The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-06-05
GORDON ENDORSES
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE FULLY AND
FREELY.

Editor ,,:oWn, Of the Southern Al
lance EA. l.:r, recently wrote to Gov
c.nor Cor ION, asking his views upNr
the matters III which tho Alliance is
Interested, nnd also asking his up
proval and endorsement" Of the or
dor. Governor Gordon replied as
follows:
ATLANTA, Gn., May, 33, 1S9O.-NIr
II O. Brown, Editor Of the Southern
Alliance Farmcr-My Dear Sir: Rep
resonting as you DO, SO large an,
honorable IL body Of our best citiH, II
your right cannot be questioned, to
my opinion OF the great iuOvcmun!
to which you refer III your letter q.
yesterday,
My answer will be given with. rlI
tirc franllncSS, although the cNactinY
nature OF my duties absolutely for.
bids any elaborate discussion.
l appreciate most Scnsibly yOul
kind allusious to myself as II fl'i;md
Of tho toiling millions who are hut
seeking Justice This testimonial
from one in your position will Justify
the statement, trust, that as Il life
member Of the State Agricultural
Society from cnrly manhood and ilcM-
tilted III every possible Why with thc
farming interests OF til" country, luy
highest concern in public and private
lifo has naturally been to protect
and promote ti" great agricultural
industry Ofnc." country; not only rs
The FINAL nnl principal call
ing of or Souplo: but the one lnost
essential t.. 55,y;thrlr and national
prospcriiN9Sa get least favored by The
government or protected by Its oWi,
TOtNriCs. Hence fOr fifteen years ul'
more, J. have lnbNrrt; i'll conventions.
on the pubiic rostrum and in private
station to induce tho farmers Of the
country to organize. For fifteen
years OF moro [ have urged. Il close,
compact uniOn--an all embracing an-
ricultural brotherhood, defensive in
its character and only aggressive III
protecting that industry from un.
friendly legislation, unjust cyact!ons
and hurtful determinations.
In view Of these efforts to. secure,
organization during SO many years
of my past life, it is scarcely nccc#
sary for me to say that I hailed tho
advent of the Farmers Alliance ns
tho possible, final realization of !,
long cherished hope, nor is. it noes
sary with my past record, before yuu
to say That endorse without reserve
Ild with unabntcd emphasis the
+ ,olicy Of the Alliance. fol-hn incrca, G
If the circulating medium OF thn
country. AS to the best medium Of
obtaining that increase, L frankly ad
nit, am not fully prepared to ad
wise; but l. repeat what said i'll un-
othor place moro than twelve. years
ago, that l do not believe a more dis
NAL chapter, nor one moro ,lnCOn%lSt-
cnt with real statcmanship, 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 ac-
ton of this government III tho forced
and rapid contraction of fthcculrrncy.
In the teeth of overwhelming cvi-
doncc of the cOrmtry,s growth nnd
prosperity and Oh the groumdlcsH as
sertion and bald assumption that Ill
tho boundlcss prosperity III the cOUn-
try ut the time was tho mCrcst sham,
Congress proceeded to rush through
one measure of contraction after an
other until it had checked enterprise,
uuadruplcu the difficulty Of paying
debts, blasted the hopes and paralyz
ed the industries Of the people and
reduced all these inspiring prospects
and productive energies to ono vast
uncral pile.
Unsatisiicd with these dismal re-
suits, the contraction cormorants
gave the screw another turn in the
demonstration Of silver and crNmpcl
, and crushed the toilors of the soil
and toilcrs for bread until the black
ruins from their madpolicy were seen
on every hand in shattered fortunes,
popular uismay and deadly universal
blight.
I regret that [ cannot in this let
tor discuss the reasons, or rather OK
cusc, offered for this needless and
cruel policy. What ought to be said
of tho folly and madness that would
enforce in this country Wpolicy which
Everywhere, i'll all countries and con
ditions, is recking with the indiScri
inmate murder of cTcry interest that
makes country rich and great.
shall hope at an early day more fully
to analyzo this subject, and discHs'
the other problems to which you I'll
ludo in your worry courteous letter
You are aware, however, that my
time is taxed to the utmost, and you
will pardon mo for now closing will
onolNord to the groat brothcrhood
In which you now hold 80 response
Ible g position.
BY education, from 1ny youth up
\ S2y personal interest, and by cvory
Shsidoration for the welfare of on
people, my sympathios arc doepl!
s enlisted ia all tho high purposes
sought to be accomplished by tn
Tarmers' Alliance. 1 Iroioicc that tn,
&ius Of tho aoe-tho genius of OF
->linized, cooperative effort has II
ut possessed, aroused, and impellct
\aetion the great body Of the toilor
the soil. With wise cormsels tt
them to conservative action
Null recognition Of the rights @
s, but uncompromising resis
b. wrongs upon themselves
IS opposition to Legislative