The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-26
A JOINT DEBATE
Between Hardeman and Northen.
Col. Hardeman mailed the following letter
last night to Col, Northen:
MACON. GA. June @. 1s9

last night to Col. Northen:
MACON, GA, June %, 1890.
Hon. W, J. Northen, sparta. Ga:
DEAR SIR-Yours of June n, inviting me to
joint discussion to be held in such section of
the state and under such directions az may be
agreed upon by mutual friends, has just been
received.
1t gives me pleasure to say that your PROPOSE
ton is agreeable to me. In fact, my friends
have been for some time considering the pro-
pr1ety of making suggestion to you very
similar to the one that you have made TO me.
OF course, the times and places of meeting and
order of discussion between you and me will be
arranged by our friends, three of whom have
selected and three OF whom you will
select These gentlemen will make
all the arrangements to carry for
ward our joint discussion. The time in
which these joint discussions can be made is
very limited, and We cannot hope in this man
ner to reach every county in the state, but trust
the views and the principles of each of u.s. which
may be promulgated in the discussion pro-
posed, will reach not only those who may have
an opportunity to hear US but those who live
at q distance will receive them through the
medium of the press. To make myself per-
fectly understood, and 70 reiterate the fact that
the position which l occupy in this cam
paign is the one already taken by me in my
letter to the people OF Houston county, | again
refer to that letter. 1t contains all that is en-
bodied In the first six articles of what is known
as the Alliance Yard-suick." For the seventh, 1
would remove all restriction upon state banks
and repeal the law prohibiting national banks
from taking lands as security for loans. For the
eighth, | can say with Gov. Gordon, who IN
his letter enthused the alliance: II indorse
without reserve and with undated en-
phasis, the policy of the alliance for an increase
of the circulating medium of the country; as to
the best means Of obtaining that increase, |
frankly admit | am not fully prepared to ad-
vise.a In other words. | am not prepared to
recommend the SuD-treasury scheme as the
best remedy that will meet the requirements of
the farmer This is my platform. am per
fectly willing that you should present yours
and let the people. who are entitled to be in
formed fully, know what you indorse and where
you stand. Do you confirm the state
ment found in the Farmers alliance. June 10?
The thing is fixed" That you had put your
self upon the alliance platform and said to that
paper, though you have differed with me, I
while, and am there to stay" Which plat
form contains the sub-treasury bill? Or do YOU
stand upon the platform of your home organ,
the paper which announced your candi-
dacy, the Sparta Ishmaelite, to wit: THE coun-
try is going to have something better than the
truck patch trust and eleemosynary imitation
scheme" I add, of the sub treasury bill Upon
whatever platform you may determine to
stand, I am willing that the people shall hear
us in JOINT discussion, and let them decide be-
tween you and your platform and me and
mine.
beg to assure you that you need be under no
fear OF misrepresentation from me, or of unbe-
coming personalities in discussion. The issues
involved in this campaign are too serious; they
involve too much that is near and dear to our
people to permit me to stray from the path of
an earnest, dignified debate.
beg to name as gentlemen who will represent
me on the committee of arrangements as fol-
lows: Col. Dan G. Hughes, Washington Dessau
and George c. Price, Yours very truly,
THOMAS HARDEMAN.