
and hurtful determinations
In view OF these efforts to secure
organization during SO many years
Of my past life, it is scarcely 1eces-
sary for me to say that | hailed the
advent Of the Farmers Alliance as
the possible, final realization OF
long cherished hope, nor is 1t necs-
sary with my past record before you
to say that I endorse without reserve
and with unabated emphasis the
policy Of the Alliance for an increase
OF tho circulating medium OF the
cou:1trv. As to the best medium OF
obtaining that increase, I frankly ad.
@clit, I an not fully prepared to ac-
yise;;, but I repeat what SAID II an
other place. more than twelve years
ago, that I 10 not believe more oIs-
maj chapter, nor one more nconslst-
enS with real statemanship: nor more
incompatible with the true interests
of its citizens, has ever been written
in any country where the ballot was
free than that which records the &C
ton of this government in the forced
and rapid contraction OF the currency.
In the teeth OF overwhelming evl-
dence of the country's growth and
prosperity and on the groundless as
sertion and bald assumption that al
the borndless prosperity II the corln-
try at the time was the merest sham,
Consress proceeded to rush through
one measure Of contraction after an
other untilit had checked enterprise,
ouaorupled the difficulty OF paying
debts, blasted the hopes and paralyzc
ed the industries Of the people and
reduced all these inspiring prospects
end productive energies to one vast
unerai pile
Unsatished with these dismal re-
suits, the contraction cormorants
gave the screw another turn In the
denomination Of silver and cramped
and crushed the tolers Of the sol
and toilers for bread until the black
ruins rom their mad policy were seen
on every hand IN shattered fortunes:
popular G!israay and deadly universal
blight.
rao,,e5 that I cannot in this let
ter discuss the reasons, or rather e1-
cuse, offered for this needless and
cruel policy. What ought to be said
of the folly and madness that would
enforce in this country a policy which
everywhere, in al countries and con
d;tions, is reeking with the mdlsc1-
inmate murder Of every interest tnat
makes . country .ich and great. l
shall hope at an early day more fully
to analyze this subject, and discuss
the other problems to which you al
lude in your very courteous letter.
You are aware, however, that my
time is taxed to the utmost, and you
viii pardon me for row closing WITH
ono word to the great brotherhood
III which you now held so RESPONSE
be q position.
b. education, from my youth up,
by personal interest, and by every
consideration for the welfsre Of ou1
people, my sy1npatbies are deeply
enlisted il all the high purpose,
sought to be accomplished by the
Farmers Alliance. ! rejoice that the
genius OF the aee-the genius OF o..
can;zel, cooperative eiEort-has q;
last possessed,@oused. and impeiled
to action the great body Of the toilers
OF the soil. With wise counsels tt
guide them to conservative action
Wit, full recognition Of the rights o.
Others. brt ImcomprolulsDns resls
4a,Gry>, tc wrongs upon themselves