Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About The Rockdale banner. (Conyers, Ga.) 1888-1900 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1898)
HALES BANNER WEEKLY-Supplement. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1898. Candler and Atkinson Open the State Campaign. Col. Candler at Milledgeville Saturday, Aug. 20. Gov. Atkinson at Dublin Saturday, Aug. 27. Record of Democracy in Georgia Reviewed. State Finances and Party Government y iscussed. C3 I.'Candler at Milledgeville. b-S"• good citizens of the old capital and ”ff o *£ old county of Baldwin, a county which has contributed to the sterling manhood and lovely womanhood erf ueor gia as much, pertiape. as any other of tne the one hundred and thirty-seven counties. I oome before you, my countrymen, the evangelLst of no now gospel; the but as of a plain old-'fo.shloned Georgian, son Geor a Georgian and the grandson of a all rian who loves hLs native state and of her people who has served her. to the best of hLs ability in war and in peace; H^> who cvwiiurh r3^3cTuckre the frosts of three score u oi r n Sf SK democracy of Baldwin candidate county, for to discuss, ax the democratic governor, the Issues Involved In this cam palgn. I Intend to discuss them fairly, fully and Impartially, with charity for all Mid mallco toward none. I have lived long enough to know that my fellow citizen mirv differ with me in poLltlca or religion, or on a business proposition and yet be as sincere and honest as I am! The object of all discussion Is, or ought > be, to elicit truth. Political discussion no no exception exception to to this m rule r . The campaign in whloh we are engaged Is not a mere pm^sonal contest between me and Mr. Ho¬ gan, for the amusement of the populace, nor ls It a contest, as between two atb letes, to see wblch can whip the other. It is, or ought to be, a dispassionate dlseus ®lo,n of tirtndples, on a high plane, that the .^people may determine for themselves whether his election or mine would be most conducive to the general welfare; be and so far as I am concerned, 1t shall such a dismission. I shall malign nobody; I shall abuse nobody; I shall fling mud at nobody. Should I, by such methods, suc¬ ceed ln showing you that my dltlngulshed opponent 1s uaflt for the office of governor. I will not thereby demonstrate mv fitness; and If I am elected governor of this great state. I want ft to be on my own merit, and not on the demerit of another. An Appeal to Reason. , I ahall . not ... today attempt .. , . to entertain you with figures and tropes of rhetoric, nor the grates of oratory, nor will I make appeal to your passions and prejudices. but to your reason and judginent. I shall, In plain and unadorned sentences, speak to you th® language of soberness and o truth; and I bespeak your most careful and dispassionate consideration of what I am going to say. To give surih consider ation to so grave a matter as the selection of a governor of more than two million people. Is not only your privilege bat your Imperative duty. When one of you wish to select a miller to run your mill yo» make ktlfwledle dltoent " Inquiry q mflllng a* to the bus/nUs applicant - SSrarter f honest? the tntlgrltv' h1s 1Lffl. for and and jus «mm general iitnosH tor ror the line place nlaos M as miner mini When you go to select a teacher for your school, you Inquire lnt® his scholastic in talnments, his moral Character, his aiblHIy w™, When you 4 are r h ™\r, called d on yv'zz to select 1 ,' a h:xhi lias !: t°r for your church, you are equally cure a &£& is^njss.tr:^ ri«ld?v sll^lon nrac He Is the dootrh.. glvernlr lie pro" lies, The of a Tmnortance for * great etiate la of no n l less '|'ii„ tlmn th<> mrifoChni-°Bnd*,tlvB In r toilcher or n preacher, and the responsibility resnonslbllltv of of the voter In his selection is a grave one a «hould not be entered upon carelessly, bu he should fully realize his responsibility to hie melt, his people and Ids Btate, when he cast* Ills ballot. 'He owi-s it to himself, hts children and his counlry to inquire dll lgently as to the character, ability and pawt record, personal and political, of those Who are candidates for his suffrage and should know what are the opinions of each on the public questions which con oern the Interest® and welfare of the peo pi®. In Informing hlmsalf on those ques tlons. It Is his duty to take counsel, not of the blind partisans erf the candidates themselves, but to examine the record ea.fh has made In the past and Inquire ot those who have known them best and longest as to the character and fitness of eaoh for the place he seeks. Don't believe what 1 say about raj opponent nor achat he says about me, nor what the partisans and partisan newspapers say about either of us. until it ls fully corroborated by lm partial testimony. Many lU-s get Into the newspapers and many unthinking or un •crupuWs people seem candidates to think public It no warm to lie about and men. Gov. Atkinson at Dublin. ily Fellow-Countrymen: In obedience to the request of the State Democratic Executive Committee I come to speak to you in the interest of the Democratic party of Georgia. In the performance of this pleasant task 1 shall not endeavor to cast a shadow over the history of Georgia Democracy, nor de¬ fame the name or sully the honor of my State by declining to champion the his¬ tory of my party, or failing to do justice to her splended achievements since th* people have entrusted to her keeping the care and destiny of the State. an honorable record and successful administration for a quarter OF A CENTURY. The State Democracy lm» been honora¬ ble in its career, to-day splendid in its achieve¬ ments, and is ns worthy the con¬ fidence, of the people as at any time in its ready history. This proposition I stand to maintain against the carping of all critics, 1 care not from whence they come. I am frank to confess to you that if, during the quarter of a century we have been in power under the adminis¬ trations of Governors Smith, Colquitt, Stephens, Boynton, McDaniel, Gordon, Northen and myself, each of which has been solemnly indorsed by Democratic State Conventions, the party has been corrupt, extravagant and incapable, the time has come when it should be driven from power, and the future of our State entrusted to other hands. I come not to condemn nor apologize for the history of my party, but, as its advocate and defender, to declare to that all Georgians should honct t. achievements and he nrood of its record. Every man on the Democratic ticket for Governor and State House Officers has been for plrtT veirg influential in the councils of the administrative and a momi nent official department in the of^tlie^Vat® 01 or ^ W iriative The nominees for the Legislature and county officers are men of recognized worth, many of whom have been prominent local" in party councils in their respective ties lf the party has lieen dishonest in its methods, corrupt in its practices and inefficient in its management of the af- \o fairs of the State, these men are blame, and deserve defeat in the an proaching election On il'self the other hand if the party has proven iionest and capable, should‘be every candidate it has -Userr out for ward elected 1 an d am prepared to maintain the proposition ihat the Democratic party has honestly and faithfully discharged its obligations i«'"worthy and that bv reason thereof it 7 to succeed in the approaching * election. RELATION OF THE CITIZEN TO GOVERNMENT AND TO POLITICAL PARTIES. The part taken by the citizens of this country in its government imposes upon each individual voter a grave resfionsi laiity. It is the aggregate of a majority lS¥£‘2‘s ™ ask L their 5^S. suffrage. n «v I u s: de Georgia to democrat clarfc(i> <1rat of a u t that I was a an(1 Relieved in the doctrines of my party aa j \ n the teachings of holy writ. ^ 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 l landmarks very much and fear venture that much on ^rled of what seas. la called modern progress is progress in the - 9 » tuition oft affieSf meinfwhlt wTien It saya “th® powers not dele fuuon tho United States by the constl nor prohibited by it respectively to the states or are to re8e rved to the states Lue peop ie." I believe subordinate the military power civil ehould always be to the power and should never be employed ex cept to repel Invasion, suppress lnsurrec tlon talnlng or ns domestic an aid to tranquinty . F 1 ® AXfi J >ower n main " , no I believe constitutional that ^. he ^°nnuos0 taxes Ihe pmple. to* any r P ,,™ ar POS« QSfi other outer lllan J, a f I the t „ , h ? n KHii?ve n v« ml a - ly a ^ m a d- d b in the Jefter Bonian maxim ot q ...act J Justice f rnddrie 8 to n ne 'na the declaraUoiis aTl pi of the last t Iona 1 d e m o c r c a tfor n i Including that on the much mooted question of coinage, I believe that the establishment of the slngle gold standard In our coinage shrink- was a mlstak® which ha* caused a ruinous age In values arrestd enterprise) products lower ed the price of labor and of tire of labor and has brought upon the debtor class which constitutes a large majority of our cltlacns. much unnecessary dls tress. Hence, I tiTti In favor of the restora tion of tho unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at all our mints, without dls crimination against either, as was the case for throe-quarterB of a century; and I do not beliove that we will ever enjoy that full measure of prosperity enjoyed j , n ante-bellum days until tho old coinage IawH aro prttct lcally restored. Foreign wara may f( , r a Ume ofiacure the coinage question, create diversions and raise Jtew fcguC g ' b ut ,| ke ftanquo's ghost, the'silver QUOSti on wllI not down PntlI the whits metul lB fMU y restored to Its old place In the coinage. As . to . National w ,, i TWTottero Matters. These are my vlewn 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 quest f lon °t coinage. I would not exclude them lrom the P an >’ councils because they dif fer f r om us on ll ,‘‘ a ona question, eo long as th f y accept » 1 the party ‘f platform 11,110 ?uld and i 010 . t,l f H art A that t ' c k et; and ah demonstrate . they . , are right and that , am wrong, 1 will be quick to get in line with them; and If lt sliould demonstrate that l am right and they are wrong, as l they ,irm will 'r„ bel get !°r In zt line with u, us ° . on caa ? this, ( „ a theu as hey already are on all other party quea X"i«. ■ „ m ,»,.™««... as may get Into our party management than to tolerate and try to defend them. 1 believe tho use of money to control elec- 110,13 ls ntterly subversive of good govern me,lt and lf tolerated will of profit speedily result i n placing all positions and honor tn t | 1H hands of unscrupulous men, who Hn> fortunttte enough to be rich, to tho total exclusion of honest men. poor and r t,-h, who cannot or will not resort to such means, and our government will cease to bo a. democracy or even an aristocracy but wifi become that most dangerous and ar rogatu of all governments, a plustocracy. To avert eo great a danger, the ballot box must be more carefully guarded. Our elec Uoa law® must b® perfected ln such a way us (o prevent, as far as tmd possible, both the the Jjuyiujj and selling of votes, buyer and the vote tsoller must b« pun i a hed as enemies to the state and to th* boat interests of the people. rights of citizen, j WO uld abridge the no p* he white or black, poor or rich, ltidl vldual or corporation; and I would protect all alike In tho court* and ln the .eglsla turn and In the exercise of tho elective franchise, but I would punish crime, no matter by whom and especial lot. J destroy confidence “ { ™ In In ihe the fairness fairness of oi *1®°^"* and Siioh. s « nd ® i y ^® rlnn 8 s tb are r % Koi « - r^ to state Aji enlightened of the ueonlft whose will is expressed in ^^rssrsSE “ip”'» C1 T? en ! an l Rn h V,fru f !?/ / l U«°k. -n!nn /.’ ST veh,ned e, " y forms fl T1 in all oMree government has always own th* party which can have no reasonable hope of prevailing, when their votes could be used to defeat the party that is most objectionable, become the allies of the objectionable party, and are respon Bible for the injury which it inflicts upon the country. Populist The people who compose the and Democratic parties in this State are confessedly opposed to republicanism. It is therefore not only unnecessary, divid* but absolutely harmful for us to and engender strif-e in State elections, which is harmful within itself, and must detract from our influenc* and strength in National contests. ahly argued, It has been so often and so and is bo generally admitted, that the 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 truth the political doctrine of us all, that I will not now discuss them. Thk ukmocratic party gives equa „ - rights and powers to every voter. Conceding this to be true, let us look to the other question as to how the Demo cratic party treats its members, and whether or not it permits each of selecting one to I share fully in the formulating privilege its creed. ! iuoandidates and Years ago the practice was for counties to actthrough mass-meetings and county conventions. So long as danger restraint to party success was imminent, it was a : upon those taking part in these meetings. i and action satisfactory to the people was j generally taken. As time passed and • 3anp>r of the constrain success the of personal our opponents wishes ceased to of the few participating in these meet ings. discontent began to arise, and de mand was made for a fuller demand expression the ' of the popular will. To this firing party readily yielded, and every county ! a primary election was permitted of to have it From the v-ry inception of 'primary my public career I was an advocate elections, and demanded them in every contest in which I was engaged, whether for the Legislature or Governor ghip. succeed who No candidate deserves to fears to‘trust the people, and no party is worthy the conlidence of the people which is unwilling to submit to the fullest ex- l™}**** fitness P or the deprived, public under good, end the neoD i e are law ot that free choice in the 1 of their lawmakers and ought public ™ ~ they and to f which are, he •> * entitled '__. Economy m bmxe Affairs »j*ho day has come Whan, under tne stress lovr prices and hard times, the most % economy sbpuld bS practiced in ev ry department of the state govern mGn f. an d the constantly increasing rate taxation upon the dssss. people should, If po3 I P ^ yet rate ! have be« In a havre of taxation Is the hWhest we even known A spirit of administration of to have grown up In , the and all our governments State county the municipal, which must be checked or burden of w1M our soon people, become especially lntol those ® , 'ahle^ who to ma ny tihe 11 ^ter are engaged In tilling s ® - a all, have to bear well nigh allI tfhe hor ens of government. In 1332 cotton brough cents a P°und, 25 cents and the ®^ the ate .^ ban £ ¥5 ? re ,d taxation was 0I V about half dollars; now, cotton Is worth of what lt was wo F th t hen : and ^ he F at .® i taxation Is 62 2-10 cents—two . and a half - took less than two j times greater. Then lt and a half pounds of cotton to pay the state tax on a hundred dollars worth of | Property; now lt requires twelve pounds and a half, five times as much as fifteen years ago, and yet lt requires Just as much tell and sweat to produce a pound of cotton today as lt did then. Than ninety-five pousds of cotfon paid th® trtbut® levied by the state and county, | n most cases, on the small farmer, whose farm was worth $2,000. Now It takes more than a bale. If this constant Increase In tho rata taxation continues for a few moro years It will, to many people, become intolerable. It Is no answer to this argu men t to say that the rate ^ taxation la higher In other ruar. fn Oeormi ' As well trv . on that*somebody , ,| he s i cl{ man w ith the assur ?. nc ®T “fhesedava else Is sicker than he In tht3S« d:ays of or hard hard times times and and low low Pnces taxau w is toe.mgti in most or tne ba/tltbtasted states of the south Now t honestvnJr am charging malfe^alce no man nor ldl party nit With dls llfiar stolel believe there Lm! has b aa b«n a K,,®! ar or wlb fully mmpplled . by any state official of P a EK e r hut I repeat * eX iv!,I that 3 a „ spir fr ft t Ca ot , rp ex- ®J" E of aya our f“ governments, G ® ^ federal, PP 0 f rad state, “ al! y county and municipal, no matter whether admin Istered by democrats, republicans or pop ullsU, and that the good of the people demands that It he checked and a more rigid economy Instituted. I am not en deavoring to gull you with the promise that I vrtll lower the rate of taxation if I am elected governor Such a promise ! would be an kn“ Insult to your lntelUgence jsSiSKSi™ tor an that u® uif your Btate and not the governor who onacts the taxing laws. But I want [o lm U Jdone C '.f?f ra ‘° Y® this fhem you can ln ev0 depend ry effort on me ,n ° A n '. d'^blon d Bver t r member of economy who and proposes , lower or taxa- ad vocates , a measure for the relief of the peo P 1 ®. he he democrat, republican or popu list, shall have my hearty co-operation and support. Xlm Varttr’a rty 8 Platform. TheBe, my countrymen, are the declara lions upon which I went bafore dhe demo cratlo party of Georgia asking its noml nation for governor. They were approved by the party as true democratic doctrines and I was nominated as the party candl date; not by a convention of delegates ?f hlc h ,na y be packed and manipulated in the , Interest of one favored few, man or a but our opponents make their nominations, by th# direct Vote of the democratic masses, ln a fairly conducted primary, in every day. county ln the state, on the same which They constitute a platform upon stand. every They honest, patriotic Georgian can indorsed have been overwhelmingly democrats, by the great body otr Georgia ine two as able a whole, when they selected over and distinguished Geor « lan » as th ® Party candidate. There Is not a demand among them that our popu : IV sd, lce 1 fld the ® nds organization h ave not been of their clamorous pArty. for To ba_oon#lstent. every populist la tbo. state pression of the wishes of its members m the selection of its candidates and in the formulation of its creed. In a speech de¬ livered by me at Millen during my can¬ vass for nomination for Governor in 1891, I sa id : “My appeal is to the masses, who in this election will control and smash to utter pieces the slate made by the bosses. The time has come for the masses of the people in the Democratic party to assert their rights and show their power, and they are going to do it.” Every Democrat can assureA suggest changes in our party usage, that he will be respectfully treated; and, if right, will succeed in having his suggestions candidate adopted. When I became a for Governor in 1S84 I ventured to urge th* Stat. Democratic Committee to order primaries in every county. I was not successful then, but the Democratic defects party can always be relied on to correct ln its own methods. The propo sition then placed before the State Com mlttee. and in which I joined with Gen eral Evans, reached the public mind and conscience, and has now ripened elections into party action requiring primary in every fixed county. This plan is now I a part of th# policy of the party. heart ily rejoice when that I perceived many who the disagreed evil and w ith me urged th* remedy, now realize that my sdvie* was timely, and rejoice with me that the party has acceded to the de mand tnaue by me in 1894. Believing before a single county had acted in 1894, that, there were good real gons wP y primaries should be held al over the State on the 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 1894 I 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 the will of the members of the party.” declined accede The committee to to my request, but when the State Convert- < tion convened which nominated me for Governor, this suggestion was taken up, a resolution passetl instructing the State Committee in future to require all conn | ties to hold their primaries on a fixed day, as I had requested done at the beginning of the btate campaign. My letters re questing the State Committee to inau gurate these reforms were at the time published in the press. The improvement in our methods, i the advance from the old-time mass j meeting to the present system of uni* form primaries in every county on the I same day. gives State clear Democracy, proof of the hon esty of the of its readiness to correct all evils and per feet its methods, and clearly demon i strates its purpose and ability to so reg- ought ' this year to' vote for me ahd the democratic ticket. They have cried affeud for free silver coinage. I introduced and before £ss?t,si£s the years They people's party was born, demand clean methods and honest demand, politics. and I have made always it made the principal same one of the planks in my platform when I became a candidate. They profess to be In favor of economy and lower taxes. This is the key stone in the arch of my political faith a nd nobody fhas ever doubted my sincerity, They are opposed to ring rule, and favor the rule of the common people. I have been a ring smasher and in favor of the nj] e of the common people all of my life, My record as a lawmaker for fifteen years every oneofrhernis a democratic doo a una ea ye^rs om. i and every we vte^ came to to Sie! the w>11b pot a If If P tlf^e these eentllmln gTOtlemen «h a^kmlf us Sr ttherL Ts not nothing .hlne between between us ua but A Word About the Pops. Most of them are as sincere and honest aa we are They were Induced to seoede from the democratic party In 1892, because they had grown Impatient of the burdens Imposed y upon P them by un>ust federal Farmirs’ legis lfLt on . Th ose w1ho pros turned the Alliance and converted it Into a political machine, for tlhelr own the democratic aggrandizement, taught them that party wa3 e q ua lly responsible with the republlc a ns for the unjust legislation ef which they | complained. They were deceived. Every one of these laws was enacted by a repub b Can house of representatives and a re publican senate and approved by a repub lican president, over the protest of a large majority of democrats in both houses of corfgreies. Our party was and not this responsible for a single one of tlhem; Is Shown by the record. Being thus grossly deceived by the designing demagogues self-constituted and place hunters, who were their leaders, they made a fearful mistake when they formed a separate party organization, They were Induced to believe that they would seoure a more sp*edy and effectual redress of grievances outside of, the demo cratlc experiment party than In It. They failed. have made t!, e and lhave The new ptrty has never been strong enough to brln th0 flpaire<3 re Uef, and neveT will be. Its 0Rly effec t has been to weaken anti tm P air oar ab!llt >’ to redress wrongs com mon to us and to tlhem-wrongsfor which we were no morG responsible than they and to demonstrate that the national demo cratlc party, the party of Jefferson and j ac kson, Is the only real people’s party that has or ever can exist in this esuntry. M any of these misguided democrats real Ize this, and have been wise this enough and patriotic enough to leave sinking craft an(i re t urn to the old democratic ship, which has weathered every storm and with stood the assa ults of every foe. Many more will this year do likewise. In Ala hams, just the other day, thirty thousand returned Zn hlndrefl to the standard vear/ agj erected bv Jeffer a In Tennessee nomflisf^tate vPKtprdnv three of tlhe strongest men In the committee W'nVtff one of tihem Mr com mlttee resigned from It .and declared for McMll In ’ the democratic candidate m ' ,cVowo '' '•„* rs fa that “the by hlm and hl3 colleagues because pop- of ultsts have absolutely no hope, national the disintegration of its statt and organization. The democrats have nomi na ted a man for governor ln whom we have confidence. We believe his pledges lavs i or reform ll/rauslv will be oarried out. 1 While al- 5 opposing the populists, aa treated us courteously and has abused us* McMillln was my colleague ™L for manv years. We have .. the au esUons now claiming pub im ottention h„' Hike him 'because I have vigorously believed „„ t noDUltsts i I ah» rsfnrmV thev and want to bring Tccnmnliahed more speedUy more effectually ln the democratic than through a new party organization; On hut I have never abused them. -ontrary have said they are, most or "tlhem as honest as I country. am. The best ele- , Bo it is all over the all the states ^ ment In the populist party in are realizing that th© only hope of rl £ht ing the wrong from which we have suffer ed for a generation. Is through the demo i cratlc party arnd are returning to it. As it Is in the other states, so lt will be In Georgia hJnelt poplhsts In October many thousands of ln Georgia also will vote the democratic ticket. Of course, the self constituted leaders of this movement, who Inaugurated U for what they qould make " its affairs that every member of “ d ,re * ,rom ,r,ud “ d r«tr can sic ™,,„„ to «„t atl o„„ Questions LOOKING to perfection of 0UR PR1MARY 8YBTltM - manner that will be satisfactory to the 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 of county primaries. • The question has 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 held, after ordering with a pri- the mary before it is officials along should be one whether our State nominated by the delegate system or by vote under roles similar to the laws reg ulating their election, will be met and disposed of as justice and wisdom may dictate. 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 the only party in Georgia which consults every member, and puts forward as its candidates the men who are selected by a vote of the 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 the humble members of a party have no influence-nan take no part. A few bosses do it all. In aligning himself with a party, the citizen should inquire whether or not he will have equal rights with all others , n the selection of its candidates and its declaration of principles. ln considering this Populists view, permit have me to ask what claim the upon the people of the State? Its nominees for 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 tion. Did the humble member of Populist party preference have an opportunity express his for Governor State-house officers? No such nity was given you. Who, then, the selection? Xot tbc people, not rank and file of the party, but a bosses who met in convention and such choice as suited their purposes. the other hand, were/put the nominees of the ocratio party forward as candidates of the party only after out ° f They try to rally ^ GeoTg i& all their a ™ f at -^ leveled at the deinocratic^party. They never have a alone arp a Jerespc responsible the republicans, who b for the laws of whl f b ‘ he y !; to the now ™ a ^ n6 r v t ures are even tbls state, w wno p 0 constitute the negrfies of republican ^Georgia unlte with bulk of the th democ S them in opposition P P to for the negro npero whic h has done more If alke a ?he an u y nto m P Nlrth cSolina, for the of /hey spoils, hav'eV^a , tbey t sI^^rTciple Ucat^ ^lth 9 in whom common. Unable to assail ,“® Grinded with truth, these parti sans blinded party passion and prejudice and tatrst to by substitute for argument slander ana Knolls and falsehood. Of many of ar l d these Jj po¬ L litical Ishmaelites these ar ® of attack, ana a have ^ 9 been the only weapons but now even I am not surprised at them; {oy h °™ i my distinguished anything opponent, but , . Y rd have never had and of ^ ho *“ r * and courteous treatment, seeks to mlar expected a more manly fight, party. He, reDresent me and slander my to as I am Informed, labors on the stump create the Impression tha, I am opposed t appropriations. ^vetmng^sl^bills iMx. Hogan knows, and school that these insinuations or ought to know, makes them. I say are untrue when he said here and now, as I have always on the stump and off of it, that the state system of free schools, as contemplated by the framers of the constitution, hasiio more earnest champion than I am. This is shown by my past record. I am in favor of supporting by taxation schools in which all the children of the state, white and black, may, without discrimination, be taight the elementary branches of 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 In the saying, “teach a fellow hie, haec, hoc, and he for¬ gets all about whoa, haw, buck;’’ and I have further observed that the white man Is very much like the negro in this re¬ spect. Loes Mr. Hogan go any further than this In his advocacy of free educa¬ tion? Doers he want to give everybody fn 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 ln favor of. No man will go further than I will In providing pensions for our deserving and needy soldiers, but I want the pension roll to be a roll of honor, with the names of no imposters or frauds on lt. 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 ln his speeches that the democratic party, through Its executive committee, in the last campaign, perpe¬ trated a great wrong on the late Colonel Hardeman, who was treasurer of the cam* palgn committee, and after his death ex¬ torted “blood money" from his widow. This ls a very grave charge and Mr. Ho¬ gan ought to know that lt Is true before he makes lt. But lt ls 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 at that time. Here ls 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, D. Ga., August 15, 1898.—Hon Al¬ len Candler, Gainesville, Ga.—My Dear Sir: Your favor to hand saying that Mr. Hogan, the populist nominee for governor, stated ln a public speech at Madison that Senator Clay two years ago had Colonel Hardeman to loan or borrow $ID 000 as a campaign fund and that said sum was paid by Colonel Hardeman’s wife from his Insurance money, which he (Hogan) con¬ sidered ‘blood money.’ “I assure you that this statement Is false from beginning to end. While I was chair¬ man of the state committee I never had Colonel Hardeman or anybody else to bor¬ row a dollar from anyone; neither did Mr. Hardeman borrow any money, while I was chairman, to assist In paying the expenses of the campaign. Nq money was ever used except to pay the legitimate expenses mitting to the people the names of all jsssra ssssxs hks %8S$£ , £fr£gi hStottta 8e lectin aq between the party which recog co putacollar onhtm with which toieaa take no p F ™^ntere^of 1 *?he ®h« m _ ri n ofe^asses of ^omilS its nintform Jiehte g //,/-/ J wishes’of Its °V r 181 ; „ IhaT^everv its ft tfh/l^have man who uligns 1h mself with it shall have 23“*} Tha faithful RJJJf discharge ot the Zblitions oDligatio s imposed illustrated by the by conhaence fi dehty ot to the duty pe dur- p , as its erned mg the the /luster'if affairs of a this century State, it makes ha. g us P5° nd of lts P ast ana eonnaent 01 9 future. correct etils and toaugueate inaugurate hefoims refoims. From the date of its accession to power, on the overthrow of carpet-bag ru ]e, it has shown itself capable of cor rectfng evils, weeding out corruption, inaugurating needed reforms, and stim ulating the contribute growth of the every happiness interest of which can to the people and the greatness of the btate. Governors Smith, Colquitt, and Stephens, Northen Boynton, McDaniel, Gordon were talented, patriotic Georgians, faith ful public servants, who gave to the people clean, honest and ablei admin is trations, each of which having been here tofore reviewed and passed upon allu- , is only proper that I make this brief sion to them, and bear testimony to their fidelity and ability. * four admiMstLtion years op democratic It is . appropriate administration.^ now, at the close of the present Democratic administration, to pass in review its history, to ascertain ! whether or not it has met its obligations j to confidence. the people and proven worthy of their j In the very inception of this brief re view of the control of the Democratic party during the 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 and should whatever go to the credit of the party: mis takes have been made should be charged to him. The administration of affairs during the 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 fall more questions of moment than usually to the lot of one administration. untary s 3 ™! fro ™ voTT Z 532 - £™ L !‘‘ ad com. ea tween. $300 and $400 of ( funds a ^nt be than he had mail received- more amount Hence, every was dollar up Jr .Y- and ^ paid ards to him. th « never red while heard I of was tfiiscAaro^/,, chairman ext>ense Z as Paid? incur- I until recently. I know thli f J^ r ’ Ho kaifis had meeting charge of the executive* eamLi<~ I Co T was “'? 1 . “ at ee every and feman. of th e Wr5w d 1Ir ln behalr at of no the time, e | aby money ’ Har ’ chairman Every member committee while I was mlttee who acted with i£« of the state copi this b « man statement. 1 *' Mr. Hog?! clnect ~n bear Ce !h aInly out understands enough to V& hl s Ch the, a ^ a en'dif Y Such is the falsity charge and tUI! ' CEAY. 1 ' of Its utter the proof their these political if Jshmaeiit-p<? toTSiTfor *erio£ 0n w l ° ¥ U c h campaign 00n templation. Their me" which^e miserable nl ' f nal with flings at da either my fitness for the of ridiculously governor or absurd with this claim campaign moment are^oo consideration. to a «“ ll Neither I nor my n a now engaged in the business of skin’ilru. busi¬ skunks. When we engage in such ness we pay our a Pharisees. Now. respects to these political w a are proflmblf® eneaeert 3 1 m 4 . work more dignified p nd these remarks are. of course, intended all to app y only to those populistic cranks political ishmaelites who are in politics tor whose what stock they in trade can make out of it an! is not argument but vituperation, slander and abuse, and not to the many thousands of good and true men who have, for the last four years, been deluded into acting with them. This bet* ter class, I repeat, are honest and ta¬ triotlo; and many have returned and rn any mote wilt return to the democratic stand aM. The best aiid brainiest men in the party have, since these cranks and fannies and place-hunters have taken charge of it lo'.t all Interest In It and refuse to work unst l In Its ranks. To ktl such we should extend a cordial welcome back into the nouse of their fathers, which they, In the past, have defended as gallantly as we nav My countrymen, I have delivered my mes¬ sage. What I have said, I have said In truth and sincerity. I have plainly and unequivocally defined my position on publlo questions. What X have said of the popu¬ list party and Us individual members has been said In self-defense and In defense of that party In the triumph of whose principles the perpetuity and safety of this republic rests. I shall In this campaign misrepresent nobody nor the opinions of anybody; but I will fearlessly defend my¬ id self and my party against the assaults a misrepresentations and zanders of all as¬ sailants, no matter by wbat party name called. I shall show that however honest and sincere tha rank and file of the populist party may be, Its loaders and those who mold its policy are not sincere, but are actuated solely by a desire for spoils. This is abundantly established by their fusion, already accomplished in some states and being attempted in some counties in Geor gn, with the republicans. tfielr Th-ese unscrup¬ fol¬ ulous leaders have misled white lowers, and they will tool the negroes. Tbere Is no good ln their party for any¬ body, white or black. They could not better the condition of the negro lf they would, and would not If they could. They may delude with promises or buy with money a f®w self-constituted leaders of tho col¬ ored rote; but th* tlmo has passed, lt ls be hoped, when the colored vote of Georgia can be* delivered by a few shall city* contrast negroes as so much merchandise. I the doctrines of my party with these of the opposition and call on the people to Judge between us. I want the support of no man who cannot conscientiously give lt. I shall buy no votest either with money or whisky or the promise of office. I shall hire no heelers to corral voters for me. I despise such methods and condemn these who practice them. I desire to go Into offlee, fn case of my election, which I be¬ lieve even my honorable opponent con¬ cedes, absolutely untrammeled and free to act ln the discharge of every duty with an eye single to the best interests of the state and the happiness and prosperity of the people. I want my friends to resort to no undu* or unseemly means to secure my election. When I succeed, I want It to be by those clean methods which I have always advocated and practiced, and not by those vrhlch I have condeinn&i and which justly bring reproach upon them. any par¬ ty and any man who employs such methods to Rather than resort to vilify and achieve success, or slander, abuse my opponents, ln order to compass their defeat, I will die ’ unwept, •Jnn° unepl a - ored and unsung," and be burled taphed ln the potters’ field. i We cannot on this occasion, discoi^^U of them. A brief review of some may serve to remind you of many others, ana to show the character of the administra¬ tion. J" Dnri r „X”™T„T^s.ot ^ e ,Sf Sent of the in n a u, terest of the $287 °°° ° f b °? dS °i p interest of the State. bore -^s^jasssssrsssa the rate of seven per interest at cent, per annum. State „ to pay atr I was unwilling for the that rate of interest, and therefore de manded their presentation, paid them off, stopped the high rate of interest, and floated new bonds at per cent, to take up and pay off those bearing 7 per cent, j n transaction, by taking up the 1 per cent bonds and making a new loan. I ^ the . gtate $i 0 ,045.00 annually that amount on herinterest account. It kept of tho State from going annually out of the bona Treasury into the pockets holders. ent The N. E. R. R. situation also P res sale ^ the que8tion as to whether, on its the State, it should be sold to tne highest bidder, or whether the state should itself become a bidder and buy, u it failed to bring a reasonable sum. Tbere wag before me two precedents, tne bonds of the Macon & Brunswick K. w. were indorsed by the State to the amou 0 f one million nine hundred thousa . dollars. The road defaulted. mdeb , , , , The State had to assume the ness and then she seized the road, ro ad was sold at public outcry and f or the State, and afterwards -o M, 125 000 making a loss to the U , , million of dollar* three quarte rs of a Considering its real\alue then, value now, it was to ®e dear State made a mistake m selling for a price less than the amouu indorsed bv the St a 2 e b & Borne R. The R. were bonds indorsed of f the , Colnmbm^sno p to l u; u« tail $396,000 and sold for pr! ing upon the State a _ , tdree hundred and nfty-nve tnous pvehun dred dollars. money by ! The State would have maae becoming precedents the purchaser. before it^> *“®" d a m i s - ing no “ the take for which no one act g dth lights then before u can red D iththis experience before■** * dete r mined to buy the N E. R- could not be sold to another at reaiona e ble and Siat6i i price, operate the It bought it m for a. tate a - the price is paying about 15 per cent. “ *jr t is at which the State P urcna series of payirlg interest on ; re 'making, bonds assumed by the &tate ' ard g‘ about in addition thereto, a net p L t 0 { ' $5,000 per year.
