Newspaper Page Text
i congratulate tnyreff on
ynr d®? meet today so many of the
£VS» lJ „?the old capital and of the
ffd^Munty oi Baldwin; a county
5*0^ ^rurilmted to the sterling
13 a lovely womanhood of Geor-
S oerhape. as any other of the
E5® 11 and thirty-seven counties.
PL H^ffyou, my countrymen,- the
new gospel; tout aa a
5<gAioned Georgian, the son of
i " ,nd the grandeon of a Geor-
“hi native state and aO
-fW w ; l0 has served her. to the
P?-ability, in war and In peace;
X
v
merit
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1898
I Candler and Atkinson Open the State Campaign.
Jol Candler at Milledgeville Saturday, Aug. 20. Gov. Atkinson at Dublin Saturday, Aug. 27. Record
emocracy m Georgia Reviewed. State Finances and Party Government Ably Discussed.
GantHer at Milledgeville. | m * '
the frosts of three score
(W-.^^hltened hds brow, would
t* "?T e ,*-casi(.n
* st ” 1 f n her defense and the defense
require, buckle on
i come. a ’
W piracy of Bale
i* ^ ,he democrat!’
at the Invitation
Baldwin county, to
candidate for
}„. eni to discuss them fairly.
f- J. tauardally. with charity for all
r^tovard none. I have lived long
.J**- 1 * that my fellow citizen
fL“ rfth me In politics or religion,
Mitaeas proposition, and yet he as
(It 1 X honest as I am.
of all discussion Is, or ought
TO ^ .licit truth. Political dlscusston
*jlitlon to this rule. The campaign
2?V, are engaged Is not a mere
-nntest between me and Mr. Ho-
« amusement of the populace.
1*1 a contest, as between two ath-
I* which can whip the other. It
* Urtt to be, a dispassionate dlscus-
^jnrinolples. on a high plane,. that
* mav determine for themselves
•w h's election or mine would be
finduclve to the general weirare;
* .in as I am concerned, it eha.ll be
L 1 , discussion. I shall malign nobody;
ill abase nobody; I shall fling mud at
5, Should I. by sudh methods, suc-
ihowing vou that my dltlngulshed
{s unfit for the office of governor.
Sta* thereby demonstrate my fitness;
Ji t an elected governor of this great
L i want It to be on my own merit,
jjj-.CT the demerit of another.
An Appeal to Reason.
;*]! not today attempt to entertain
■ with figures and tropes off rhetoric,
Jju paces of oratory, nor will I make
;o your passions and prejudices,
Samar reason and judgment'll shall,
[uln and unadorned sentences, speak
Ja the language of soberness and of
i and I bespeak your meet careful
Jnfcpaaslonate consideration of what
■plsg to say. To give sucb consider-
1 to ao grave a matter as the selection
prernor of more than two million
!i not only your privilege but your
a« duty. When one of you wish
jet a miller to run your mill, you
Jffljuit Inquiry as to the applicant’s
jp of the milling business, his
for honesty and integrity and
I seen! fitness for the place as miller.
‘ you go to select a teacher for your
you Inquire Into his scholastic at-
lis, Ms moral character, his ability
a a school and his personal habits
you are called on to select a pas
te your church, you are equally care
ts know not only to what branch of
Christian church he belongs but what
doctrine he preaches, how he
It and whether or not he hlmsell
practices the doctrine he preaches,
selection of a governor for a great
b of no less Importance than the
of a miller, a teacher or a
and the responsibility of the
In his selection Is a grave one and
sot be entered upon carelessly, but
aid fully realize his responsibility to
\ VS people and Ms state, when he
his ballot. He owes It to himself,
Iren and his country to inquire dli-
as to the character, ability and
record, personal and political, r,f
who are candidates for his suffw®ge
hould know what are the opinions of
«a the public questions which con-
iht Interests and welfare of the peo-
In Informing himself on these ques-
It is Ms duty to take counsel, not of
“ 1 partisans of the candidates
«, but to examine the record
hi made In the past and Inquire ot
who have known them beet and
i w *o the character and Atness of
w fte place he seeks. Don't believe
I tay about my opponent nor «wiiat
»about me, nor what the partisans
jartlsan newspapers say about either
■ will ft is fully corroborated by kn-
teatlmony. Many lies get into the
““ and many unthinking or un-
people seem to think it no
u lie about candidates and publio
S taSreu i
Stands by His Principles.
Fellow citizens, when I consented to be
come a candidate for governor of Georgia
I published a declaration of principles upon
which I proposed to go before the people
of Georgia to ask their suffrage. Ide-
clared. first of all, that I was a democrat
and believed In the doctrines of my party
as X believe In the teachings of holy writ.
I believe that whenever the principles
of the democratic party, as first enunciated
by Thomas Jefferson, cease to animate
this government, the republic will perish
from the face of the earth. I believe that
the greatest peril that now threatens us is
tne growing tendency to depart from old
landmarks and venture on untried seas
I very much fear that much of what la
called modern progress is progress In the
wrong direction. The continually increas
ing disposition of the federal government
to amplify Its own powers and restrict
tflose of the states Is a constant menace
to the liberties of the people. I believe
the constitution of our fathers means what
It savs when It says “the powers not dele
gated to the United States by the consti
tution nor prohibited by it to the states ar6
reserved to the states respectively or to
tne people,” I believe the military power
should always be subordinate to the civil
power and should never be employed ex
cept to repel invasion, suppress Insurrec
tion or as an aid to tne civil power in main
taining domestic tranquility.
I believe that the general government has
no constitutional power to Impose taxes
upon, the people for any purpose other
than to raise revenue for the support of
the government, honestly and economical
ly administered. 1 believe In the Jeffer
sonian maxim of equal and exact justice
to all and special privileges to none. I
indorse the declarations of the last na
tional democratic platform, Including that
on the much mooted question of coinage.
I believe that the establishment of the
single gold standard in our coinage was a
mistake which has caused a ruinous shrink
age In values, arrestd enterprise, lower
ed the price of labor and of the products
of labor add has brought upon the debtor
class, which constitutes a large majority
of our citizens, much unnecessary dis
tress. Hence. I aid In favor of the restora
tion of the unlimited coinage of both gold
and silver at all our mints, without dis
crimination against either, as was the
case for three-quarters of a century; and
X do not believe that we will ever enjoy
that full measure of prosperity enjoyed
In ante-bellum days until the old coinage
laws are practically restored. Foreign
wars may for a time obscure the coinage
question, create diversions and raise new
Gwnes. buf llke Bahquo’s'gfiost, tho silver
question win not down until tho white
metal Is fully restored to Its old place in
the coinage.
As to national Hatters.
„ are my views on national matters,
and they are the views of most democrats;
but some as good men and as loyal dem
ocrats as I am differ from us on this ques
tion of coinage. I would not exclude them
from the party councils because they dif
fer from us on this one question, so long
*■ they accept the party platform and
vote the party ticket; ana If time should
demonstrate that they are right and that
£ a™ wrong. I will be quick to get In line
with them; and if It should demonstrate
I am right and they are wrong, as
I firmly believe will be the case, then
they will get in line with ua on »bi« as
they already are on all other party ques
tions.
In state matters. I am in favor of clean
methods and honest politics. I believe It
Is better and wiser to correct such evils
as may get Into our party management
than to tolerate and try to defend them.
I believe the use of-money to control elec
tions Is utterly subversive of good govern
ment and If tolerajbd will speedily result
In placing all positions of profit and honor
in the hands of unscrupulous men, who
are fortunate enough to be rich, to the
total exclusion of nonest men, poor and
rich, who cannot or will not resort to such
means, and our government will cease to
be a democracy or even an aristocracy, but
will become that most dangerous and ar
rogant of all governments, a plustocracy.
To avert so groat a danger, the ballot box
must be more carefully guarded. Our elec
tion lawn must be perfected In such a
way as to prevent, as far as possible, the
buying and selling of votes, and both the
vote buyer and the vote seller must be
punished as enemies to the state and to ths
best Interests of the people.
I would abridge the rights of no citizen,
be he white or Mack, poor or rich, indi
vidual or corporation; and I would protect
all alike In the courts and In the legisla
ture and In the exercise ot tho elective
franchise,* hut I would punish crime, no
matter by whom committed, and especial
ly such crimes as tend to corrupt the bal
lot, destroy confidence In the fairness of
elections and undermine the foundations
of society. Such crimes are treason to
the state and Should be made odious In
the jeyes _of tho people. An enlightened
Public opinion should frown down those
deals ana trades and unholy alliances be
tween aspirants for office by which all
places of emolument and public trust are
sometimes parceled out among greedy aspi
rants and their partisan friends, without
regard to fitness or the public good, and
thus the people are deprived, under the
forms of law, of that free cholee In the
selection of their lawmakers and public
servants to which they are, and ought to
be, justly entitled.
Economy in State Affairs.
The day has come when, under the stress
Of low prices and hard times, the most
rigid economy should to practiced In
every department of the state govern
ment; and She constantly Increasing rate
of taxation upon the people should. If pos
sible, be lowered and under no circum
stances be allowed to Increase. The prices
of all commodities and dt labor and of
the products of labor are lower than they
have been in'a generation; and yet our rate
of taxation is the highest we have even
known. A spirit of extravagance seems
to have grown up In the administration of
all our governments, state, county and
municipal, which must be checked, or the
burden will soon become Intolerable to
many of our people, especially those who
are engaged In tilling the soli, who, after
all. have to bear well nigh all the burdens
of- government. In 1881 cotton brought
10% cents a pound, and the state rate ot
taxation was 25 cents on the hundred
dollars; now, cotton is worth about half
of what it was worth then, and the rate
of taxation is 62 2-10 cents—two and a half
times greater. Then It took leas than two
and a half pounds of cotton to pay the
state tax on a hundred dollars worth dt
property; now It requires twelve pounds
and & halt, five times as much as fifteen
years ago, and yet It requires just as
much toll and sweat to produce a pound
of cotton today as It did then.
Then ninety-five pounds of cotton paid
the tribute levied by the state and county,
In most cases, on the small farmer, whose
farm was worth $2,005. Now It takes more
than a bale. If this constant Increase In
the rate of taxation continues for a few
more years it will, to many people, become
Intolerable. It Is no answer to this argu-
S ent to say that the rate
taxation is higher In other
states tear. In Georgia. As well try
to console the sick man with the assur
ance that somebody else Is sicker than he
Is. In these days of hard times and low
prices taxation is too high In most of the
states, especially In the blood-stained and
battle-blasted states of the south. Now,
I am charging no man nor party with dis
honesty nor malfeasance. I do not believe
there has been a dollar stolen or wil
fully misapplied by any state official of
any party since the exodus of the carpet
bagger; but I repeat that a spirit of ex
travagance has grown up gradually in all
of our governments, federal, state, county
and municipal, no matter whether admin-
lffterea t>y democrats, republicans or dod-
?J*?ts, and tihat the good of the people
demands that It be checked and a more
rigid economy Instituted. I am not en-
?5ayo r lng to gull you with the promise
j*®- 1 l,2” n .. 1<Wer 018 rat « ot taxation If I
governor. Such a promise
would be an Insult to your Intelligence,
Sr r ™2. fl^ n0W / hat . U J a legislature
r* .^?L°lv ,,t ^ te _ and . the governor, who
taxing la-ws. But I want to lm-
8 Importance of electing
to the legislature only men wiho are pledg-
economy; and when
you nave done this you can depend on me
thj Ct yyr a,te them In every effort In
tne dlroetlon of economy and lower taxa
tion. Every member who proposes or ad.
for the reliefof thepeo-
R*2r *}■;“*democrat,, republican or popu-
support^ have my hearty co-operation and
Hi* Party's Platform.
^TOiesa my countrymen, are the declara-
before the demo-
«**tio party of Georgia, asking Its nomi
nation for governor. They were approved
hy the Pnrty as true democratic doctrines
and I was nominated as the party candl-
toy a convention of delegates
TThh-ntnay be packed and manipulated In
the Interest of one man or a favored few,
as our opponents make their nominations,
btri by the direct vote of the democratic
maeses, in a fairly conducted primary, in
county In the state, on tbesame
day. They constitute a platform upon
which every honest, patriotic Georgian Min
. They have been overwhelmingly
groat body of Georgia
democrats, as a whole, when they selected
me over two able and distinguished Geor
gians-as the party candidate. There Is
among ' t hom that our popu-
Ust fnmtds have not been clamorous for
since the organization of their party. To
be^cpnilqtent. «vary populist »£
ougfrf~thfe year to* vote for me and the
democratic ticket. They have cried afoud
for free stiver coinage. I Introduced and
years before the peopled^rtywlstorn
to toe arch ofm v jSStiSo
They n a^oi!JSL5 v t r d ° u bted my sincerity.
«iL e3r ,JiL e -?iP?2. sed to rin g role, and favor
P 3 ® °! the common people. I have
rofe 1 "f thn S ,. B S a£ftler ant * la favor of the
roe common people all of mr Ufa.
My record an a lawmak* for fifteen
oae of them Is a democratic doc-
SfA £,, hu 2 ared yoaxa old. I and every
A Word About the Pops,
of them are as sincere and honest
They were Induced to secede
from the democratic party In 1892. because
they had grown Impatient of the burdens
i5?£! 8d *nl, pon hV unjust federal legls-
latlon. Those who prostituted the Farmers'
Alhance end converted It Into a potitiS
machine, for tfheir own aggrandizement,
taught them that the democratic party
was equally responsible with the republlc-
af®, for the unjust legislation of which they
complained. They were deceived. Every
one of these laws was enacted by a repub
lican house of representatives and a re
publican senate and approved by a repub-
llcan president., over the protest of a large
majority of democrats In both houses of
congress. Our party was not responsible
for a single one of them; and this Is shown
by the record. Being thus grossly deceived
by the designing 1 demagogues and place-
hunters; who were their self-constituted
leaden, they made a fearful mistake when
they formed a separate party organization.
They were Induced to believe that they
would secure a more speedy and effectual
redress of grievances outside of the demo
cratic party than In It They have made
the experiment and have failed. The new
Pfcrty has never been strong enough to
bring the desired relief, and never will be.
Its only effect has been to weaken and im
pair our ability to redress wrongs com
mon to us and to them—.wrongs for which
we were no more responsible than they—
and to demonstrate that the national demo
cratic perty, the party of Jefferson and
Jackson, is the only real people’s party
that has or ever can e*lat In this country.
Many of these misguided democrats real
ize this, and have been wise enough aid
patriotic enough to leave this sinking craft
and return to the old democratic ship,
which has weathered every storm and with
stood the assaults of every foe. Many
more will this year do likewise. In Ala
bama, just the other day, thirty thousand
returned to the standard erected by Jeffer
son. a hundred years ago. In Tennessee
yesterday three of the strongest men In the
populist state committee, one of them Mr.
McDowell, a member of their national com
mittee, resigned from It and declared for
McMluln.- the democratic candidate for
governor. Ml. McDowell Is a good man
and the most influential populist in Tennes
see. He assigns as a reason for this action
by him and 'his colleagues that “the pop
ulists have absolutely no hope, because of
the disintegration of its state and national
organization. The democrats have nomi
nated a man for governor 1* whom we
have confidence. We believe his pledges
for reform will be carried out.* While al
ways vigorously opposing the populists, he
V»m treated us courteously and has never
abused us.” McMUlin was my colleague In
mm** **»-•
can bo accomplished more speedily and
more effectually In the democratic party
than through a new party organization,
hut I have never abused them. On the
contrary, have said they are most of
tfcem, as honest as I am.
Bo It Is all over the country. Th«hest°l(>-
ment in the populist party in all the states
are realizing that the only hope of right
ing the wrong from which we
ed for a generation. Is through the demo
cratic party and are returning to it. As
It Is In the other states, so It will be to
Georgia. In October many thousands of
honest populists to Georgia also trill vote
the democratic ticket. Of course, the self-
constltuted lenders of this ^movement_wbo
Inaugurated^, for wha^ they qoulj make
out'of it. will die hard anS dontinue to
try to rally their erstwhile, followers. They
are at It today and In Georgia all their
shafts are leveled at the democratic party.
They never have a word to say against
the republicans, who alone are responsible
for the laws of which they complain. They
are even now making overtures to roe
negrfies of this state, who constitute the
bulk of the republican party, to unite with
them in opposition to the Georgia democ
racy, which has done more for the negro
than any other party in any other state
of the union. In North Carolina, for the
sake of spoils, they openly and unblush-
imgly fuse with the republicans, with
whom they have not a single principle to
comfmun. Unable to assail me and my
party with truth, these partisans, blinded
by passion and prejudice and tairst for
spoils, substitute for argument slander and
abuse and falsehood. Of many of these po
litical Ishm sell tea these are and always
have been the only weapons of attadk, and
I am not surprised at them; but now even
my distinguished opponent, for whom I
have never had anything but kind words
and courteous treatment, and of whom I
expected a more, manly fight, seeks to miqr
represent me and slander my party. He,
as I am Informed, labors on the stump to
create the Impression that I am opposed to
free schools and pensions and paints me,
when governor, vetoing pension bills and
school appropriations. Mr. Hogan knows,
or ought to know, that these insinuations
are untrue when he makes them. I say
here and now, as I have always said on
the stump and off of It, that the state
system of tree schools, as contemplated by
the framers ot the constitution, has no
more '.earnest champion than I am. This
Is shown by my past record. I am to favor
of supporting by taxation schools to which
all the children of the state, white and
black, may, without discrimination, be
tavght the elementary branches ot an Eng
lish education; but I am opposed to tax
ing the poor farmers and mechanics and
laborers of the state for the purpose of
teaching Greek, free of tuition, to any- ’
body. A knowledge of Greek and Latin is
not necessary to make a good and useful
citizen. In fact, my observation has been
that there is much truth to the saying,
“teach a fellow hlc, haec, hoc, and he for-
£ ets all about whoa, haw, buck:” and I
ave further observed that the white man
Is very much like the negro in this re
spect. Does Mr. Hogan go any further
than this to his advocacy of free educa
tion? Does he want to give everybody to
the state a collegiate education at the ex
pense of the taxpayers? If so, let him
speak; If not. let him tell us what be Is
to favor of. _
No man win go further than I will to
providing pensions for our deserving amd
needy soldiers, but I want the pension roll
to be a roll of honor, with the names of
no imposters or frauds on it. The needy
soldier and the soldier's widow must be
provided for; but the mere camp follower
and the wagon dog, who never smelt an
ounce of burning gunpowder, should have
no place on this roll of honor.
It Is further said that my honorable op
ponent is charging in his speeches that the
democratic party.^througb Its executive
committee, in the last campaign, perpe
trated a great wrong on the late Colonel
Hardeman, who was treasurer of the cam
paign committee, and' after his death ex
torted “blood money” from his widow.
This is a very grave charge and Mr. Ho
gan ought to know that it Is true bdtore
he makes It. But it Is not true. It Is a
base calumny. The committee never In
structed Colonel Hardeman to borrow a
dollar for campaign purposes, as charged
by Mr. Hogan, and he never borrowed a
dollar, nor has his widow ever paid a
dollar on such a debt out of her Insurance
money or any other money. When I heard
this charge I was amazed and determined
to go to the bottom of it. I wrote Senator
Clay, who was chairman of the committee
ftt that time. Here is his answer, and no
one will doubt Senator Clay's veracity,
especially when he Is sustained, as he is,
by every member of the committee:
: ‘Marietta, Go* August 15, 1898.—Hon Al
ien D. Candler, Gainesville, Ga.—My Dear
Sin Your favor to hajid saying that Mr.
Hogan, the populist nominee for governor,
■toted in a public speech at Madison that
Senator Clay two years ago had Colonel
Hardeman to loan or borrow $10,000 as a
campaign fund and that said was
paid by Colonel Hardeman’s wife from his
Insurance money, which he (Hogan) con
sidered 'blood money.’
“I assure you that.thls statement Is false
from beginning to end. While I was chair-
man of tire state committee I never had
Colonel Hardeman or anybody else to bor
row a dollar from anyone; neither did Mr.
Hardeman borrow any money, while 1 was
chairman, to assist to paying the expenses
of the campaign. Nq money was ever
used .except to pay the legitimate expenses
se incur-
paM.* I
logon’s
every
and
Har-
Ittee
campaign, and that came from- voT-
untaty contributions. When the campaign
'Mr. Hardeman, stated to the com7
mlttee, In session, that he i*ad spent be-
thS? 1 SSa * W0 own fund s more
received-Vfterwards this
mnount was made up and paid to
Hence every dollar of the%
red while? I was chairman
never heard of this chargeof
until recently. I know that I \
meeting of the executive coi
had charge of th, campaign, a
f^“tom at no - time; borrowed any
to behalf of the committee while
chairman. Every member of the sta
mlttee who acted with me will bea
this statement. Mr. Hogan will ceri
eaou « h to correct his c
frtetoL understands the facts. Tour
Buch is the charge and ^c^'is^h^Iroof
there Tbe Ptone on which
thS£? tohmaelitei have pitched
to o low for serious ooa-
to^totton* Their miserable, dirty, per-
5£. n ^Lm! na «vt m6 ' w i? lo h have nothing to
do with either my fitness for the office
o goyemor or with this campaign. are too
jMtoJwmsly absurd to claim a moment’s
consideration. Neither I nor my party Is
olfi* 8 to toe business of skinning
skunks. When we engage to such a bust-
KMT 5 ” to toese political
worker* dtontoed W ana a pro» K e? <1 * *
These remarks are, of course, intended to
apply only to those populistic cranks and
political lshmaelites who are in poltilcs
tor what they can . make out of It, and
whose stock to trade is not argument, but
vituperation, slander and abuse, and not to
the many thousands of good and true men
tur tbe last four years, been
deluded Into acting with them. This beU
ter clasa I repeat, are honest and pa-
tr.otlc, and many have returned and many
m °ro wUl return to the democratic stand
ard. The best anl brainiest men In tbe
party hove, since these cranks and fanstlcs
aud place-hunters have taken charge of it
lost all Interest In it and refuse to work
ongtr In Its ranks. To all auch we should
extend a cordial welcome back into the
house of their fathers, which they, in the
past, have defended as gallantly as we
na v-
My countrymen. I have delivered my mes-
8age. What I have said, I have *ald In
truth and sincerity. I have plainly and
unequivocally defined my position on public
questions. What I have said of the popu
list party and its individual members has
been said to self-defense and In defense
of that party In the triumph of Whose
principles the perpetuity and safety of this
republic rests. 1 shall in this campaign
misrepresent nobody nor thp opinions ot
anybody; but 1 will fearlessly defend .my
self and my party against the assaults and
misrepresentations and «ianders of all as
sailants, no matter by what party name
called. I shall show that however honest
and sincere the rank and file of the pepullst
party may be, Its leaders and those who
mold Its policy are not sincere, but are
actuated solely by a desire for spolla This
te abundantly established by their fusion,
already accomplished In some states and
being attempted to some counties m Geor-
g.t, with the. republicans. These unserup-*
uloue leaders have misled tfielr white fol
lowers, and they will fool the negroes.
There Is no good to their pasty lor spy.*
body, white or black.. They could not better
tho condition of the negro If they would,
and would sot If they could. ' They may
delude with promises or buy with money
a few self-constituted leaders of tho col
ored vote; but tbe time has passed. It Is
he hoped, when tho colored vote of Georgia
can be* delivered by a few dtyg negroes
as so much merchandise. I shall contrast
the doctrines of my party with those of
tho opposition and call on tho people to
Judge between ua. I want the support of
no man who cannot conscientiously give It.
I shall buy no votes, either with money or
whisky or the promise of efflee. I shall
hire no heelers to corral voters for me. I
despise such methods and condemn those
who practice them. I desire to go Into
office, to case ot my election, which I be
lieve even my honorable opponent con
cedes, absolutely untrammeled and free to
act to the discharge ef every duty with an
eye single to the best Interests of tbe state
and the h&pplness and prosperity of the
people. I want my friends to resort to no
undue or unseemly mean* to secure my
election. When I succeed, I want It to
be by those clean methods which I’have
always advocated cmd practiced, and not
by those which I have condemned end
which justly bring reproach upon any par
ty and any man who employs them..
Rather than resort to such methods to
achieve success, or slander, vilify and
abuso my opponents, to order to compass
their defeat, I will die “unwept, unhon
ored and unsung," and be buried ttoapl-
taphed to the potters’ field. i
Gov. Atkinson at Dublin.
I/fHooCountry men:
^obedience to the request of the State
^Wtoiic Executive Committee I come
L 1 ^ to you in the interest of the
tic party of Georgia. In the
Bce of this pleasant task I shall
®«avor to cast a shadow over the
Borgia Democracy, nor de-
1 v ? a ®. e ? r sully the honor of my
uy declining to champion the his*
Pfrty, or failing to do justice
iplended achievements since the
^trusted to her keeping the
*ka destiny of the State.
1 ^ ELE kec °m> akd
“mxistiatioh T0 ® a qoabtek
. °r A CENTURY.
Thto!f. Demoe, * c y has been hofiora®
'JV eer > splendid in its achieve-
5 itief T intain a 8 ai ast the carping of
I , cars . not from whence they
kins ft. k t0 confess to yon that
> bJl ; ® 1 uar ter of a century we
nf 1 p P° wer tinder the adminis-
i Tw erno ™ Smith, Colquitt,
iaa'.n? ynton . McDaniel, Gordon,
1 tolemnir®^ 6 f ’^h of which has
* ConW: md °rsod by Democratic
, er,\r ns - the Party has been
5fi «cor^? ant . and incapable, the
"Pokeredit n ahould be driven
[toied to o A e fu , ture °f °tir State
‘pother hands.
ie condemn nor apologize
--ate andX? f P art y> hat, as its
\ HI Geoir-^ eri<le ^’ to de ®lare to you
^eocntg 8 n aii i 6 h oul d boast of its
1. Eve a “ d 1)6 P roud of its
■ ; f °r GcL™ n 0n Democratic
buffi?l or and State House
•Seik fl f J or y^rs influential^
^.official in tka ftnd a Promi-
^ depart Jr admin istrative or leg-
° f , the Sta <*-
ate !;ipn “;/- ,lslatu re and county
0f *C hav f e / ec °g aSze d worth,
^artcilsin a 7 e .hoen prominent in
■J‘he Si7 espective locali-
^ods.corrlim^ ^ een dishonest in
® lei >t in its man lD lts P ract ice8, and
of ‘he StatJ aa g? xnent of the af-
!\ and d es a ‘ e ’ these men are to
11!^”* electing 6 p efe i at in the ap-
- .Party has the other hand,
every candi^ 11 * honest and
J hou ld be ^ ‘ d . at ? h has put for-
I^.Psred to I assert, and
^Pemocratie^ the .Proposition,
Sully dischoJ^y has honestly
^ in the«nm!r„ re v. f 4 18 wor thy
‘box ot a PProaching election.
IK .f* *o roLmS 1° OOTEK ™ Im
L ^Pantaker k pah tieb.
Its govern^ 6 citiee ns of this
“ 18 the grave responsi-
of a majority
of the people whose will is expressed in
conformity to law at the ballot-box,
which directs the affairs of the nation.
Every question, commonplace and mo
mentous, is presented for solution to
officials, in the selection of whom every
citizen can and should take part.
The conflict of opinion developed in
all forms of free government has always
created opposing political parties. Eadx
and every elector should align himself
with that party whose principles SBffi
purposes most nearly conform to ms
TO. ,
There are in America but two great
political parties. Those who vote with
the party, which can have no reasonable
hope of prevailing, when their votes
could be used to defeat the party toat is
most objectionable, become toe alllee of
^t hstowe^re not only tmnecessarv,
but absolutely harmful tor us to divide
and engender strife in State elections,
which is harmful within itself, and must
detract ■from our influence and strength
in National contests.
aiS^^^T&tedrthat toe
differences of opinion which exist in our
midst are not sufficient to keep out of
the Democratic party those who were
formerly aligned with it, and that the
Democratic creed is in
doctrine of us all, that I will not now
discuss them.
THE DEMOCRATIC TASTY ‘
BIGHTS AUD POWERS TO EVERY VOTER.
Conceding this to be true, let uslook
to the other question
YWTaeothe practice was for counties
toaettorough mass-meetings and county
aRarfflBSMSS
CfS £??ncj£
of the few par , _ arise, and dsw
ings, discontent began to^ expression
mand was i? a f w :ii To this demand toe
of the popular W1- J- county
party readily y^lr^tion wa s permitted
desiring a pnma^e{^«° in p tion of
advocate of
ray public career i was Eded them
primary ^ectaons.^n was engaged.
ship ’ andidato deserves to succeedwho
pression of toe wishes of its members in
toe selection of its candidates and in the
formulation of its creed. In a speech de
livered by me at Millen daring my can
vass tor nomination for Governor in 1884,
I said:
“My appeal is to the masses, who in
this election will control and smash to
utter pieces the slate made by toe bosses.
The time has oome for the masses of the
people in toe Democratic party to assert
their rights and show their power, and
they ate going to do it."
PARTY ADVANCES PROM MASS-MEETINGS
TO PHXMARtES. V
Every Democrat can suggest changes
in our party usage, assured that he will
be respectftdly treated; and, if right;
will succeed m having his suggestions
adopted. When I became a candidate
tor Governor in 18841 ventured to urge
the State Democratic Committee to
order primaries in every county. I was
not successful then, bat the Democratic
party can always be relied on to correct
defects in its own methods. The propo
sition then placed before the State Com
mittee, and in which I joined with Gen
eral Evans, reached the public mind and
conscience, and has now ripened into
nlate its affairs that every., member of
the party shall have fall opportunity to
express his wishes under a system which
is fair, , just, and free from fraud and
trickery.
PASTY CAN BE TRUSTED TO MEET ALL OTHER
QUESTIONS BOOKING TO PBBPBOTXON OP
OUR PRIMARY SYSTEM;
I do not mean to say that all has been
done in regulating primaries which can
be done: but as other questions arise toe
parly wul meet and dispose'of them in a
manner that will’be satisfactory to toe
people.
In 1884 negroes were permitted to vote
in Democratic primaries in four counties.
One of these four counties selected dele
gates favorable to me. This year, ne
groes were again permitted to vote in.a
number iif courcy primaries.
The question nas been raised as to
whether or not negroes should be per
mitted to vote in our primaries. This
question, and the one as to how much
time should elapse after ordering a pri
mary before it iB Held, along with toe
one whether our State officials should be
nominated by the delegate system or by
vote under rales similar to toe laws reg
ulating their election, will be met and
* * "*■— and wisdom may
mitting to the people the names of all
aspirants, and giving to the humblest
citizen an opportunity to express his
preference. The Populists are ruled by
bosses; the Democrats by toe full vote
of all members of the party. The fair-
minded, plain people cannot hesitate in
selecting L«itween toe party which recog
nizes the individual rights of a member,
and gives him a share of power in its
control, and the party which ignores him
until a few county and State bosses have
fixed the ticket and then undertakes to
put a collar on him with which to lead
him to the polls to vote for a man in
whose nomination he was permitted to
take no part. In toe Democratic party
the people are the masters. Its platform
makes it the champion of popular rights
and the interests of the masses. Its
method of ascertaining the wishes of its
members is a guarantee that every man
who aligns himself with it shall have
equal power in determining its course.
The faithful discharge of the obligations
imposed by the confidence of the people,
as illustrated by its fidelity to duty dur
ing the quarter of a century it has gov
erned toe affairs of this State, makes us
proud of its past and confident of its
future.
fly rejoice that many who disagreed
with me when I perceived the evil and
urged toe remedy, now realize that my
advice was timely, and rejoice with me
that the party has acceded to toe de
mand made by me in 1884.
Believing before a single county had
acted in 1894, that there were good real
sons why primaries should be held al-
over toe State on toe same day, I urged
the State Committee to fix a day and
require all counties to act on the date
named. In my communication urging
this reform in 18941 said:
“ The selection of delegates should be
just as fair as the final election, and to
require action all over the State on the
same day will go far towards securing a
full and fair expression of toe will of toe
members of toe party.”
The committee declined to accede to
my request, but when toe State Conven
tion convened which nominated me tor
Governor, this suggestion was taken up, a
resolution passed instructing toe State
Committee in future to require all coun
ties to hold their primaries on a fixed day,
as I had requested done at the beginning
of the State campaign. My letters re
questing toe State Committee to inau
gurate toese reforms were at the time
published in the press.
The improvement irv our methods,
toe advance from the old-time mass
meeting to the present system of uni
form primaries in every county on the
same day, gives clear proof of the hon
esty of the State Democracy, of its
No candidate deserves '^fnopartyis readiness to correct all evils and per-
fears to trust the peop > le fect its me thods, and clearly demon-
wortoytoecon = -fl5l est ex- I strates its purpose and ability to so reg-
is unwilling to suomii
IN SELECTING ITS CANDIDATES THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY CONSULTS THE PEOPLE—
POPULISTS DO NOT.
It is not only true that the Democratic
party moves forward and meets all just
complaints against its rules and meth
ods, but it is toe only party in Georgia
which consults every member, and puts
forward as its candidates toe men-who
are selected by a vote of toe majority of
its members. The Democratic party
consults the people, takes their votes,
and adopts their candidates. No other
party in Georgia does -this. “When this
is not done toe humble members of a
party have no influence—can < take no
part. A few bosses do it all.
In aligning himself with a jparty, toe
citizen should inquire whether or not
he will have equal rights with all others
in the selection of its candidates and its
declaration of principles. !
'in considering this view, permit me to,
ask what claim toe Populists have upon
the people of the State? Its nominees
tor Governor and State-house officers
were never voted for by the members of
their own party. Not one of these nomi
nees received a vote in a primary elec
tion. Did the humble member of the
Populist party have an opportunity to
express his preference for governor and
State-house officers? No such opportu
nity was given you. 'Whol then, made
the selection? Not toe people, not the
rank and file of toe party, but a few
bosses who met in convention and made
such choice as suited their purposes. On
toe other hand, toe nominees of the Dem
ocratic party were put forward as the
candidates of the party only after sub-
COBBECT evils and inaugurate beeobmb
From the date of its accession to
power, on toe overthrow of carpet-bag
rule, it has shown itself capable of cor
recting evils, weeding out corruption,
inaugurating needed reforms, and stim
ulating toe growth of every interest
which can contribute to the happiness of
toe people and toe greatness of the State.
Governors Smith, Colquitt, Stephens,
Boynton, McDaniel, Gordon andNortoen
were talented, patriotic Georgians, faith
ful public servants, who gave to toe
people clean, honest and able adminis
trations, each of which having been here
tofore reviewed and passed upon, it is
only proper that I make this brief allu
sion to them, and bear testimony to their
fidelity and ability.
REVIEW HOUR YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC
" ADMINISTRATION.
It is appropriate now, at toe close of
the present Democratic administration,
to pass in review its history, to ascertain
whether or not it has met its obligations
to the people and proven worthy of their
confidence.
In the very inception of this brief re
view of the control of the Democratic
party during toe past four years, permit
me to say that in so far as the part taken
by the Governor is concerned, that what
ever there is of good should go to the
credit of the party; and whatever mis
takes have been made should be charged
to him. The administration of affairs
during toe past four years has been, full
of interest, more than ordinarily event
ful, and your Governor has been con
fronted with the duty of solving more
questions of moment than usually fall to
the lot of one administration.
We cannot on this occasion, discuss all
of them. A brief-review of some may
serve to remind you of many others, ana
to show the character of: the administra
tion.
NORTH EASTERN RAILROAD.
During the term of my predecessor toe
railroad defaulted on the payment of in+
terest of toe $287,000 of bonds of toe N.
E. R. R., which were indorsed by toe
State. With commendable promptness^
Governor Northen seized the road, held
it in pledge for the debt, and operated: it
in the interest of toe State.
This was toe condition at the beginning
of toe present administration. The bonds
bore interest at toe rate of seven per
cent, per annum.
I was unwilling tor toe State to pay
that rate of interest, and therefore de
manded their presentation, paid them
off, stopped the nigh rate of interest, and
floated new bonds at per cent, to take
up and pay off those bearing 7 per cent.
In this transaction, by taking up the 7
per cent, bonds and making a new loan, I
saved toe State $10,045.00 annually on
herinterestacconnt. It kept that amount
from going annually out of the State
Treasury into toe pockets of the bond
holders.
The N. E. R. R. situation also present
ed toe question as to whether, on its sale
by the State, it should be sold to toe
highest bidder, or whether toe State
should itself become * bidder and buy, if.
it failed to bring a reasonable sum. There!
was before me two precedents. The!
bonds of the Macon & Brunswick R. R.
were indorsed by toe State to the amount,
of one million nine hundred thousand:
dollars. The road defaulted.
The State had.to assume the indebted
ness and then she seized toe road. The*
road was sold at public outcry and bid in ;
for toe State, and afterwards sold for.
$1,125,000, making a loss to toe State of
three quarters of a million of dollars.
Considering its real value then, and its
value now, it was to me clear that the
State made a mistake in selling the road
tor a price less than the amount of bonds
indorsed by the State.
The bonds of toe Columbus & Rome
R. R. were indorsed to the amount of
$896,000 and sold for $40,500, thus entail
ing upon the State a net loss of three
hundred and fifty-five thousand five hun
dred dollars.
The State would have made money by
becoming the purchaser. The State hav
ing no precedents before it, made a mis
take for which no one acting with the
■lights then before it can be censured.
With this experience before me, I deter
mined to buy the N. E. R. R. if it could
not be sold to another at a reasonable
price, and operate it for the State. I
bought it in for the State at $100,000. It
is paying about 15 per cent, on the price
at which the State purchased it. .His
paying interest on the entire series of
bonds assumed by the State, and making,
in addition thereto, amet profit of about
$5,000 per year.
L