The state chronicle., 1892-05-01
GEN. GORDON ON THE POLITICAL
SITUATION.

SITUATION.
In reply to a request from number
of Georgians for his views upon the
political situation in the South, and
upon the contention Of the Third party
that "tlere is no difference between
the Democratic party and the Republi-
can party" Gen. J. b. Gordon, in an
article in the Augusta Chronicle, emu
merates the evils of which the farmers
of the country complain, shows which
of the two great political parties is re-
sponsible for these evils, and points
out the only practicable mode OF OBJ
tanning relief. One party, it is shown,
has controlled the policy of the gov
ernment for thirty years, and that
party, Gen. Gordon declares, is wholly
responsible for the evils its policy has
inflicted upon the people. The obvi-
Gus remedy is to secure a change Of
policy by securing a change Of
rulers-by voting into power at
Washington a Democratic Presi-
dent, Senate and House Of Representa-
tives. The Democratic party has in
the past consistently opposed all the
various vicious measures of Republican
policy, and may be trusted, if given
the opportunity, to introduce reforms.
To hold it re sponsible, along with the
Republican party, for the legislative
and administrative abuses of the la st
thirty years is to commit monstrous
folly. To desert it now that it is on
the point Of winning the victory Of re.
form is political madness. There are
certain measures of which particular
complaint has been made by farmers
and others. Gen. 7ordon mentions
eight, as follows: The suppression O
the State banks and the creation anC
perpetuation OF the national banking
system; the concentration of power
over the currency in Wall street; tn
demonetization of silver in 1873; th'
violent contraction of the currency ef
fected in 1879 by the hurried 1esump
tion of specie payments; the thiev
ing tariff tax, which is burdeI
many times increased; the squan
dering of the public domain; tn
repeal of the income tax, whic
redressed in part he inequality of th
tariff tax; the wasting of revenue so a
TO have an excuse forincreasing take:
Add to these features of Republican
policy the force bill, to which the part
now in power is pledged and the agr
culturalst and other voters of tn
South have brief list Of Republica
legislative sins to which the Democr;
tic party can plead most emphaticall
''not guilty 1t has protested again
their commission. 1t has to some exter
mitigated, if not prevented, the enac
ment of odious laws. To join a Thil
party now on the plea that the Dem
cratic party is to blame would be ba!
ingratitude as well as blind folly.
would mean the perpetuation of IL
very evils for which relief is asked.
would mean, if carried to any lar!
extent, the loss of the House and Il
enactment of the force bill, which II
Republican party has SO long desir'
to fasten upon the South. Patric
ism demands of Southern voters tn
they sink their differences and try
unite upon matters of general Interest
"We are ALL says Gen. Gordon, C
favor Of lower tariff and lower int
GOV ioi ihohCy' va tuCSC VIAL lSSu
an overwhelming majority of Dem
Gratis are IN absolute accord with t
producers, farmers and labor unio
the country. How much wiser, the
to cease quarreliDg and fight togeth
for the general cause" The logic
the situation reinforces Gen. Gordol
argument. Stalking during the comi
campaign-pre-eminently campai
for principle must be not only {
creditable to the intelligence of Sou
ern Democrats, but in the long r
disastrous, socially and industrially
well as politically, to the Southt
people.
Tbs United States steel cruiser G.
cord, one of the model vessels of
''new navy" is on her way up
Mississippi, to attend the opening
the great Memphis bridge on the 1: