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JOURNAL AND MESSENGER
CLISBY & JONES, Pbopbietobs.
THE FAMILY JOURNAL—NEWS—POLITICS—LITERATURE—AGRICULTURE—DOMESTIC NEWS, Etc.—PRICE $2.00 PER ANNUM.
GEORGIA TELEGRAPH BUILDING
ESTABLISHED 18‘?6
MACOK, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1880.
VOLUME NO—DV
KISSES.
BY BOSK HABTWICK THOBPE.
Little child, when twilight shadows
Close the western gates of gold,
Then those loving am^ of mother’s
Tenderly about thee fold.
Over lip. and cheek, and forehead,
Like a shower caresses fall;
For a mother’s kiss at twilight
Is the sweetest kiss of all.
Pretty maiden at the gateway,
Shy, sweet face and downcast eye,
Two white, trembling hands imprisoned,
IIow the golden moments fly 1
Lips that softly press thy forehead,
All the rosy blushes call;
For a lover’s kiss at twilight
Is the fondest kiss of all.
nappy wife, thy noble husband,
More than half a lover yet—
For those sunny hours of wooing
Are too sweet to soon forget—
On thy smiling lips uplifted,
Full of love his kisses fall,
For a husband’s kiss at parting
Is the dearest kiss of all.
Weary mother, little children
With their dimpled hands so fair,
Passing over cheek and forehead,
Soothe away all pain and care.
Lead your doubting heait to heaven,
Where no dreary shadows fall,
For the kiss of sinless childhood
Is the purest kiss of all.
THE GYPSY’S WARNING.
The little village of San Pablo, which
lies three leagues distant from Madrid,
was once the residence of many proud and
opulent families who have long since
passed away from earth. Among mule
teers, shepherds and water-carriers, one
would hardly look for old Spanish gran
dees, and San Pablo is now only popu
lated by an ignoble race.
At the period of which we write there
lived in San Pablo, oue Count Rodrigo de
Rivas, who claimed to be descended from
that Bivas who was called the thunderbolt
of Spain, on account of his military ex
ploits.
The count was in the 32d year of his
age, had been educated abroad, and only
returned to his country at the death ot
his father, who bequeathed to him vast es
tates in the southern part of Spain, which
made him one of the wealthiest nobles in
the kingdom. He was tall, well-formed,
with a pleasing countenance, with which
was blended great resolution. It was said
of him that he was never known to evince
the least trepidation under any circum
stances that ever occurred. Just as he was
quitting Germany for his home, he
’chanced to meet Senor Ruiz, who was
abroad with his family, and he almost in
stantly became enamored with his beauti
ful daughter Julia. For months the count
had impatiently awaited the return ofSo-
nor Ruiz to Spain, and at length he heard
of the arrival of the lovely girl whose
image was so indelibly impressed on his
heart.
The sun wa3 shining cheerily, and the
birds were singing blithely along the road
side, as the count rode forward to Madrid
on his trusty mule, richly adorned with
silver trappings. As he came to a turn in
the road there stalked out of a clump of
bushes tjie figure of a woman in strange
attire. Her dress was so fantastic that he
reined up his mule suddenly and gazed at
her in surprise. Her face was swarthy,
and upon her head she wore a yellow and
red tin ban, while her skirt, which was
green and short, was rent in many places.
She displayed a pair of bright blue stock
ings, and her feet were encased in red mo
rocco slippers.
“Upon my word 1” ejaculated the count,
“this is certainly a strange being.”
Before, however, he could reflect fur-
thur, the woman approached him, and
_ craved permission to tell his fortune.
“A gypsy ?” he cried.
“Let me see your hand,” said the wom
an, without appearing to notice his re
mark.
The count regarded her attentively and
then laughed.
“Nay, nay, my woman, I am no believ
er in these matters; but you, like your
race, are poor, I suppose; therefore, take
this,”' and he tossed a peso, which she
quickly picked out of the dust. Turning to
him slie said:
“But I would see the palm of your
hand, noble sir, even though you may rid
icule my calling.”
“There it is then,” replied the count, as
he ungloved bis hand and extended it to
ward the gypsy. The dark-eyed hag
gazed intently at the count’s hand for
some miuutcs, then looked up in his face,
and laughing* said: “’Tis ever the same
with handsome and gay men. Love, love,
always love. I will tell you that you can
not believe, but I warn you, beware of
the raven,” and before the count could
question she darted among the trees, and
he saw her tattered finery disappear in the
forest.
“Beware of the raven,” quoth the count.
“What raven? What can the creature
mean? Ah! it is one of their tricks; it
has no significance at all,” and be pricked
his mule with one spur and rode forward
humming a ba'lad, all the while thinking
of the beautiful Julia.
The sun was sinking behind the hori
zon as he gained the suburbs of the city.
Suddenly his mule made a plunge, and,
losing her footing, came to the ground
with her rider.
“A bad omen,” muttered the count, as
he rose unhurt and gazed at the mule,
which was almost instantly on her feet
again. She had always been a remarka
bly sure-footed beast, and the count, who
was not without a certain tinge of super
stition, appeared uncertain whether to
proceed or retrace his way. As he stood
dangling liis bridle in his hand, his eyes
caught sight of an old public house by the
wayside. >
“We’ll tarry here for the night,” he
said, and leading the animal, he walked
towards the building.
The house in question was of large di
mensions, the windows few and small,
and were set deep within the thickness of
the wall. Immediately over the portal
hung a weather-lieaten sign, announcing
the house as the Raven Inn. For an in
stant the count hesitated, as the gipsy’s
warning came to his m'nd; but the feel
ing passed off instantly, and pulling the
bell, he awaited the opening of the heavy
court-yard doors. The count was tired
and required rest, and as he was
determined not to enter the city
that night, one place was as good
as anc-tber to tarry in. Had
he knowH the reputation of the Raven he
doubtless would have sought other lodg
ings. So long had he been absent from
his country that many local events had
transpired of which he knew nothing, and
one of the .most noted occurrences had
. been the trial of Antonio Hernandez (’he
proprietor of the Raven) for murder, and
his acquittal of the same. But, notwith
standing Hernandez saved his life through
the exertions of his advocate, Ills charac
ter was entirely lost and the business of
this house almost destroyed, for few peo
ple believed in his innocence, and mothers
pointed him out to their children as a
murderer. Years before it appeared that
a rich guest had been murdered in his
bed, and the landlord was suspected and
arrested. The circumstance made a great
stir, for the murdered man was well con
nected and widely known. Every one
who valued his reputation shunned the
society of Hernandez, and his house be
came a( last the resort of contrabandists
from the frontier and the low characters
who infested the city.
Impatient at the long delay in answer
ing the summon, the count jerked the
bell rope vigorously, dud at length the
host, followed by a pale girl (the only
domestic in the house) showed them
selves.
With many profound bows and apolo
gies for the delay, Hernandez took the
mule to the stable, while the count fol
lowed the girl, whose name was Isabella,
to the interior of the place. There was
something so gantle and interesting about
the girl that the count found himself gaz
ing after her wherever she went. He fan
cied there was a sadness in her face, and
her large eyes sought his as if she would
have spoken to him. But the appearance
or Antonio Hernandez put a stop to the
effort that Isabella was meditating in the
nobleman’s behalf, for the landlord never
for an instant left the girl alone in the
count’s presence. Once or twice, when
the count yawned as if he were tired,
Isabella turned her eyes mournfully up
on him as if to beseech him not to retire
to bed. The count noticed the look, but
could not interpret its significance, and
during the evening he saw her no more. A
feeling of weariness at length overcoming
him, the count arose from his seat in the
quaint old parlor and signified his inten
tion of seeing his room.
Hernandez at once secured a lamp and
escorted the count up stairs, ushered him
into a large ghostly chamber, in which
every article of the cumbrous furniture
was deepencdjiy age to funereal blackness
Two large mirrors adorned the walls, and
by their reflection seemed to stretch out
the dimensions of the dreary apartment to
a boundless extent.
This was the room in which the terrible
murder was committed, and it was never
occupied, save when some dark deed was
to be done. The landlord placed the
lamp upon the table, and wishing his
guest good-night, went out and shut the
door. The count turned the kev, and
then by the dim light of the lamp sur
veyed the apartment. It was so gloomy
that he turned and walked to the window,
supposing that it looked on the street. He
was disappointed to find that it opened on
a small neglected yatd, filled with coarse
vegetation and some mouldering tim
ber.
The moon was partially obscured by
clouds, but ever and anon threw a flicker
ing light upon the desolate scene. A vague
presentiment of evil stole over the count,
and his mind became gloomy. “Beware
of the Raven.” The words of the sibyl
kept recurring to his memory. Could
the warning of the witch have been pro
phetic? The count would have left the
room but for a certain sense t f shame the
act would engender.
“Pshaw!” he cried, and leaned out the
window to snuff the air.
As he did so he caught the sound of a
suppressed hiss. He listened attentively,
and it came again. Casting liis eyes
through the darkness, he endeavored to
discover from whence the noise proceeded,
but lie could see nothing, and it was only
when be raised his eyes upward toward a
small window directly over his head that
he discovered the figure of Isabella by the
struggling light oi the moon.
She was gesticulating towards him, but
the moon was so frequently hidden be
hind dark clouds that he could not for
some time guess her import. Suddenly
the great orb came out into the clear sky,
and the count could see the girl plainly.
She was two stories -above him, and he
could not hear the words distinctly, for she
spoke in such a low voice, and, after she
had warned him, she quickly disappeared.
“For tbt love of the Virgin, do not go
to bed, senor,” she said. “Antonio Her
nandez is my uncle, bnt he is a bad man,
and if you go to sleep, senor, you may
never see the light of the world again.
Don’t betray me, for my uncle would kill
me if he knew I had spoken these words.
Adieu!”
The count felt beneath liis girdle and
instinctively laid his hand upon the hilt
of his dagger. Then he walked to his
chamber door, turned the key and un
locked it, intending to look out into the
corridor, but, to his surprise, he found it
was fastened upon the outside—and he
was a prisoner. He tried to force it open,
but it resisted all his efforts. He sat
down, and leaning his head upon his
hand, began to meditate. As he did so
tlie oil in the lamp became exhausted,
and the light went out. He felt a strong
conviction that some unseen danger hov
ered near, and that which was suspicion
became a certainty. Nothing remained
now but to await the attack, and sell his
life as dearly as possible. The thoughts
of the beautiful Julia often occurred to
bis mind. It was to see her again that he
became involved in his present condition.
He thought, too, of the gypsy, and won
dered what order of being she wa9 to
forecast the peril that should befall him.
The clouds began to break away from
the face of the heavens aud the count was
enabled to see more clearly about the
chamber. He heard the clocks in the
city toll the hour of midnight, but all de
sire for sleep had left him and he was
very vigilaut.
Approaching the bed, he pulled down
one of the pillows and disarranged the
covering, throwing it in a sort of a heap,
as if a person was reposing there. Then
he walked over the room and stood with
his back to the wall, watching the cham
ber door, screened from the immediate
sight of those who might seek an entrance
there by a tall chair which he placed be
fore him.
While thus upon the alert, a large mir
ror close upon his right gave a click like
the lock of a pistol, and then flew open at
the touch of some person behind it. The
heavy frame work of this antique orna
ment rested against the chair and conceal
ed the count from view. Notwithstand
ing cold drops of perspiration stood upon
his brow, he was perfectly calm. In the
mirror upon the opposite wall the count
could see the mutlled figure of the land
lord with a knife in one hand and a lamp
in the other, step from the wall. Cau
tiously he approached the bed and raised
the weapon in the act to strike, satisfied
that he only had U> contend with a single
adversary, wheii the count rushed from
his concealment and sprang upon his ene
my, dagger in hand.
A brief but desperate struggle ensued,
in which the count twice struck the land
lord with his dagger; but by a dexterous
movement Hernandez eluded the grasp of
the infuriated nobleman, and, jumping
into the wall, pulled the mirror after
him.
For a moment the count could scarcely
believe he had lost his foe, audit was only
by looking at the mirror as it fitted close
to the wall that he could realize that the
landlord had escaped. He went to the
window and called for assistance, but
there were few persons abroad at that
hour of the night, and the window of the
room was far from the street. He went to
the door and used all his efforts to force it
open without success. Exhausted in the
unavailing attempt, he sat down to wait
the break of day. Hour after hour passed
away, and at length the welcome gray
dawn began to appear. Presently his ear
caught the sound of a light step, and he
heard a holt fall from the outside, then the
door opened and Isabella stood before
him. She certainly looked beautiful as
she walked into the room, clad in a sim
ple white robe without any adornment.
“Thank you, thank you,” cried the
count, “I shall not forget the service you
have done me, and if I crave a kiss it is in
token of the love which I bear for one
who has been the means of preparing me TTTS OFFICIAL ACTS DEFENDED,
to defend my life.” I
Isabella bowed her head and *he count
kissed her on the forehead.
“You know all that has happened ? ”
questioned the count.
“Yes, senor,” she replied. “My uncle
is seriously wounded, but the contraban
dists carried him off to the frontier before
daybreak. Senor, now that you are safe
and free to depart will you do me the fa
vor to conceal this matter ? You have
dangerously wounded my uncle, and I
heard Jose, the chief of the contrabandist
gang, say that if Antonio reached Segovia
alive he would be much surprised.’”
The count was thoughtful for a few
minutes, then he asked: “Why, my dear
girl, do you desire to shield this wretch ?
Certainly, not because he is your relation.
You do not love him, for last night you
said he would surely kill you if he knew
you had betrayed him.”
•‘Listen, senor, and I will explain,” said
the girl. “Antonio Hern andez is the only
brother of my mother. When she died he
took me to his home, and brought me up
after his rough fashion. He’rosed to be
long to Jose’s gang. If he didn’t treat me
with affection, neither did he beat me.
Once he saved my life—periling his life to
save mine. I was at the bottom of the
sea when he dived and brought me to the
surface again, and the water was full of
sharks, too. Great sea monsters, senor.
Certainly he must have cared something
for me, or he would have allowed me to
be eaten up.” She looked up in his eyes
with a pleading expression as she spoke,
and the count ‘drew her near him and
again kissed her brow.
“For your sake, I make the promise,”
he replied : “but with this condition, that
your uncle never returns to Madrid.”
At that moment there was a jingle of
spurs in the court, and a call for Isabella.
The count descended the stairway with
her, and at the landing met a swarthy
fellow, with a face half concealed in a
slouch hat, who called Isabella aside and
spoke to her in a low and rapid tone.
This done he jumped upon liis mule and
galloped quickly away.
The girl stood leaning against the door
way with her cheeks blanched and hands
tightly clasped, while great tears rolled
down her cheeks.
Divining at once the cause, the count
approached and said: “You have had
bad news, I fear?”
‘He died before they reached the
mountains,” she replied. “Jose sent me
word. Alas! alas!” and she wept bit
terly.
The count endeavored to soothe her
grief, and made inquiries as to her future
life.
“I am alone in the world now,” she
sobbed.
“I will see that you are cared for,” he
said, and will send a kind person to you
before night. Come, cheer up; all will
be well.”
That day Isabella was removed to the
convent of Saint Ursula, and placed at
the school under the care’ of the kind sis
ters.
Count de Bivas sought the beautiful
Julia aud learned that, by a dreadful ac
cident, she had been horribly burned and
disfigured, aud was then lying upon abed
of sickness from- which she might never
rise again. The shock was so great to
him that he started upon his travels once
more.
Six months later he was at Andorra, on
the Spanish frontier, when he came across
a band of contrabandists, who were com
ing down from the. Pyrenees. One
fellow, who had a peculiar limp
his gait, caught his eye, and
he thought there was something
familiar in his face. The man
pulled his cap over his eyes, and was has
tening by, when the count sprang to his
side and put his hand on his shoulder.
“You are Antonio Hernandez, formerly
keeper of the Raven Inn,” cried the
Count de Bivas.
“Aud you are Count de Bivas,” was the
reply.
“We won’t mention the past.” said the
count; “but tell me, why you sent word to
that poor girl that you were dead ?”
“Well, senor,” replied the ruffian, “I
was tired of playing landlord where I
coaid gather no pesos. I longed again for
my old life, and I didn’t want to be both
ered with women. I know all you have
done for the girl, senor. Little passes in
the cities that Jose’s gang do not get cor
rectly. Now let us say adieu, with the
hope we may never meet again,” and the
ruffian doffed his cap in derision, and hur
ried on after his companions.
A sudden change came over the count.
He hurried back to Madrid, and sought
the convent of St. Ursula, where he had a
long interview with Isabella, and before
the orange buds bloomed again, in the
garden of the de Bivas mansion ’ at San
Pablo, Isabella became a countess, and
The Speech of Governor Alfred If.
Colquitt, Delivered at DeGive’s Op
era House, in Atlanta, on Friday
Night, May 28th.
Ladies and Gentlemen: At all times, in
such a government as ours, the official
should be made to know and feel that he
is a public servant. Sad will be the day
when, in a republican country, this ] ‘
ciple shall be ignored or disregai
Would to heaven that in all the history of
this country, the public servant could be
made to feel that he is responsible for his
conduct. But, my fellow citizens, there
is a very wide discrimination between offi
cial responsibility on the one hand and
unreasoning and despotic exaction on the
other. There is a very essential differ
ence between the trusted agent and the
servile minion, between the servant and
the slave. For many months, for some
reason that has puzzled me to divine, I
have been the object of unsparing anclbit-
ter attack.
It seems to have been the conclusion of
these assailants that I was not a servant,
but a slave; that I was not a trustee i
agent, but a sen ile dog. As Georgians
aud as fellow-citizens of the same com
monwealth, men whose destinies and the
destinies of whose families are embarked
upon the same boat, do you not think, la
dies and gentlemen, it would have been
better and wiser that these citizens should
have given their aid, counsel and sympa
thy to those entrusted with public office
and the administration of public affairs ?
He is interested; you are interested; but
these enemies who have assailed me from
every quarter seem to have regarded their
responsibility different and mine different,
for they have lost no occasion to make me
the mark of their criticism and censure,
instead of giving me the benefit of
their wise counsel and sympathy.
Do you not think I had a right to
claim that? Do you not think if they
were prompted by pure and patriotic
motives, instead of assailing me from
anibush, instead of attempting to degrade
the honor of the State through its highest
functionary, they would have been found
by his side to aid him in the best execu
tion of his great public trust ? It is a de
lightful thing to have the good opinion
of your fellow-men, but there is a purer
and sublimer joy than that! It is the
joy that arises out of the consciousness
that you deserve that good opinion,
know that I deserve it. [Applause.] The
public press and men who are disposed to
censure me may say what they please,
but, like the persecuted Huguenot, I can
say with the greatest emphasis: “I have
done nothing to deserve death; I have
done nothing to ask pardon.” [Great ap
plause.]
I propose to refer to some of the acts
and some of the results of my administra
tion; and to refer to some of the criticisms
which have oeen made upon it. How
slight, how frivolous very many of them
are, you yourselves will perceive when I
mention them.
ABSENTEEISM.
It is said that I am frequently absent
from my office. It is said that I cannot
be found there—that is the exaggerated
charge—when gentlemen come here to
the capital upon public business. Well,
my fellow-citizens, from the very first
years when I had a conception of the re
sponsibilities of a public officer, and espe
cially of the chief officer of this State, !
have had this idea of his duty: that he
should not merely have a statistical
knowledge of the State and of its people,
but that, by coming nearer to them, face
to face with them and in close sympathy
with them, he should learn and know
what were their sentiments, feelings
and needs. [Applause.] Hence it is
that I have visited agricultural fairs,
and agricultural conventions, and rail
road conventions. We know that the
wealth of this state of ours, as well as that
of any other state essentially agricultural,
is dependent upon the resouices, and upon
the prosperity of the producers of the
country, the owners and tillers of the
soil. [Applause.] You can all well remem
ber a degree of despondency aud
almost of despair, had settled upon
the country when the great change came
over the labor of the south. To the best
of my ability, as my friend, Colonel
Livingston, the presiding officer to-night
and the vice-president of the State agri
cultural association, who has been with
me on many of those occasions, can testify,
in conventions and on the bustlings,
I have woiked for them. I have
had any power or influence, it
has been constantly exerted to
raise the drooping hopes and energies of
the farmers of the country, and cheer them
with the prospect of the better time com
ing. [Applause.] I never was a vain man.
Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties I
have had in my life has been a disposition
the happy wife of a man whose life she to shrink from public notice, rather than
had been instrumental in preserving.
AMERICAN MACHINERY.
Foreign Millers becking to Discover
the Causes of the Superiority of
American Clour-
Over sivty millers and represen
tatives of milling interests arrived
Tuesday afternoon on the steamer
Bothnia and were escorted to the
St. Nicholas hotel by the reception com
mittee sent by the commissioners of the
Millers’International Convention, which
is to be held at Cincinnati, May 31. The
party includes millers from Great Britain,
Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The
party, under the guidance of the reception
committee, yesterday visited High Bridge,
the grain elevator, and inspected the ele
vated railroads and various places of in
to invite it. I have had very little regard
for that affectation of dignity and self
consequence that many a mau in his office
thinks he possesses, when he sits down in a
big arm-chair and supposes that his society
must be sought for; who seems to say to
the world, “here is your governor; here is
your man of consequence 1”
ABOUT ATTENDING SUNDAY-SCnOOLS.
But it has been said again that I have
gone about too much to Sunday-schools.
[Applause.] Yes! I believe in Sunday-
schools! [Applause.] I believe in the
religion which instituted them; I believe
in the philantliropy that bids them God
speed; I believe in the statesmanship
which teaches that it is better to train
forty young men to be virtuous and relig
ious than to train one for tbe gallows!
[Applause.] You know bow often this
tauut ha3 been thrown into my teeth; you
know how it is that almost day by day it
terest. A Tribune reporter found Messrs.
Thayer and Throop, of the reception com- _ .
mittee, last evening engaged in prepara- has been made, and now you hear through
tions for starting this morning forNiagara the public press and on the streets insinu-
Falls. Mr. Thayer said that the Cincin- , atious about “the Christian governor.” My
nati convention is the first of the kind ; fellow-citizens, has it come to this, at this
ever held in the country, and has attract- late day in the progress of Christianity
ed much attention among millers in Eng- 1 and civilization that it is to be made
land and throughout Europe. “Ameri- 1 a matter of tauni. if a man in high
can investors,” be added, “have pushed ’ public position should recognize the Bu-
forward so rapidly during the last few . prenie Ruler of the universe? [Applause.]
years all kinds of milling machinery, that For thirty years of my life I have been ac-
the United Slates has been able to pro- | customed to visit Sunday-schools, and oo-
diiM 9 mnnTi finpr rrrnrlp nf flmir tlian Kn_ racinnallv **ni«T£rftr nlGetiU£?S• ,, rLailulltCT
duce a much finer grade of flour than Eu- casionally “nigger meetings.” [Laughter
ropean millers. English millers wish to ’ and applause.] Why use that as a charge?
examine the means by which this superi- ! Did they suppose that when I assumed
ority is reached, with a view of adopting the office of governor I should feel that I
them in their own manufacture. They | was in too proud, too high, too dignified a
prefer to make their own flour rather than position to condescend to recognize my
to import it, if they can produce the same responsibility to God? [Applause.] You
grade, and do so as cheaply. They will see how it is drifting. You see how often
exhibit milling machinery of their own ; these taunts are made, aud even now in
for which they claim superiority. While certain journals that could be named the
a large portion of the wheat is grown
here, they say, there is no reason why the
Hour should be made here.”
“Will not the American trade suffer if be sanctified in the esteem of all.
the English millers manufacture their plause]
own flour?” was asked.
“No,” replied Mr. Thayer, who is a
dialect ot the Bible is being prostituted to
the use of these men in order to degrade
the followers of that religion that should
H| [Ap-
Ladics and gentlemen is it generous in
my opponents to force me in such a forum
large dealer in flour; “we wish to be libe- as this to uncover and defend motives so
“What will be the iesult of tlie'Cincin-
nati convention?”
disregard the professions of a life-time and
give them up, or defend myself upon the
‘It will facilitate the introduction of hustings against the reproach ofPharisee-
American milling machinery in Europe, ism? Oh! how I recoil from this discus-
particularly in England, where much of sion, so ruthlessly forced upon me! But I
the miiliDg is yet done in a primitive way. shall not shrink from it, as it would evince
It will also doubtless cause the introduc
tion of some English machinery m this
country; hut the result will be largely in
favor of American interests.” After re
maining a few days at the exhibition the
party will make a tour pf the West and
a craven spirit—a moral cowardice
of which I hope I am incapable. I have
heard it said, “the governor is too good a
man to make this an issue in the cam-
of his duty to himself and to God; and
asked less notice to himself until this
charge began to be hissed between the
teeth of men. In the vciy streets of this
city a gentleman walking along had occa
sion to say to another, “I thank God’j for
such, or such a thing, mentioning what it
was. The other could not miss the chance
and said: “You must have been to one of
Colquitt’s Sunday-schools, you thank God
so glibly!” Now, I might as well be
frank here as elsewhere, because I know
I am in the presence "of men and women
who are just and reasonable, and to them
I say that all the pcltiDgs of this pitiless
storm of iron hail will not cause me to de
viate the thousandth part of an inch from
the line that I have proposed for myself.
[Prolonged applause.]
MISSIONS OF PEACE.
I refer now to another matter. I am
said to go out of the State too much
“You go ont of the State too much. Yeu
went to New York once or twice, and to
Pennsylvania once; and to Cincinnati
once;” and I do not know how many oth
er places I have been made to go and
places that I never saw in my life. My
fellow citizens, four years of my- life were
given to camp and field, and fire and
blood, and toil and suffering. It was a
vain struggle; our cause was lost. We
sought to vindicate our own State’s right
of self-government along with others
by a resort to arms. We were defeated
We were hopelessly overwhelmed
There are some old soldiers
here to-night who marched with me. To
day I know their testimony in the face of
this crowd would be that I was neither a
laggard nor a dastard in that day. [Ap
plause.] I felt from first to last in that
stupenuous trouble that the South was the
injured party, aud was placed on the de
fensive by an aggressive and unreasoning
spirit that I often dread will yet carry
wretchedness and woe to every hearth
stone on this continent. Never, by word
or an act of my life, have I surrendered
this belief, nor been guilty of one tergiv
ersation iu all my connection with the
dreadful controversy. If such insignificant
things as my public speeches on too many
occasions have been remembered, I appeal
to them for proof that I have not been a
traitor to one hope or enterprise that
could have righted the great wrong that
the South has had to sutler. But I am not
ashamed to avow here to-night—I rejoice
to say it—that I have been for peace and
the interests of peace, from the moment
I saw that our efforts had failed to vindi
cate our claims by the last resort.
Never shall those who know me or care
to speak to me, have it to say that I have
fanned the flame of civil discord merely to
be consistent and to keep alive the aliena
tions aud hatreds of sections, when the
sublimest heroism had to yield the point
and confess that the cause was lost. [Ap
plause.]
While we are figuring away to see how
little liberty aud law we can get along
with, I see my way clear to say, “let us
have peace.” You may have heard that
formula before and many times 1 know,
but I meant it and mean it. So it hap
pened that I visited the North, from Vir
ginia to New York, and said to all who
listened to me that we lied stopped fight
ing; that in the South there was peace;
that in the South there was fraternity;
that slavery had passed away forever;
that the colored people were prosperous
and happy. I told them also
that our doors were thrown
opCH, and our hearts, too, wide as the
gates of the East, to every Northern man
who came to see us or to dwell in peace
among us. [Continued applause.] Say,
here, right now, if I wa3 wrong In all this
and misrepresented you? Say if you
;rudge the time while, in my feeble way,
[was doing all this? If the verdict of
these, my home people, whom I believe to
be just aud generous, be against me, I
know if there was an appeal to the peo
ple among whom I went, a response would
come saying, “a prophet is not without
honor save in his own countiy.” [Ap
plause.]
NOBTIIEASTERN RAILROAD BONDS.
Another matter: and I hope you will
bear with me, because, my friends, for
nearly four years I have had to wait pa
tiently undvr misconstruction and misrep
resentation. I have never written a line
for the public, or spoken a word for the
public, during the long and weary years
of suffering and wounded sensibilities
which have nearly crushed my heart.
Bear with me to-night. I am charged
with signing the Northeastern railroad
bonds—I did sign them. Some say I
signed them too quick—some say I signed
them too slow—while others say I ought
not to have signed them at all. I have - to
be impaled between those conflicting opin
ions. I shall not now go into this discus
sion with tedious minuteness.
It is enough to remind you that this en
tire subject was investigated, and how
searching that inquiry wa3 I need not go
into the facts to show. There never was
or could be a more complete vindication
of my motives.
There was delay in signing these bond3
but personal reasons had nothing to do
■with this. It was for the public interest.
But when that delay was about to work
irreparable injury to a public enterprise,
and to citizens of our own State who had
invested their means, then it was that I
acted. To have postponed the matter till
the assembling of the legislature, would
have been tantamount to the sacrifice of
the interest of the entire property. But
fora higher motive even than this I
signed these bonds. The plighted faith
aud honor of Georgia were pledged that
this act should he performed, and I was
determined that these should not be tar
nished in my hands. [Applause.]
The future will vindicate the wisdom
of this act, and the large enhancement in
values and in the taxable property of a
most interesting portion of the State will
confirm the unanimous approbation of the
measure.
SEASONS FOB THE CLAMOB.
There was as much unreasonable cen
sure and opposition arising out of this just
and beneficial act, as for anything else for
which, my administration stands charge
able.
I do confess to you that there is a mys
tery about this hostility that I may not be
able to unravel, or it may be that I could
not with becoming delicacy allude to, If I
attempted its solution. But it will not be
improper to give this as one of the causes
of this extraordinary hostility—that in the
dispensing of the patronage which the
constitution left in my hands, I was, from
the very nature of things, obliged to please
a very few and offend very many.
I had no sooner taken my seat as exec
utive of the State than applications for
office came in a deluge. Often a score of
names would be on file seeking the vCey
same place. For the most part, very
largely predominating, I can truthfully
say, these names were those of worthy and
meritorious gentlemen. Without excep
tion almost, the pay of the office sought
was an object.. Very many of these gen
tlemen were my friends, and let it suffice
now to say that they will never know
what pain it cost me in every instance to
decide against any one of them. As sim
ple, and almost as silly as it sounds to
say that ten or twenty men could not
have bestowed upon them the same office,
yet this feat of hocus-pocus your humble
speaker was expected to achieve,for it was
hardly ever the case that more than one
out v of any number of applicants
any
paign. He is not going to do that.” There j for an office was conciliated or went away
is not a reading, intelligent man in the • pleased. Those who were disappointed
Northwest, visiting some of the wheat- State of Georgia but knows that no man I returned to their homes bearing with
. • « V S _ _ - ■ - SM A — M it. A I 2 V— A * SVi AHA A n An >A —A ^ nAm A n AI A IfM A n i AM*
growing lands.
has gone along more modestly in the line them a sense of personal affront. They
felt that it was incumbent upon them to
avenge the wrong which they imagined
they had suffered at my hands. This was
not the case, however, in every instance.
There were notable exceptions I am glad,
to say. I could name individuals who
were big enough, magnanimous euough,
and lofty enough, to appreciate my posi
tion and cherish no hard feeling against
me. But scattered over the State there
were many who nursed their resentment
and who could never be induced to see
that my'administration was entitled to
either favor or quarter.
If I appointed friends to office, the
charge was made that I was narrowing
down to my own petty personal uses, the
prerogative of my position. If I appoint
ed enemies, I was reproached for carry
ing about with me a poverty-stricken soul,
utterly destitute of all manly revenges ant
chivalric malice.
RESULTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
Now let ns look tor a moment to the
results that have followed my administra
tion of gie affaire ot the State.
When I came into office we were bor
rowing money to meet current expenses
and pay interest. This was incident, in a
great measnre, to the poverty and disor
der which followed the war as well as to
the systematic effort which had been made
by certain defeated parties to bring our
credit into disrepute when it would do
us the most harm. We were carrying a
floating debt from year to year of from
$300,000 to $350,000, and were borrowers.
I sought the advice of the late Dr. Boze
man, a very high authority on all ques
tions of finance and who had been connec
ted with our treasury department. I felt
the greatest reluctance to favoring or ad
vising the increase of the rate of taxation,
and sought from him a solution of our
trouble. He frankly told me he knew of
but one way to get out of debt when in,
and that was to put your hand in your
pocket and pay out. There was nothing
left for me to do but to go to work saving
all I could and gathering iu every out
standing claim to which the State was en
titled. The rate of taxation has not in
creased. How well do we know that if
this had occurred those who have been
standing guard over my administration
would have cried out to you, and given
you warning of the burdens I was placing
on your shoulders. [Applause.] As I
said, the rate of taxation has been re
duced. This, too, has been done in the
face of increased aud extraordinary ex
penses. The expenses of the constitu
tional convention—the expense of two
sessions of the legislature—the provisions
jnadc for supplying limbs to our maimed
soldiers, were unusual and unexpected
charges upon our treasury. All this load
of expense has been discharged—tbe float
ing debt has been absorbed—the interest
on the public debt has been promptly
paid, and, stranger than all, there remains
an unexpended fund in the treasury for
paying debts in anticipation of their ma
turity.
OUB STANDING AS A STATE.
How does the State of Georgia staud, my
friends? Has her fame been tarnished?
Has she been disgraced? Does she occupy
a position less honored among her sister
States than when I went into office? Have
lowered her proud State banner? Has
it trailed in the dust in my hands? It
would not become me to speak of these
things if I were not arraigned and put ou
the defensive. Every citizen who goes to
New York, the general centre and mart of
trade, and every man who went to Ciucin-
nati on this recent trip, will bear me out
that Georgia was spoken of in New York
and in Cincinnati as the leading State of
the South, and abreast with the best States
of this Union. [Applause].
Now then, my friends, what have we
suffered or lost? Our taxes are as low,
our people are a3 happy, our State as high
in honor as can be said of any other com
monwealth in this Union, is there any
reason then for censure or complaint? [Ap
plause].
It has been hinted by those who can al
low me no credit for anything that the
merit I here claim for my administration
is due alone to legislative action. I would
be the last man to withhold from a co-or
dinate branch of the government any
credit that was due it for patriotic service.
But the stubborn truth is, that, no fore
sight of the legislature could have antici
pated the results of efforts that I was for
tunate enough to succeed in making in be
half of the financial interests of the State.
By those efforts we have all been gainers
in the round sum of nearly a half million
of dollars, which have gone to the relief of
the taxpayers of Georgia, and the eleva
tion of her financial credit and standing.
[Applause.]
“BABGAIN AND SALE.”
Let us now come down to a recent event.
[Applause.] Bargain and sale! Bargain
and sale by Gen. Gordon, the soldier, the
Christian, the patriot; by ex-Gov. Brown,
the statesman, the public-spirited citizen,
and, in spite of all objection, the Demo
crat—aud the governor of Geoigia for
whom a majority of eighty thousand voters
have made themselves responsible. [Ap
plause.] These three men, it is hinted
and suggested, have united and combined
in a bargain and sale, the one for the
benefit of the other. I used, a few days
ago, some pretty emphatic language about
this matter. It was uuusual for me to do
it, but let me ask you, the very humblest
among you, tlie most Christian-spirited
man among you—ah! yes, I might ask
these tender, gracious, amiable women
here to-night: suppose some one comes to
your teetli and says, “You have disgraced
yourself; you have dishonored yourself
by a gross impropriety ?” • Do you think
you would, lady or gentleman, sit down
and say to him, “Come, now, my friend;
take a seat aud let us argue it?” and go
into the old system of reasoning major and
minor, aud your conclusion to show that
you were not corrupt ? Do you think you
would do that ? There is not a woman
here who would do it. [Laughter and
applause.]
Reputation—a man’s good name—it is
hrs birthright, and no man will tamely
submit to be bereaved of it so long as he
has courage to resent it, or power to re
venge it. [Applause.] ■
Well, there are some friends of mine,
who talked to me on the subject of my
making a speech here to-night; good
friends who have insisted that I should
be calm; who said “possess your soul in
patience,” and I had quotations from men
who don’t ordinarily quote scripture at
all. [Laughter.] Why these friends of
mine certainly forget that, if I should say
very little, then it would be said by these
detractors: “There is one of tlie softest,
mildest, most amiable, good-for-nothing,
miik-and-cider fellows you ever saw?”
[Laughter and applause.] They are in
the habit of insinuating it now. They say
to you: “I do not say anything about his
integrity—oh, no!—but he does not know
how to say‘no!’” Well I know how to
say it to myself. For a number of years
I hare been saying it to my appetites, to
my passions, to . a nature prone to do
wrong. I have said “no” to them a thou
sand—vea, ten thousand times.
I confess that it is painful for me to say
“no” to a friend! [Applause.] If I have
offended in this it is because I have been
more considerate of their feelings than of
my own. And yet, if you were to ask
any of these gentlemen to make specifica
tions where 1 ought to have said “no”
when I said “yes,” they could not tell you
to save their lives.
Why do they sav this ?
I say it is for this reason, that they im
agine that a man with a rude, brusque
speech and manner, and with the little
emphasis of.an oath to what hejsays—they for men to throw to the breeze the “bloody
think that that man has got grit in him, 1 shirt” in Maine and Ohio, but here it is
that he is a firm man. They don’t seem quite a different matter.
to concede that it is possible to be affable
in liis'discourse, aud yet be self-reliant in
his actions.
But since I took the responsibility of
Governor Brown’s appointment, without
asking advice at every street comer and
from the first man I happened to meet, it
seems I have far more self-will than fairly
belongs to one governor, and should be
toned down in that regard. What is my
duty in the case of an appointment ? It
is, as far as I am capable of discerning
the spirit, the capabilities, the faithfulness
of men,to put the best men in place—men
who can be relied on to preserve the hon
or and the interests of the State of Geor
gia. Keep in mind the factvthat of all
of the chaiges that have been made on
this subject, no one has gone far enough
to say that Governor Brown is not capa
ble, and that he wonld not be as faithful
now to his trust a3 anybody in Georgia.
[Applause.] If he is as capable as any
body, why should lie not be appointed?
Yes, the larger majority of the people of
Georgia, if they were to speak their hearts,
would say if the rights of Georgia were at
stake or the interest of our citizens were
imperiled by national legislation, they
would feel that no man in Georgia could
better uphold those interests than Joe
Brown. [Long and contiued applause.]
I know that is the sentiment of the State,
and that being the case, ought I not to
have appointed him, and put him where
he could render the services, if the ser
vices are needed. [Applause.]
Oh, yes; but they, say: “You ought not
to have done it, for Joe Brown went in
for the reconstruction measures, and Joe
Brown voted for Grant in ISOS and for
Bullock in 1S6S.” That was twelve years
ago. He voted for them twelve years
ago, and we voted for Greeley eight
years ago. When we have done
penance for voting for a man who never
was a Democrat, certainly twelve years
ought to be enough for Governor Brown
to do penance for Jvoting for a man who
never was anything else but a Democrat
until lie was nominated. [Applause.]
I see some Methodists here to-night.
They will remember the old rule we used
to have in the Methodist church—six
months probation. You might take up
tlie most debauched sinner who came from
the slimes and gutters, and after six
months probation, walking in the path
aright, the doors of the church were
tlirowu wide open and he was taken in,
and he took bread aud wine with us, and
talked with us in class meeting. Tell
me now the rule in the Democratic
church ? How many months, how many
years, do you require of Governor Brown?
Twelve yeais ago he cast two ballots, the
only ballots of his life not cast for the
Democracy. For twelve years,
from the highest office to the low
est, he has gone up regularly with
a democratic ballot and voted it. You
would say to him “no, stand back, twelve
years is not sufficient to reconcile him; he
not is a Democrat.” I remember when we
were struggling with the great odds that
were against us. We rejoiced whenever
one ofthese men quit the Republican party
and came into the Democratic party, be
cause we thought we were weakening the
opposition and because we saw when the
brains of tbeir party came from them into
ours tlie fate of that party was sealed.
Thus feeling we all rejoiced at the acces
sion of Governor Brown. If he has not
won his claim to a place in the Democratic
rarty, it would be well for some others to
regin to look into their title. I say the
appointment was right from these consid
erations—it was right from another con
sideration. I appointed him as a Demo
crat, standing on a Democratic platfonn,
adhering to democratic principles and as a
man as steadfast to Democratic faith as
the most violent of those who assail me,
and to-night I call them to account, and
say. that in making this test they are vio
lating Democratic principles, and one of
tho . rules prescribed by the highest
authority in the party for fixing its mem
bership. [Applaiise.]
I said but just a little while ago that in
trying to represent you, I told the people of
the North that we were friendly; that we
had no war to make on tha union; that
dead issues were buried with us; that we
had started on a new era; that we were
trying to give to every man in the
State of Georgia his just rights under the
administration of the law. Is that your
faith, gentlemen, or not? Is that the faith
of the State of Georgia? Did I misrepre
sent it when I made that statement ? The
response of these objectors to this is this:
“Yes; you did right. You ought to have
told them that when you went North; hut
when you come home we want it under
stood that they are not buried—that we in
tend to keep up these issues and that
the men who were in favor of the recon
struction measures shall never be consid
ered as Democrats. Therefore, we are
right in proscribing men who at any time
voted the Republican ticket or went in for
reconstruction measures.”
Now, do you remember the St. Louis
convention? Do you remember the reso
lutions that were passed and ratified by
the Democracy of this whole country?
Let me read an extract to you. It is not
long, ladies, but I desire to read it in order
to remind those gentlemen who claim that
no man who ever went for reconstruction
measures is worthy to be a member of
the Democratic party and hold office in it.
Hear what the Democratic party says:
“For the Democracy of the whole coun
try”—Georgia had representatives there;
all the Democrats of all these States had
representatives there—“for the Democracy
of the whole country, we do here reaffirm
our faith in the permanency of the federal
union, and our devotion to the constitu
tion,-with the amendments.” Now, then,
I am called upon to say that Gov. Brown
is not a Democrat, is not to be trusted, be
cause he accepted the amendments which
the national Democratic party said they
were devoted to. [Applause.]
I stood upon the Democratic platform,
believing that when we said these issues
were all over that we spoke the truth. I
don’t believe that these friends in conven
tion were speaking a lie with a view to
deceive the North.
The effect of this appointment with the
Democrats of the North and West will be
felt. You will hear of it. It may be that
your passion will he kept alive, and your
prejudices excited, hut the time will come
wheu the responses irom these States
North and West will show you that it is
the highest evidence to them that the war
issues are no more' alive in the South.
[Applause.]
But I must not do Governor Brown the
grievous injustice to close this reference to
him without recalling in this presence a
memorable incident. But a few short
years ago, little more than three, this whole
country stood iu breathless suspense at the
effort that was made to pervert a vote of
the people in as stupendous an issue as a
presidential election. Great and well cal-
Pardon me, ladies and gentleman, if I
should refer to what is purely a personal
matter, not the motive for my action, ’tis
true, hut as an incident which enhanced
my gratification in bestowing upon Gov
ernor Brown this appointment. I well
remember the time wheu the concentra
tion of hostile influences were so over
whelming that it seemed I must be over
borne, I returned night after night to my
home to find my wife in tears, and my
children cowering, as it seemed, under
some dreadful calamity. Friends of oth
er days walked by and withheld the word
of solace or the supporting smile. Of all
the leading spirits in iny party aud State,
of those who lead or make public opin
ion, I hardly had a syllable that expressed
confidence, or suggested an aigument of
defense. Singly, and almost alone, I was
enduring the pelting of the storm. Then
it was that there walked calmly and firm
ly into my office the farm of Joseph E.
Brown, who, with imperturbable face, ex
tended his hand to me and said, “Here is
my hand, and I am come to give you all
tlie aid and sympathy in my power.”
[Prolonged applause.] It is not, perhaps,
exactly lit to allude t-o this here, but my
life has been an open one to the people of
Georgia.
But it is said that there was a bargain—
I believe the charge is being modified
now. At first it was 'insinuated that a
sum of money might have been paid to
somebody.
Well, “Christian governor,” as they
tauntingly say I am, the man is not living
on the face of this earth, who can come
to my face and offer me a bribe! [Ap
plause.] They say, “no, no, I don’t mean
to say anything about money, but
there was a sort of understanding,
sort of baigain and trade.” For
what should I trade? For Gov. Brown’s
influence? I had it before they say I
bought it. He w.-amy friend, anil I had
every assurance that he would be with
me in the election before tbe appointment
was made. Why, then, should I buy
him ? Why ? For the puipose of tlie
argument they say that we have been en
emies, that up to the very day of this
change of Senators we had been personal
enemies, but by some hocus-pocus we
came together, and I got Brown’s influ
ence, and Brown goes to the Senate, and
Gordon gets a ride on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad. If there is anything
mysterious in this transaction I don’t
know it. It is said that Gordon ought
not to have resigned just before the ad
journment of 'Congress. Suppose that
he ought not. He did; and there was the
vacancy, and I was bound to fill it. But
they say: “Oh, yes; he is a great personal
friend of yonrs, and you are bound to
know the reason for it.” Well, he gives
You have read his interview, ana he
will be here in a few days himself, anil if
you have any charges to make, make them
to his teeth. But he did resign, and I had
nothing else to do but to fill the vacancy.
It was filled, and I have given you the
reason why it was filled aud the reasons
why I selected the man I did. You have
read General Gordon’s interview, and he
gives his reasons for resigning. Audi
say that he could not have chosen any
time and saved me from these attacks.
Indeed, I would rather have made the
issue and met it now, than to have him
wait until after the adjournment of Con
gress. They have said m their chaiges
that-he ought not to have- resigned until
after Congress adjourned, and then there
would have been a vacancy until the leg
islature met. Suppose that should have
been the case, there would have been
applications from all over the State of
Georgia, from the friends of leading gen
tlemen, urging me to appoint this one, and
that one, and the other one. Suppose
had responded and said; “No, gen
tlemen, I do not propose to appoint any-
by, because Congress is not in session and
there is m> reason why I should appoint
anybody?” They would have said that
Georgia was entitled, to-her full represen
tation and influeuce the same in vacation
as in session; that Georgia was entitled to
influence in the departments and before
the President then as well as when Con
gress was in session. That would have
been urged on me, and if I had withheld
and still said I would not do it, then the
blow would have struck me on a more
tender point. They wonld. have said I
did not make the appointment because I
wanted,to hold it open until the legisla
ture met, that I myself might be a candi
date. If I had had a choice as to the time
when this thing should have occurred, I
would have selected this as the time when
it would save, as much censure as any
other time. ,
Then, again, if I had selected one of
half a dozen applicants, the others would
have said: “Look at such a governorl
There was no reason to fill the vacancy,
but he has put us in a pet to give him the
inside track and leave us five at a disad
vantage.” Now, gentlemen, I leave you
to decide whether I would have escaped
censure in any aspect of tlie case. The
emergency came, and, I say again, I was
willing to act upon it. [Applause.]
CONCLUSION.
I have gone through with these things
and I shall detain you no longer. T was
born in Georgia. My father, from his
earliest boyhood and manhood, received
from the people of this state the tokens of
Us confidence and support as long as he
lived. His ashes lie buried now in her
soil. From the time I entered public life
have been honored with the confidence, * '
respect aud love of the entire people of
Georgia, with the exception of the few
brief year-’, since I have been the execu
tive here—and would to God that tho
memory and bitterness and suffering of
those years were obliterated forever and
forever! [Applause.] There has never
been a day of my life iu public
in private, that I would not
have gone as lar as tho bravest, as far as
the oldest or the youngest, in the defense
of the honor of my native State, and the
prosperity and happiness of the people of
the State! Never! [Applause.] I look
nowhere else for a home. When my days
are spent, if God shall give me conscous-
ness in my last hours, and I should have
a request to make of those who stand
around my bedside, it would he to leave
a blessing upon my children, and bid
them to love Georgia, defend Geoigia and
stand by Georgia as their grandfather and
father had done. [Great and prolonged
applause].
—A great many ships have unhappily
been lost this year in the Atlantic Ocean,
and the fragment of a vessel’s stem which
has just been picked up on the Irish coast,
and is supposed to be aportion of the miss
ing school-ship Atalauta, may prove to
have belonged to some other unfortunate
bark. The mournful statement is, how
ever, made that all hopes are now given
up of the safety of the Atalanta by the
British admiralty, and that the searches
wasted, coughing himself to death, to Flor-
ida,to staud guard for us in the last chance,
it was feared, we were ever to have to
discontinued.
—The statistics of suicide in France
gain the control of this government. Then 1 show that nearly 6,000 persons committed
it was we trusted him, cheered him with 1 suicide last year throughout France, which
“god speed,” and gloried in his game re- * gives a percentage about double that of
sistanco to tbe pack of political burglars 1 England; and of these Paris had far more
who were about to steal the keys of the 1 than her legitimate proportion. The
government from our liands. Then lie Parisiau suicides stand to those of London
was all right. But now, when to crush in respect of numbers, as seven or eight U>
me, when to stab me through his sides is one, distributed according to age. ~ The
the object, the cry is “away with him,” he ‘ suicidal time of life is still between
represents no Democrat iu Georgia. We twenty-one and forty. Four men destroy
think it a cruel as well as a wicked thing themselves to one woman.
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■UHHH