The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-17
THE CHALLENGE DIRECT.
HON. 7. III NORWOOD WANTS TO
DEBATE WITH GOV. GORDON.

| DEBATE WITH GOV GOhOON.
| The Ex-COn1resSman Offended at
| Gov. Gordon's illusions to Him in a
| Speech in DeKaIb County Last Sat-
urday-To Be Called g Demazogue
and Sneered at, Mr.. Norwood Says,
Requires Some Notice-Fur Text of
Gov. Gordon's illusions to Mr. Nor
wood.
Hon. T. NJ. Norwood left yesterday for
Statesboro to address the people Of BullOch
county at a mass nesting there to-day, but
before he left home he threw down the
gauntlet to Gov. John B. Gordon, challsng
/ ing him for debate. and notifying him that
he had communicated with friend by the
same mail TO arrange for discussion in
Atlanta. The letter to Gov. Gordon is as
| follows:
Mr.. NORWOOD THROWS DOWN THE QUAINT
LET.
| SAVANNAH, Ga. Sept. 16. 1890
DEAR SIR-The Atlanta Constitution, in it's
report OF your speech last Saturday, at Decatur.
| "a. says you spoke of my interview in the Con-
StituttOn OF Aug. 80 as the idle twaddle OF an
piTtng demagogue. Demagogue is to me an
| offensive word To be called one and in the
/ same breath have other sneerng and wholly
unealled-for remarks made by one in your high
office governor, requires, in my opinion, some
| notice; and / think the best way for you to
make good your charge of demagogism will be
In point debate Assuming that that method
viii be highly acceptable TO you, have written
| to-day to friend in Atlanta TO arrange for a
| discussion in Atlanta at an early day. l wish
no delay, and, of course, you do not: remain.
yours truly, It. NJ. NORWOOD.
| It is understood that the Young Mems
| 10 Cl,,h Of 70 n lott IF
inquiry to Mr.. Norwood last week to learn
| if he would meet Gov. Gordon in debate be-
| fore the club, and he replied that If an in
vitation were rendered him he would not
refuse 10 meet Gov Gordon if the latter
| was inclined to discuss issues before the
| club.
THE ACRIMoNY OF POLITICS.
Whether this came to the ears of Gov,
Gordon, or not. is not known here, but at
| any rate Gov. Gordon paid his attention to
MIR. Norwood in a manner that reused the
ex-senator to prompt action and precipi-
tated the challenge direct.
Gov. Gordon was discussing the SUBJ
treasury bill, and after paying his atten-
| tions to DIR. Maouue and President Living
| stone Of the New York state alliance, he
next opened his batteries on Mr.. Norwood.
Gov. Gordon presented some figures show
| ing that of 332 men in the House, only one
| favored this bill and he had withdrawn it;
and in the Senate Of eighty-four members,
there was not one believer in the bill. What
can six men do OF 1872 in the Houses he
asked.
COMING OF A NEW DISCIPLE.
But there's a new disciple, a new prophet
in Israel. one Thomas NJ. like to have
| said Thomas Macune-Norwood. Fresh from
his homo in Washington city; fresh from
| the laying of hands by the high priest Dr.
Macune, he HES himself to Georgia, aud
with arms folded for the sacrifice, exclaims
IF you want me, take me. prefer private
life" but he might be induced to sacrifice
| himself on the altar of his country by &C
cepting a seat in the Senate. His plan for
solving the problem is certainly unique. If
you wish the sub-treasury, all you have to
| do is simply to change the constitution of
the United States. What think you of that,
my countrymen9 To change the constitution
| to fit the sub-treasury bill Change the const-
| tuition for every bill would thus become the
demand Of all corners TO the doors of con-
| greSs. until the constitution would become
farce. Why, my countrymen, the founda-
mental law OF the republic is that constitu-
ton. Your liberties as citizens and
| liberties OF coming generations
| depend upon that instrument. Yet here is
a man claiming to be statesman, who
| talks fippantly of changing the constitu-
ton Of the United States in order to pass
bill. If it were parliamentary would say
that such talk seems to De but the idle
twaddle of an aspiring demagogue. Mr..
| Norwood is a lawyer; am not. am a
farmer and have lived all my life on farm,
except during my public life and little
leave of absence from 1851 to 1885. sup
pose Mr.. Norwood and the others were on a
| farm then.
| 1t is expected that Mr.. Norwood, who
can be extremely caustic when so inclined,
will answer Gov. Gordon i'll kind in the
Statesboro speech to-day, and friends of
Mr.. Norwood say that If Gov Gordon
should accept Mr. Norwoods challenge
that there will be a spice of acrimony about
the debate which will make good reading
matter and deepen the interest in the sena-
torial campaign.