The advocate., 1892-04-20
OPEN LETTER.
L. L. Polk on the Situation.

w nSSuAo JOU Va NY VOL Ia "PPAONA0VAOH
of your kindly expressions of personal
regard, and that they are most heartily
reciprocated. I am receiving letters OF
similar purport from my state and all
sections of the country by every mail,
and the scope Of their inquiries may be
embraced in this single question: "Whst
is the duty Of the friends of reform In
the south In the present political crisis?"
feel assured that do no violence to
the pleasant and friendly relations which
have for long years existed between us,
In availing myself of the opportunity
afforded by your communication to de-
fine my views through an open letter, on
this momentous question. In doing
80, l speak for none but myself. Es-
chewing parties and partisan spirit, l
would consider this subject only from
the standpoint Cf loyal son Of my ma
tive state and faithful citizen of this
great republic.
Distrust, apprehension and alarm, per-
vades the public mind, and confusion,
CONSERVATION aud chaos, reign supreme
in political circles. Even among the
most astute politicians and statesmen,
whose long experience and wisdom have
given them a reputation for political sa-
gacity, not one Of them to-day could be
found who would risk that reputation on
the expression of definite opinion, as
to what will be the status of the political
parties three months from this date. The
acknowledged leaders of the two old po-
litiCal parties appear to be utterly at sea,
without chart or compass. For the past
twenty-five years these parties have stood
before the country with solldlty aud
compactDess of organization, which could
come alone from thorough discipline,
but within the past few days they have
apparently been hopelessly rent in twain,
and the general perplexity and embar-
rassment of the public mind, just at the
critical moment when it was hoping most
for relief, has thus been greatly aggrava
ted and intensified. That we are stand.
ing in the midst of a great political revo-
luton, all must concede aud none will
deny. That this unfortunate condition |
of affairs, In a time Of profound peace
and In country like ours, should be due
to extraneous or superficial causes none
will assert. It Is the logical effect Of
great, real, important ard living causes,
and to remedy which, in my judgment,
will require re,adjustment of political
elements along new lines, and the es
tabllshment of new policies in the ad-
ministration of government. In the mad |
rush Of upgodly greed for wealth and |
power, which has characterized US as a
people for quarter of a century past,we
have turned a deaf ear to the claims Of |
justice, ignored the teachings and ad-
monitions Of our fathers, and imperiled |
our liberties. We no longer have "a
government Of the people, for the people
and by the people," but through corrupt
and wicked class legislation, the few are
are favored and enriched, while the
many are oppressed and impoverished.
Throughout the agricultural states,
south, west and northwest, where, few
decades ago, were the happiest, best
contented, most prosperous and most in
dependent people on the habitable globe,
possessed Of the most princely heritage
which God ever vouchsafed to man, now