Newspaper Page Text
.ll.Ct ITCH. I
Uliing Co. Pnbllaherf. |
MACON. GA., THURSDAY. IIAV 10, 1$9
STATE
MATTERS
ABLY DISCUSSED
Mr, Aikinson Delivered a Strong Speech
to the People of Screven
County Recently,
ViTAU QUESTIONS MADE CLEAR
^ Atkinion*! Record Ai a Legislate)
the Interest of the People—Ills
Work for the Uiu CwuTou-
crate Soldiers*
The Hon. W. Y. Atkinson was re
ceived by a large and enthusiastic au
dience of voters at Millen ou Friday,
April 3>, and delivered the following
address:
Hy Fellow Citlsens: We are now
entering upon another campaign. Un
der our political system every two
yesrs we are called upon to sleet offl-
cert to perform tne functions ot guv-
eminent. In the campaign now upon
i the Democratic party occupies a po
rtion different rrom that wrnicn it has
held in recent years. In going before
the country heretofore the Democratic
pirty has had but to assail Its adver-
Hty, and say to the country: "These
things done by our opponent were
wrong. Trust us with power and we
will right thess wrongs. We will legis
late In the interest of the people." Two
yesrs ago the people took us at our
word, un the faith of the promises
made by the Democratic party, througn
its authorized agents, in its platform,
the people of the United States en
trusted It with power, in all three of
the branches of government, of na
tional affairs. In the coming campaign,
then, we do not occupy the position
which we have heretofore held. We
will be called upon to give an account
of cur stewardship. These new condi-
Uons which confront us make It of
great Importance that In chooelng your
nominees for the various offices In the
yesr ls'Jt you should select men who
are quallilcd to discharge the duties
cl the offices to which they aspire; who
are loyal Democrats devoted to the
cmed of the party and who earnestly
and alncerely believe in Its principles.
We need men who will stand In the
forefront of the battle and contend
with the third party and with the Rc-
rubllcan parly for the supremacy of
cf Democratic principles, and In the
aiming election sweep all foes from
the held, as ws did two yesrs ago.
Therefore, earnest, sincere, reflecting
Democrats should give patient and
honest thought to the question aa to
whs shall be the nominees of the party,
lhe ItoojciuUo party, n-g'inlleas of
lerooaRty, regardlwas of whether It
•wewpe me down or ewsepe down my
fflor.ent tnecwtise men are nothing iuu
Kffiriples are all), ought la the con-
iwt for the Democratic naritin itlun for
: verner to select that mau who Is
Best ipiiHfled to discharge the duties
if the offi.-e; that man who Is the beet
mcgnlzMl exponent of Democratic
principle*: that man who can ink* the
asndsol of his flirty, advance to the
hrid of battle and meet the charge of
our opponent* wIKi the greatest sue-
ccw It is not (or a candidate to say
wt*h la the proper man. It remains
for him In argue his cnee, to state the
acU, ti allege ids re.isons, and to
wav. to the great sovereign poeple, aa
II* Jury who must pass on these ques
tion*, the privilege of determining who
mould be the ■tandrirJ bearer of the
party.
WHY GEN. EVANS IB NOT HERB.
In the argument of these questions It
*** my earnest desire to have my op-
Pjreat meet me and to face with me
u* .gcod people of every county In
nm^la, that he might. If he could
1 had to soy, and that I
_*“* * n, ’»*r what he had to say. That
Mini? *«tr. open., dear-oil jgrre-
■satlnto whl<.h my distinguished com-
BJ** «tere<r with me. to lanveas
*“*•.beginning about 1st of Mirch
ma conrionuig thruugaout the mm-
That was the oolemn agrre-
™ writing, and I have the
*«er* to prov, | t .
.‘‘‘I 1 ' to aay, after four de-
had, (wMch his frtotrls In-
JW shww be in the dues, so that
If* ” u 1 n “7 P*port* could not Door
ihfiHw 1 ^ decided that wt
J? v ? aay nvjre - Tbs sci-
*** ,ho,, lfht l wi« not pless-
company* for him. Please ramem-
k, It Is no* my fault ihat
here. Wherever I address
L g—g he Is cordially Invited to
wvl divide time with me, on
th. *5™** *hot were amuigc-d f >r
cm 2* rv^erred to, sud he
1m anywhere In my
“.•PP'dnlmema. With this stated.
™w«l understand that I have noth-
which i a n not willing, and
him to hear. He ten . >y
J— 1 am not, on my pt, rt, will-
m V** 1 shi* reply to. He
and send oiher men
tJdlri’fJ* . to “M*ek me. tut he will
vi ScJ 0 * *** ltllMlnc s* to meet me face
N ° AT TACK ON HIS OPPONENT'S
CHARACTER.
While It is unpleasant tor me to dls-
*1.“* to*! Issue of this can.iulgn
>rrr , T t 1 Pri'iose to t’l* u-i
*?**** *m this campaign before
u ih» ®*"P**-sad «o leave It to them,
trace! tory to eay which la the
'toSwi!! is 5* elected aa the at.n-
s,|IL"* I r * r ®f. Democracy In thi» cim-
1 i 1 !*" m *' •» tl»> i
«* unkln.l a..ot -i
* comnUn. wor, t Of my illutin
^“ywUtor. H.I.. Chr
«• -
Una,r"‘‘""- »• M a Chitatton gso-
worthy, eaiifnghle man; bat
■ JJ* mtmerous man of that char-
hhrs in Georgia who know
^TT'eeoout the fun ... of govern
S?V£!552;?“■«•**' ,h -
°*?°* *<J%trnOf . 11*• 1 vh Us>
rail - "h atrvlce u> I-* 1 —
l ■h„P* rlv •» the hoor of w
ki!?' 1 "»t sbu*- him nor
ac-. T °t him in a pe - na
sg, ‘ T" , r L °oceded, to begin i
* »wh^ThTSSL^t^S
* candidate
-m7 sts <l : it 5
[ya •^3>7 h SSS
‘»c People s business to ih-termlne
w _°, shall he chosen and who shall not,
, '™/ *t Is their duty to vote for
!J*t E?L m wtl ° can heat serve the peo-
pl*; , TI “t la the chief ar.d highest ob-
iu _..Y ew ' ,"' c want men In office
who will stind loyally, faithfully ami
courageously hy the rights of tile peo-
P,.' “ n .'i net men who simply strive tb
tickle the fancy and appeal to the prej-
udk ??- of ^ h<> pc-plc, and who possess no
qualtflcations to discharge the func-
w . hlch . ire ,alJ upon them In the
offices to which they aspire. You will
want to know. then, who possesa the
PSf!!“ ry * nd PPPP^r quailflcatlona for
office. •
national issues.
How do these men stand upon na
tional questions? Whnt ere the qual
ifications^ of each to hike the standard
of the Democratic party and beir It
through the coming battle? That is
what you want to know.
I have so often, during the campaigns
or recent years, discussed before the
people of Georgia my views on national
hwbe* that I deem It elmoet nnnoees-
“ry.to review my poeitlon here today.
I wtll remark, however, that I have met
my dtotlngiiidied opponent on the
stump and discussed these questions
with him, but he got so tired of the
controversy thAt he drew away from
me, end I have not been able, aa yet.
to induce him to return. He endeav
ored to get even, though, by trying his
1 >:ittones upon aome of the men who ore
supporting me in my race. There Is
Seifert—he attacked Feifert Utterly,
f “r no other reason than that he was
not sb fortunate as to have been horn
In Georgia, end so perverse as to pre
fer Atkinson to Evane in this rnoe. He
then, with true soldierly courage, train
ed his guns upon Gleuseer, because he
was not in the war. nothwlthaianaing
the fact that Gleeaner was only S 1-2
years old when the war closed, and
with cmj,] peeve—ty IgreWne the fee*
that 1 hail done va3tly more for the
Democratic party than Cen. Evans hid
ever done for Democracy. (Oleasner
I. also supporting me, you know.) Now.
I Hhould be heartily glad If we had
mire Gleeaner* and Seiferts In Geor
gia,, to assist tn building up our waste-
ptocsts nnrl developing the resourced
of our grand old Mate, and I shill al
ways be foremost In conveying to new
comers the Joyful tidings that there is
peace In Georgia. Let them come, as
many as will, and a. hearty welcome to
all. (Applause.)
I desire to nay to you that In offering
aa a candidate for the position of gov
ernor I do nbt pose as a man opposed
to progress. I cm not opposed to men
from other states like Gleesuer coming
Into our mklst and living among us.
I wnnt them tb come, and to bring
their money, their enterprise and their
energy, and help us develop our re
sources. and assist In making great,
grand ana glorious the future history
nf old Georgia—OeJ bless her! (Ap
plause.)
The general soon got tired discuss
Ing national issue with :nt, but 1 have
no hesitancy in letting the people kt.uw
where I stand. We will then Investi
gate the general's position.
I sm In favor of a tariff for revenue
only, so levied ss to raise the largest
revenue from articles of luxury, and.
so far as poaslbls, placing upon the free
list the articles of necessity which ara
consumed by the poor and the wealth-
producers of the land. I believe that
every man. In national government as
well ns in auto government, should
tear his Just shire of the burdens of
t ■ satton. and to that • n.l I believe 1
advocate, and. us un humble citizen and
Democrat. I demand of our repreaena
tives in oon grits that they champion
end do all In their power to promote
the success of the measure to tax the
incomes of the wealthy.
I. believe that one of the greatest de
mands of this oountry Is for so increase,
of currency, and to that end that the
shUbca should have the power which
they enjoyed under the constitution In
an earlier, better and more glorious
days of this republic: that the tax of
10 per cent on the Issues cf sute blinks
should be repealed, and the power re
stored to the states to protect (heir
own citizens against wrung,agslnst op
pression. and against financial panics
brought on by the power of the money
lenders to ooncentrzts their money in
• few fsvored centres In the North, 11
tbrtract the currency, and oppress the
pooe people of this country. (Applause.)
I believe that un International agree
ment Is lbs beet mesne by whl. li we
cen adlurt the silver question: but,
my countrymen, we have waited on
tbit for yrterw and years. Ws have
waited for the creditor classes of the
world to com* to the relief of the
debtor cleeee*. tor the powers of the
old world to com* to *n agree
ment upon this question. They nave
fulled or refused to do anything. There
fore. as Americans, as freemen, ss a
country proud of Its Independence—
conscious of (to mutchltas resources,
of itsi Immeasurable wealth— oauscloua
of the fact that ws* have sustained our
political Independence—1st us advance
to the duty of the hour and take ImM
of the a .hi and silver question, end
give to bur people the free and un
limited coinage of both gold and Oliver,
whether It suite the monarcha of the
,>ld world br not. (Applause.) If
American* cannot control America. It
is time that are renew our allegiance
with old England, and again acknowl-
« U» her as our ma.tar.
GEN K\ ANS INTEhVIBW ON NA
TH 'N AL 1)1 SUCTIONS AT VAU1-
ANCK WITH I disUlCKACY.
-I u» »- where no
tor stood on those owdhop Wtas be
I this campaura? Did he stand
with the Democratic porty then? If
he did not. does he stand there now?
Hex be abandoned hi* own platform,
or dots he stand upon If* If he stands
upon a platform) that Is not Democratic
can he bo the representative of the
Demo-rath; party? Is bs a proper and
suitable person? If h# announces upon
a platform, and then abandon* the
platform upon which he announces. Is
he a proper anil suitable person to
lead the boots of Democracy as they
sdvanae In the battle that la coming cn
vs? These are matters which 1 will
submit to you ss Deuuwrsls, as
thoughtful ctUaena. and as patriots.
Tuk». f ,r Instance, the silver ques
tion (and here la his Interview before
m-). If. when 1 comment upon It, any
man denies the oorrectnees of any
statement that I may make, lei biul
rise and say so. suf X will read whet
.»»
of gu - of silver. Nowhere In thli
Interview - he say that he Is In
taking care of
JiyV* la In favor of
of these qu
favor of A,.
Americana, ana
America taking Ik
tlons and looking after the Inter-
e«ts of her own people .Independent of
the course pursued by the old world.
He did not declare for the free and un
limited coinage of silver. Why didn't
he say that? Let uh look to the prac
tical side of the matter. Where does the
general live? He lives ln the good city
or Atlanta. There are published in that
city two newspaper!, the Journal and
the Constitution. One paper represents
on ® v Jew upon the financial question,
and the other represents an entirely
different view. One was a friend, the
other a foe of silver, ln a sen?*. Now.
the general had a task before him, and
he met it Ju*t as any other timid man
would have met it. If he came out in
favor of the free and unlimited coin
age of silver he feared he would lose
the support of the Journal; if he op
posed It he would be In danger of los
ing the support or the Constitution. He
wanted the support of both, and, there
fore, he wrote the Interview so as to
say nothing, so as to mean nothing, so
as to soft-solder both papers. He was
In the situation of a man who went out
to teach school. This man wanted to
be employed as a school teacher, and
one of the trustees said to him: “You
need not waste any more time here.
There Is no chance In the world to get
these patrons to agree; they are hope-
lessly divided. “Why. what's the mat
ter. asked the bland and good-hu
mored teacher. “Nothing," he replied,
except that these patrons are divided
on the geography queatlons. One-half
the patrons want a teacher who will
teach that the world Is round, and the
other half want a teacher who will
i! iat iir the world is flat » und » t0
agree." “Well, if that*ls all," ‘said the
teacher, I am the very man they are
looking for. Why, It Is a matter of per
fect Indifference to me; 1 esn teach
either round or flat geography. Just to
suit the patrons." (Laughter and ap
plause.* That was the situation of Gen.
Evans when he struck the silver ques
tions; he could teach either round or
flat geography. Just to suit the Journal
or the 'Constitution, fLaughter) upon
the Idea, you know, that If he got the
Journal and the Constitution It did not
matter whether It suited the people or
not; that these papers were the bosses,
and you would vote as they said.
Well, where did he stand on the In
come tax? Let ua look to that (and I
read from his Interview, word for
word): "This tariff question Involves
that other matter of Income tax. If
revenue sufficient for the economical
administration of the government can
not be be raised by duties the defi
ciency must be met by some other
kind of taxation, and the Income tax Is
ss any other, but I think, although 1
may be mistaken, that under a fair
and equitable tariff, continued with
occasional adjustments to new condi
tions as they arise, the duties Imposed
will produce the money needed. The
laws of commerce will operate to cause
that result." He poses ln that Inter
view os the enemy of an Income tax.
sk favoring the position now occupied
by the opposition to Democracy in con
gress, and a few Eastern Democrats
who slipped off with them—a view that
favors levying and raising all revenue
from the tariff tax and exempting th*»
ir» *m * mill ■!. iir* *t 1 dlff»-r
with hJm radi-tally. I differ with him
emphatically. . I know vou can raise 1
through the tariff every dollar that you
need by abolishing your free list and
levying a tariff upon the articles now
upon the free list. I am In favor of
enlarging the free list, of making goods
cheaper to the poor, of making the ne
cessaries of life cheaper, and making
these millionaires, for whose protection
the government must spend money, pay
n tax upon their Incomes and bear
their Just share of the burdens of gov
ernment. (Applause.) There Is where
be and I differ.
Well, where does he stand upon na
tional bonds? I will take his Interview
and read from It, (and you Just ought
to have aeen m» gag »ny friend with It
In the Joint debates—I would throw it
at him every time). I would say: “Gen
eral, I asked you about this bond ques
tion. Tell us about It the next time."
But I never could get him to talk about
It. Let me read It to you now:
“Some relief would come by author^
lxlng the u«e of currency to the full
face value of bonds, and by allowing
any dtlxen who would purchase the
bonds to have them registered and re
ceive currency to the amount of their
face value.**
In thi* statement h* goes further In
favor of th*- national bond holders than
the Rtpubllcnn tarty over went. That
la what he dot s. Th*- Republican party
allowed national bunlm to receive W)
per cent. In currency. Gen. Evans fa
vored giving to ovary mi wko hotdi
a national bond the full face value of
lib bond. In money, and still let him
draw Interest upon his bond. That Is
hU Interview published in the Con
stitution hist year. I am oppos'd to It.
I am <j; ■-•*«! to giving m • rial privi
leges to national bondholder*, or p* any
other c!a#» or cltl • n. What we war t Is
to aboll>».> all • lal i• • i\ i ■ ..-id t .
give to every man, high ar : .i low. rich
and poor, equal and * \.ict justh-o and
equal and \act right* (Applause.)
That in wlmt we need.
‘^•“ a lf 'is or that position,
• -ay sol you, Mr. Lditor,
Me
Ish-
nn*t th • df InguUhed general down
.it Grilln In a j <.nt l.'bate. Down th
knowing th** position he had taken in
:ntvrviews j \ j .. -
a rely and emphatically in favor of
' : ish* i him •Abu’.her
stood on that Interview cr with me
;tn irn.ene tax. The general ild
e. too." I came out In {*'. >r of u
tariff levied chiefly upon irtlci s of
luxury and low ,v. on irtloltt of ne
cessity. He h<d newr said that in hi*
interview, but he walked up blandly
.'.i.-l "M-. i ■ " -. *h .: I •i , *hr»«*'l
my posit loo on »ute issue*, and the
- - ral said "Me. too. 1 * I laid down
the propb»lUon for the free and un-
limited coinage of sliver. Did he axy
"Me, too.” to that? Oh. no. that was
a g.tg It threw him where he either
bad to niSp in the fa- « the .Toumal or
the Constitution, or else remain quiet.
Hf* skipped UratrQuertion at Griflin.and
went b.:k thruugh Atlanta— for fur
ther instructions, f reckon. (Laughter
sind applause.) He had to decide be
en the Journal and the Constitution
ns to which one he would slap In the
face and which one would continue to
wupport him after being slapped in the
fa but he knew (hat unlesa he agreed
with wo there would be a little bit of
wool-pulling on«the subject. What did
he do? He pasted through Atlanta for
a conference, I presume, went over to
Athens, marched up and took hi* med
icine like a Httie man. and said “Me,
too," on the stiver question (Applause)
At Grlffln. when I asked him about
the SolJler** Homo quen.ion, he stm-
ply said: “I .in in favor of selling the
home and using the proceeds In l*ehalf
of tbs disabled Confederate soldiers."
I said to mm: "General, I tom you, two
yc irs ago. when you were Insisting on
going to the pteple again on that ques-
UCZ, y 0 .j s.m»K» »a Mil l» and use
the proceeds to h-!p the Old soldiers,
and let them stay at home. You didn’t
agree with mo then, because you gave
out in Interview to the pooplo in which
you again urged them to take BL But
now you have come to my side of the
question, and I congratulate myself
that I have the distinguished honor, on
a semi-political question, to convert an
hodbred minister of the gospel."
(Laughter.)
He went over to Athens, (after he
had been through Atlanta and seen the
Atlanta peopli) and m.ide Issue with
me on that potnc, and took position ln
favor of the cA-called home and nttack-
erf me and the two members *-f the leg
islature which had rclec-ted it, and on
that alone. On everything else he said
“Mo, too."
Absolutely ln hi* anxiety to agree
wil l me upon the.*e questions, he has
deserted the platform upon which he
became a candidate. (Laughter.) Why.
if he can't stand the iticket in a little
controversy like thW*—« pleagmt.
friendly controversy—how can he
stand the contest when we meet the
third party and the Republicans up^n
the held of battle? (Aspisuie.) will
he agree with them too? Why. if he
keeps up that programme and goes up
on th** stump with a third pirty leader,
whether it be Watson or Judge
IIln»-s. and they look at him
"General, the government has gone
wrong. The third p.irty Is the chtm-
pl .r. of the people. We believe this or
that ought to l*i* done. What do you
- ay, gm-fral?*' tho gentm! might march
up and jmy. “Me. t>>o.“ (Applauso.)
Whir wMl b- »m»- <>f th* D- ,r n>> -ntlc
Is tha
ney unde
vlll
leader
make a poor farm superintendent, or
make a poor banker or a poor superin
tendent of a factory. It in not a ques
tion of title; It is a question of quali
fications. In this hour, my country
men. at this period in our history, when
the shadow of financial disaster hovers
ever us all. when farmers are selling
*heir cotton for less than It costs to
produce It, when merchants see the
rhadow of disaster hanging over their
business, it Is no time to lose sight of
common sense; It is no time to discard
practical business views. It is time
that every Democrat, every voter,
should rise to the dignity of the oc< - u ,
slon. and. realizing th.it government [ p*oi-l*» v- tell
exists not to honor a man. but to serve voted to
‘■ r pcW#r. And now ho posoa
r d of the people, the chain-
r. .. racy. God save tho mark!
*• Tho question came
rhether or not a part of the
f the W tern and Atlir
him
tlonal pi
then making
•the control of Governoe
Id be devoted to educa-
es. and Gen. Evans voted
•ig iinst it -voted against stato aid to
• lucaMonal r-urr \ A
• ■ <■ h in love with the edu atlonal
^ Wdmm a candidate,
that he not only writes to
about It. but ho writes to third p.irty
how much ho is do*
had been «a private; would three peop’e I five's ~******** # ' UM " for yo
be hurrahing about it aa they are now? j, t ji at nil* Kn Tn . -
Oh. no A Df.ue In their view don't state bVnkl "tii “trt Mh" |
amount to anything, except as so many , ; Busp , nd ' ■
;TS*e nave always inane it a lu.r, ...A] , ued ujeir'note*—no ■
I tru.t to God It will always be the , notes-promUIn* to nldeemThlm ln
rule, that wh. n a private soldier, or money Tin y wanted !yg* m .? h * rn . "
any other soldier who needs the sal- | r ,.f,..e to do^hla for * nllowed to
money below r nr end make every mau '
r tal " 11 ■ 111 1 That bill |U • I
But, my countrymen, when you coma ! inents n wou!d m h!? ^ *1**?*°
{L‘«lSylw?en h mto T e 1 *5 " oyU *'““ -n-y into toe h^nd^i
no! becaiise *hey n^ the ealao'.'bull IbL^'Vt^Xto^S!d V G '
for the honor attached lo It. end th. "" „ " ' h , t , U ' ^m
: , »'■ - :v
the people, the people want a man , he ,„ nnl ,. ,, , k, , i , w , „ /
I v rv I, -i.'ind iki I,. I.OU on. I , ? ,.. lx . % „ V, ,Y I*"*}
and let every man be weighed accord • ... '' ” Utl * 1,1
- Mr v i w„..,",' , ;
nromers or . private euiuiets — — ' * 3
THE "ME TOO" CAMPAIGN.
That i-* th-* Interview, n- w. # n which
he a: .--un .*tl th -inlldat** On that
platform the Dembc. tts uf Get r^ia
could not support him, and you can
understand now, when I state this
this proposition to y ou. why it
wos that nis friends thought It was
dangerous for him to continue the Joint
debate, and why the atr^ng'h he ap
peared to have a few months ago is so
rapidly crumbling. Has he abandoned
thit platform? Let us see. Where
does he stand tednv? I don't know
AM-' ' - ,1- v. rn rt il n
tel! wher» ho stand-*. I mn sur*- he * in-
mt, because I have ant assu htra thin
morning- (Laughter.) lie has.ln all thta
campaign, hs-i but one purpoee, sn<l
that tfjs been to agree with me In ev
ery proportion that 1 laid dorm—ogr*-^
with me In ever>-<hin*, an-1 then say
».i th** ito .nl**. "There are n-. l*«uea be
tween us. but remember I wan a gen
eral; elect me." That is nl* Saffom.
I^»t in* -•*. thm. where he s ;.v>.l \
be?
Can the Democratic party nff -rd to or
I'-e-l
d«t
xt l! it l- SUbJ
go before the country witn tne grn-
cral as Its standard bearer? Let no
man say I am abusing him. I am dis
cussing him upon his own record, and
he has got to stand up to It. If he te'ls
you that he stands by that Interview,
then he stands off the Democratic plat
form and against the interests of the
people. If, in his anxiety to agree with
me, he has abandoned the platform up
on which he announced, w hat guaran
tee have you that if he meets the third
party people as your champion he
would not abandon the Democratic
platform also, and say to our oppo
nents "me too." vLeughter.) Now, 1
am aware that these questions present
aome phases of the ridiculous; but,
gentlemen, there is serious food for
thought in It. As earnest and sincere
Democrats who believe In the creed
of our party—who believe that politi
cal parties exist, not to dispense pa
tronage, not to distribute the spoils,
but exist to accomplish something ln
the Interest of the people—exist to
right the wrongs of the people; exist
to perfect our system of government,
and to S'-rure equal and exact Justice
to all men; to those of ui who believe
that this Is a serious matter. We want
a leader who can lead. Wo want a
leader who will stand.Upon his con
victions, uni a lead-r who will battle
for the principles of his pprty;a leader
who Will K" fearlessly Into the fray,
and. with the platform of the Demo
cratic party as his shield and his breat-
plate, m*-*-t all comers upon the field
of contest and drive them from It, and yor.
wa”e over it the banner of the Demo-1 u is
cratlc rarty. (Great applause.) If a
man cannot do Uu'. then he is not the
proper man to be « n N-n as your stand- i wh
ard bearer. eta
MERIT. NOT THE TITLE OF OBN-
ERAL. THE TEST
But to i Mine further to the question At
of qualification «-n another ll:s«*. Wlnt
qualm ailonn has Gen Evans for the
position he ae-eks’ Ask his friend.**
They tell yr, u he was H general. That
is all the quallfi-'aM .- they li**
has had no experi-r. ■ in «l- » v*wnh
the questions he w old be called upon
as governor («. no t. F--r thirty years Pr>l te of All
he has b**-n entirely out of ton- h with (Applau-e >
them; and. let me ask you. how is it | wh-ri I ti
that his leading supporters now, who car .^. r they i
urge the prepit to vote fgr him because I a u BUI Atkt
he Is a general, are the very men who I talks fm aa
tried to defeat Gen. Alfred K. Colquitt , r j they say
for the United States senate because t ,. r)> When 1
Gen. Colquitt stood with the p* -pie the Dentocra
In behalf cf l»w tariff and In behalf nles or gain
of low taxation? If the till of general kir ‘ in Is a \
ought to control In these matters why j Evans t* lls a
shc-uH it not have controlled then?
They tried to beat Gen. Colquitt with
I ‘ Grady, who h«-l grown up since the
war. Then th» title of general was not
worth anything That same crowd
tried t« Gen. John B. Gordon
with Pat Calhoun, who had never worn
the title of general ana who never
! .. 'liriit in tl »* war W hy ’.t t: at the
tltl, of g* n- ral is worth so much when
lit pleiis-s th.- fancy of th-*-* 4 At!
but when the general offers you must
give It to him because he has rode on
horseback when you boys were walk
ing. He is a big man. But the general
got his reward In war. He was honored
with promotion and perhaps his name
will go down In history^ but a private
soldier's goes down as unknowm. And
yet. In spite of It all; In spite of the
fact that you bore the hardships of
the war, w hen the time comes to dis
tribute t honors, some paatrali
claim that they must have everything
because they were honored with II••
title of general; but you—you must
stand on your merits, because you were
privates. The generals who have dur
ing the last thirty years been taking
an interest In the people and serving
the party stand upon a different foot
ing from Gen. Evans, who lias not.
My countrymen. I honor the general,
nnd I would not say one word of him
In unkindness. But he deserves no
more honor and no more preferment
than the private soldier nnd the sons
and brothers of private soldiers should
not be fortvw outlawed at his com
mand. The private soldier has to stand
on his merits, and the general ought
to do the same thing. Above all other
characters ln our history, I love, I re
vere. I honor the character of those
men who stood ln the ranks, musket on
shoulder, and who. with bare and I i
bleeding feet, in rags, hungry, weak, j for th
worn and homesick, followed the ban# hav
ners of the Confederacy where bullets j thirty yt;
I'. the tlil- k' » I h"!i
fought for the cause of the South, hop- I
lng for no other reward than that
t discharge
those banks keep thrir money* at par
and requiring them to redeem It In ape-
cl-. Well.‘that i hi* record, and It la
not a very good one. Is It? (A voice:
"It's a daisy.") Oh! It is lovely. Do
you understand now why he did not
want to continue the Joint debates?
(Laughter.) if we nominate Gqn.
Evans for governor the third party
may g-t out plctur- « on his re- '-nl
like we did on Peek's slavery bill.
Well, now, let me talk a little about
myself. ! have been in the legislature
f-r eight years. I have been In contact
with nearly every Important question
that y* ur governor must meet, f urn
familiar with the questions that must
be dealt with by the executive of your
state. What have I done during my
term as I klMMofT I Introduced the
hill which was i-a- e-I by the general
asH«>mbIy requiring the commL Ion-r
of agriculture to b-* elected by the p< ■-
pl-\ that that department might l-
brought face to face with the people
and put under the control of the farm-
I M filed
then advance on practical
us, then, meet every question, i
it otik*-s th** f in- y. but It
best subserves tho Interest of th
pie—meet It an it will best advance
the Inter- St* of the country and add
glory to Its future growth and happi
ness to Its people.
GEN. EVANS' EGOTISM AND AT
KINSON’S RECORD.
There are som^ other matters that I
would like to talk about, but some
of the editors of the Evans papers will
object to It. When I talk about what
1 have accomplished, or what I have
sought to do for the people, they say
at once that Atkin; on In an egotist. I
have no right to tell the people about
my record, they Day—and why? ii r 1.1-
ever before been denied to a man. who .
-V. - rt . .1!. l..!.!'• l-r *.:11' i igfit ’ ' J f , (
. b»*f >: .• t!i- |-••• p'.** and in a pr -| ■ r
and dignified manner to »tat«* to the i
peep!- what hi* ha* ilon** and what h**
his endeavored to do. Do you know mi
why It In they t-ay I am an **gotihi?
You ought to know. If you will reflr-*t
for a moment. If my record was a had
bad record they would bring It out In
the campaign; If It In a good on**. 1 hav.*
the right to bring It <-ut. and will,
whether it ».ult* tnem or not. for th-y
a:- n-d e- ndu- Mng my campaign i.\p-
piu is*.) I am trying this • i-**
a Jury of Democrats. Itismydut M i -u
ln ev* rythh ^ that can welgn In gny fa
vor. If I Mate anything that in untrue, j cei
It.*d • l -III' . It I s stated r- p.
world, and they are at U
pc
the
■ I h» Ipi tb* ::i t ’ ■ "
id that it
irnen in conflict with th* n
Us- [a
.'.;v
rn not g.
Ians run
[ways had
In ►pite of them. lndep«-n
mil with ut them, and I
run it no*.v in *ptte of th*
uhmlt
it ril-
at Ath<
r:.:rv.V-.-'