The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-14
HARDEMAN IN THE RACE.
he ADDRESSES A LETTER TO THE
CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.

MACON, GA, June 1S-CoL Thomas Har-
,denan of this city announces ms candidacy
for the gubernatorial nomination IN the
following letter. made public to-day:
TO the CitizensAof Houston County:
Your confidence in me as evinced oy your
votes in your primary election June =, at Wnlcn
time you affirmed that In no doubtful manner
Won desire that should enter the guoernatorlal
race and bear the standard of the Democratic
party. commands my gratitude ana my serv-
ices This voluntary testimonial or commence
from men who have known me for years has
touched the tenderest chords of my nature. for
il was given by persons OF every Gaining ana IN
every profession and industry / appreciate u
in all its fullness as an evidence OF their estl-
mate Of life of service to the great party they
represent and 10 the unwaver1Dg friendship
and support so long given to the
rrsa. MINISTRIES of the people. This action on
your part is appreciated more highly because u
comes from merchants, mechanics, professional
men. farmers and Jealous alliancemen, men
who have known me for a quarter OF century
and are. therefore, reliable witnesses when they
testify TO nv devotion TO their rights ana my
fidelity to their interest. am not asked 10 ac-
cepS the position of standard bearer as the
farmers candidate or that OF the alliance, or
other professions. but as representative OF
the great Democratic party, which fosters
all classes, all professions and
industries The Democratic party is the
party of the people, the defender OF their rights
aud protector of their interests. Its cardinal
principIes are openly avowed-rigid economy in
conducting public affairs, the raising or no more
revenue than is required for the necessary ex-
penses of the government; opposition to the
fostering of one branch of industry to the det-
riment of others. and to the Capitalization OF
the powers of the government; exact justice TO
all men and 10 all industries. special privileges
to none; individual liberty uncontrolled by
sumptuary laws; the faithful education
of the rising generation; hostility 10
any and all monopoles by legislation,
TO money trusts and combines, because they
rob toll of its earnings and labor of its bread.
The Democratic party is in favor of home rule,
the free COMA e of silver and circulation
equal to the demands of trade and the necessi-
ties of the people. To secure this last great
need ! would remove all restrictions upon state
banks and repeal the law prohibiting national
banks from taking land as security for loans
gave my allegiance to this party when, at the
close of the war, amid tue expiring throes
of revolution, it affirmed the great
principles of home rule and the right OF the
states to regulate their own domestic affairs.
II was dark hour in Georgias history. The
armies OF the union had burned her cities and
destroyed her property. The federal govern
ment disfranchised our people, elevated our
slaves to the rights and privileges of citizenship
suppianted civil jurisdiction with military rule,
removed judges from their benches and Juries
from their boxes. Civil offices were diSrobed
of authority and the people subjected to mar
tial law. States we're converted into military
districts, commandin generals gave laws TO the
people, the freedman's bureau guided your labor
contracts, while armed soldiers entered your
legislative halls and seated men as officers who
were not even members of the houses over
which they presided. Personal liberty was
trampled under foot, while terror brooded over
every altar and homestead. This was the con-
dition of affairs in Georgia when l. an ante
bellum whig, espoused the cause OF the Demo-
cratic party and called upon the people from
the mountains to the seaboard to rise in their
majesty to put the usurpers down. Success
crowned our efforts, Georgia was redeemed
white people Of the state, who now
and will hereafter, il no dissensions
are permitted in our ranks, control the destiny
of the state. OF services rendered to the party
all Georgia can testify, and no one will
doubt my fealty to her principles and her
cause.
As to my connection with and fealty to the
agricultural interests of the state, which is the
engrossing topic of the present, can only re-
fer you to my record of the past For twenty
years member of your State Agricultural
Society, elected seven times with great unanim-
fly its president. l can triumphantly appeal to
the confidence thus reposed in me by
the, agriculturlists of Georgia as an
interests Their cause has never suffered at my
hands. assure them now with all the earnest
ness of my nature that the same zeal in their
interests, the same support of their rights that
characterize my record in the past will mark
and crown my present and future efforts. am no
stranger to your present condition, for as sail
to your last convention, all of us feel and know
that the agriculturists of the south have been
and are yet in the throes Of dangerous crisis
the combinations of capital, long Cypress
I've ana eXtOrLl Jnal, became so Lyrannlcdl and
exacting in their emandS that you have formed
an alliance for the protection and maintenance
of your rights IL is a holy crusade against an
army of extortionists who unblushingly demand
the fruits of your toll There are trusts on the
right of YOU unfriendly combinations in front
of you, hostile capital on the left of
you. each and all actuated by common
purpose TO rob toll of its earnings and labor of
it's reward, though in so doing they throttle to
death the great Industries of the country In
your great struggle against them take no step
backward Retreat is disaster. defeat is ruin.
Demand for yourselves nothing but what is
right, submit to nothing that is wrong. So act
as to command the sympathies of the whole
people. Rely not too much on promises made
TO you by men who in their zeal may promise
more than can be accomplished. Remember
the grange-and better organization
was ever instituted for the planters welfare
1t drifted from its mooring entered into politics
under the gulse of direct trade wherein great
results were assured, much saving in cost and
much increase in profits 10 every farmer in
Georgia. Some, high in agricultural position
now, made these prom ses las they making
others now. They were never fulfilled; distrust
of the members in their organization followed,
and the grange died, and upon its tomb could
be written, KILLED; too much politics, too much
promised, too little fulfilled" Profit by the
lesson your own history teaches you. l warned
upon the promises made by over jealous friends
to secure votes for political favorites
fear the same road is being travelled
esomse for ask the nSi your csgP nt S
false to myself as at any time under any trial
70 be Indifferent to your interests or disregard
full of your rights and necessities. Identified
with you as much as interest and sympathy
can unite US, knowing your necessities | will
lock shields with your most knightly alliance
men, and together will strike for your
rights and independence. l ask not your sun
port because of my association with your or
der. ] seek no mans vote upon the plea of
being an alliancemaD, for l have been taught
TO believe the alliance organization was not a
political one, to be controlled and
transferred at the will of those in
power. My only appeal TO the farmers of Geor.
gia is based upon years of devotion and service
in their interest, and determination as fixed
as that of my nature to be ever found in the
rank of the defenders of their rights, and the
promoters of their independence
The peoples money should be spent for the
education of the masses. A school system
should be given the country that will not dri We
the farmer to the town and city for educational
advantages.
Give ample powers to your railroad commits
sion to carry out the great purposes for which
that commission was established
Keep the great principles of the Democratic
party in view and demand of your state and
federal officials that they shall be carried out
Federal bayonets will again be seen at your
polls Force bills and government control OF
the ballot box are in store for our people The
old party whose banner you have placed in my
hands must again take its place before the
temple of our liberties, and present an unbroken
front to these enimies of our social organiza
ton and thereby maintain tine poiitical as