The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-26
GENERAL GORDON INITIATED.
he Was Shown the Mysteries Of the Ordee-
The Order Through Which He Passed.
ATHENS Banner.l

ATHENS Banner
General Gordon is now full fedged
Allianceman, and will hereafter be
made to toe the mark, and address Llv-
ineston, Macune and Harry Brown as
brother The initiation Of this dis
tinguished gentleman went through
without jostle, and was witnessed oy
a large and enthusiastic audience OF
Alliancemen.
At the risk of being shot for exposing
the secrets of our order, will give the
Banner full report Of the Impressive
ceremony that snatched General Cor
don from the clutches of the politicians
and made him an humble disciple OF
the plow.
The candidate was escorted into the
ante room of the Alliancemen by BODY
guard of farmers. He manifested some
nervousness when his conductors de-
manded that he partially disrobe and
submit to the ordeal of being currled
off with corn cob and rubbed down
with bundle of fodder; the reason for
this phantom agricultural bath beng
that it was necessary to cleanse MS
person from the communicating eHects
of too close g contact with Atlanta poll
ticiaus. Jeffersor.ian Democrats, lnde-
pendents and otaer unclean elements,
and that he migat enter the realms Of
AGRICULTURAL bliss. He was then arrayed
in pair of copperas pants, upheld oy
one suspender, and hickory Shirt
wool hat and brogan shoes. The ALI
ance This guide explained was no re-
specter Of persons and every memoer
must be on an equal footing.
Three raps Were given on the looge
room door, and asepulchral voice with
in demanded:
"Who comes there?"
"a poor penitept who is groveilng IN
darkness, and asks that the light OF the
Alliance be turned upon him." was the
reply. ,
"Is the candidate tiller of the soli"'
was the next query from within.
"He says he has always been the
best friend the farmers of Georgia ever
had" was the evasiye response.
"See if there are any corns in his
hands, or cookie burns in bis hair was
the command
"The seeker of light says he is only
farmer by proxy, and the corns are IN
the hands of those who work his Land"
was the response.
"Does the candidate ask admittance
into our order in his own volition, and
is he prepared to pass through the Or
deal of initiation?"
"He does and he is," was the reply
from without.
"Let the candidate then remain IN
darkness until bis eyes are prepared to
receive the great light that the Alliance
will turn upon him and he can enter
into our sacred precincts" was the
next order.
The eyes of theapplicant for Alliance
knowledge were bandaged with Sec
ond hand guano sack, the door OF the
lodge-room thrown open, and Georgia's
Ex-Governor and United States Sena-
tor. for the first time in his life, found
himself in the inner sanctuary of the
farmers lair. He was marched three
times around the room, while the men,
bers welcome him with
"While the lamp holds out to burn
The vilest sinner may return
With 'sgee" and ''haw" the candl-
nate was escorted to the Grand Tycoon,
who used as chair of state the small
end of bale of cotton.
"Our would-be brother, your humlil-
ating entry into this room teaches you
a useful lesson. A few minutes ago
YOU came to US reekiug with the odor
of the politician, and arrayed IN the
paraphernalia of great man. You
were stripped of your fine apparel
which means that you must also leave
behind you in your future communlca-
tions with farmers your worldly Dig
nity, or the Alliance will strip you OF
your honors as easily as it did of your
tsiIor-nade garments. All men lex
'cept the nigger) are free and equal.
"The odious bandage that ooscured
YOUR vision is a necessary attachment
to the farm; and while it teaches an
,. llianceman that he must not expect
llg gnshway through life to be sprln-
presShe ottar of roses, will be a
az2an ader to you Of the offensive
s., =: nea,l spoke of our leaders
m masa Of feras ieg your recent cam
and =. oar rretstor will now con-
paign. in al al % o,e the high and
vey the canu,to the - lns'ruc'ionS'
mighty histe1 csse sing
while the breth ~rros. stand"
son Jordan'sstt gillv,s. stting ,
The H. and NJ. his, hi IS ssaNs,s g..
lot ,eet the handles Of = piow sa cst :
Without further ado the candidate a;
on ;ron hook fastened in the seat OF hl:
pants, to which rope was astashee s.ss
snd thrown over beam above. Witt
- steady pull by two sinewy Alliance
men, the distinguished gentleman wa
soon dangling in the air, with hand
and feet vaiuly clutching at the floor
NOW hold the candidate in that po
sition, where be can better appreciate
the beautiful lessons inculcat"d by th'
Au;,nce ~ remarked thC.G. and NJ. H