The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-05-05
PATRIOTIC GORDON.
HE EXPOUNDS SOUND DEMOCRACY
TOTHe FARMERS.


the Country Suffers.
AUGUSTA, Ga, April 27.-Tbe fol-
lowing letter, written by Senator J. 3.
Gordon to a number of gentlemen who
had requested him to give his views on
the poll iCal situation, was published in
the Chronicle Il few days ago. IL is
worth reading:
/ heartily thank you for the confidence
implied by your request for my views
on the political situation. Before be.
ginning the discussion, however, you
will indulge me III one or two personal
illusions.
First. Il am not now q candidate for
office and the approaching elections cam
not effect my political status in any way
whatever. have therefore, no posi-
bic political or personal interests at
stake except such as are common to
every citizen 9! tho State.
Second. l am iu the fullest sympathy
and accord with the general aud lauda-
BILE purposes iof which the Farmers
Alliance was orgauizCd. Their princi.
pies arc my pri.ci les; their people are
my people; their interest is my interest,
and their calling my calling. Nor am
L new convert to these views. For
nearly twenty years l have urged the
organization of the farmers Tor their
own protection, and have battlcd Tor
the prime objects which called the order
into existence. In season and out of
season, i'll public and private life, for a
long series of years and without chan &c
or shadow OF turning, | have spoken
Tor, written tor, and labored for the sue
cess OF the essential measures which
now 50 deeply concern and so profound
ly agltatc the agricultural and laboring
masses OF our people. The public re-
cords prove that no man in this whole
Union has longer on more consistently
and perslstcntly laborcd for tie reforms
and the relief which the people need and
ought TO secure. | enlisted in the cause
long before The present farmers war
upon protected privilege and govermcn-
tai partiality was declared, an, | am en-
listed for the whole war. [ was in the
fight when ii was not popular and when
the few who fought with me were in the
minority. Through years of discourage
ment and disparagement, | have stood
by the cause and followed its flag and
propose to still stand by it, If my life is
spared, until the victory is won and re-
lief secured.
This much 1T seemed important for
me to say for ysclf in order that our
intelligent, honest and patriotic farmers
might iully understand my position. If
my sincerity and devotion are doubted,
then there IS no efficacy in works as
nroOf Of ones faith,
Let us now comc squarcly and fear
lessly to the discussion. If we can lind
the road to relief, propose, tor one, to
follow it to the end. But in searching
for the right road, let liz not be decciv-
ca by flaming sign boards placed on the
highway by designing hands. In other
words, let us not be deluded by the fiery
defamation OF those who arc interested
in misleading us. One thought L would
solemnly imp ess at the Out set would
hammer it into the very fiber Of every
farnler's brain in the country. IL is
this: Our condition is so serious and
threatening that we cannot afford TO
make mistake, and the only way in
winch TO avoid mistakes is to find the
truth; and then to stand by il; and the
way 10 find the truth is to sltt the evil
dence and rely upon established facts
and not upon mere theories.
Now, In order to recognize truth with
certainty, let us lay down few funda-
mental propositions to which all will
agree, and then bring every suggestion
to the test OF these nlaXims.
|. Reform or relief must come, if it
comes at all, through change of tho &c
governmental policies which ha' pro-
duced the wrongs from which We seek
relief.
2. A change Of policies requires a
change OF lulcrs; and our only way Of
changing rulers is through ballot boxes,
by volcs.
3. A change of rulers to be effective
involves the necessity of elcclinV by
votes a President and both houses of
Congress, who are the avo we'd and
known opponents OF the men who have
inflicted these wrongs upon the country.
4. There is no hope of elccling such a
President and such a Congress except
by the united votes Of all the friends Of
reform.
s. IT we can ascertain with certainty
what party is responsible for the wrongs
OF Wh!ch we complain, we shall have
located hey ond doubt the enemies Of re-
form ana OF ofrclief. Locate the men " no
pefPctuatcd the wrongs and you locate
Inose upon whom H. Is youl duty to
make war.
Now let the investigation y, oceed
without fear or favor. Let the specific
wrongs OF which you complain be taken
up one by one and each wrong laid at
the doors OF the men who are the au-
thors Of 1t and laid nowhere else.
shall only be able to summaries, hut
/ challenge successful denial of single
one Of the propositions submitted.
One OF the most ser Gus complaints
is against the national banking system,
against its partiality and its incompe-
tency to furnish a sufficient and low rate
circulating medium. Who imposed this
system upon the country? The answer
IL, Republican House, Republican
Senate and a Republican President, and
In doing this akey destroyed your State
banking system. | cannot pass this
point without briefly contrasting the two
systems.
Under The national banking law one
thousand dollars of gold will not pay for
one.thousand dollar bond on which to