The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1892-04-15


The announcement that Judge
Peter Turney would open his cam
didacy for the gubernatorial nOmi-
nation at Winchester Monday, drew
one of the largest crowds ever
assembled there. Many of the most
prominent men of the State have
been rocked in the cradle of Dem
ocracy in this little town, and it
was a fitting place for the great
jurist to make his opening fight for
the perpetuation of the principles
of which Jefferson and Jackson were
the opponents.
Judge Turney's speech dealt with
all the issues of the day, and the
heresies of the land loan scheme
were exposes in a manner that
carried conviction with every word
and sOlidified the party in a man
ner that will bear fruit when the
convention meets to select its stand
ard bearer for gubernatorialh onors.
We give below the speech in full,
and ask each of our subscribers to
give it careful perusal.
Fellow-citizens: am before you in a new
role; present myself as a candidate for Gov
ernor. subject to the action of Democratic
convention.
My candidacy is not of my seeking. have
yielded to the demands of a large portion of
the Democracy. evidenced by letters and per-
sOnal appeals. as well rs by the almost entire
Democratic press of TIE State.
The people have so generously responded to
me when l have asked promotion at their
hands. and have trusted me so long and so
often in the high and responsible position
ali hold 7 Il :,
cede To them when they call me to represent
Democracy in this emergency.
This contest is the fight of the Democratic
party for its existence in the State. 1t is the
resistance of that party to a threatened alb
sorption by party teaching new and I'M
Democratic theories and principles. and
moving and operating under the seductive
name of
Farmers and LabOrers' Union"
To that association as originally designed
and inaugurated have no objection. AS l
understand it pronounce it good. All classes
of trades. professions and callings have a right
to and should form associations for their so
cial. material and moral advancement. Such
associations bring them together for inter
change of thought and experience. They in
cite to study and investigation and produce
that habit of study which develops the best
methods of promoting the interest and well
fare of all concerned. Such associations, with
such purposes. make the farmer a better
farmer. the mechanic a better mechanic. the
laborel better laborer, the merchant a better
merchant, the lawyer better lawyer.
They not only arouse thought but they put
thought to work in the creation of newspa-
pers, magazines and periodicals by and
through which there is a general interchange
of views and opinions and consequent result
of experiments which brings about reforms
and improvements In their peculiar lines in
life tending to the elevation and gradual per-
lection of the methods of improvement of each |
particular class.
1t has been said that am opposed TO the
farmer and that my candidacy is a war upon
his interest. This charge is wholly, utterly
without foundation in truth and in fact.
l speak to a people who have known me all
my life. l was raised on a farm in your midst
In my early boyhood ! began to learn how
70 do farm work. 1 did all kinds of such
work
l had n personal experience of the labor
necessary to raise all the products of our soil. |
i learned then and know now that the farmer
and laboring man the foundation rock
upon which all material interests, all pros
perity, all success stand.
Destroy these agencies and you destroy all
without them we are without existence
cease TO labor we will be chaos The founda-
ton IS pulled from under us. the superstruc-
ture falls and we are nothing.
Now. having made these declarations, some
will ask why i; is that am now opposing
the Farmers Alliance 1 answer that am
not opposing the Farmers Alliance That |
am opposing a political alliance sailing under
an assumed name. inappropriate name,
name intended by political schemers to deceive
and entrap.
BY men who are endeavoring to convert an
originally good organization into a political
machine for their own selfish purposes
The best way to see what was done and what !
is being done is to go to the declared objects |
of the organization. Commencing with the /
State Agricultural Wheel in 1887, Article I'd, !
of its constitution defines
The Objects of the Order.
Sec. l. The objects of the order shall be to
unite fraternally all acceptable persons over |
the age of Is years, who are engaged in the oc-
cupation of farming. Also all mechanics who |
are actually engaged in the pursuit of their
respective trades. and are believers in a su- !
preme being. shall be eligible to membership |
I'm this wheel provided. that no proprietor of |
any manufacturing establishments employing |
more than three hands shall be received or re-
tanned rs a member. and provided further that
there shall be separate organizations for the |
white and colored members, with separate |
grips. signs and passwords.
Sec. 2. To give all possible moral and ma
terial aid in its power to its members and |
those depending on its members, by holding |
Instructive lectures, by encouraging each |
other in business, and by assisting each other !
to obtain employment.
See. 3. The improvement of its members In |
the theory and practice of agriculture, and the |
dissemination of knowledge relating TO rural |
and farming affairs.
Sec T. To ameliorate the condition of farm
ers in every possible manner.
There is no politics in this. 1t is confined !
20 the welfa re of the farmer and mechanic as
such. nothing more, nothing less. In 1888 the |
Wheel seems to have passed out and the |
''Farmers' State Alliance" is formed and in
its constitution sets forth its declaration of |
intentions" as follows:
profoundly impressed that we, the Farm
ers' Alliance, united by the strong and faithful