National Republican., 1876-05-17
The Campaign in Georgia.


Those who have read the proceedings of the
Republican convention recently held in At
lanta cannot fail to be impressed with the be-
lief that the Republican party will make a
desperate effort to carry the elections in
Georgia next October and November. There
are many who think that there is no Republi-
can party in Georgia. This is a great mis-
take. There are to-day nearly one hundred
thousand Republican voters in the State
This force properly organized and thoroughly
disciplined will carry the next election unless
the Democrats stand firmly together and meet
organization with organization and discipline
with discipline. The trouble heretofore with
the Republicans in Georgia has been a want
of leaders. The source of their weakness
has been the divisions and dissensions in their
OVID ranks. But that they are strong when.
ever they choose to manifest strength no one
can deny. In 1868 they cast IS, 900 votes in
the Governors election. In 1870 they cast
69,OO0 votes. In 1872 they cast g., 900 votes
for Grant. This year they propose to make
desperate fight, and the Democracy may as
we'll prepare to meet the issue. The danger tothe
Democracy comes from two quarters. In the
first place, the Republicans show disposition
to present a firm and united front to their
enemy. Their party will not lack bold and
skilliul leaders, and the rival factions will
cease their quarrels and sink their animosites
until after the election. The platform which
they have adopted places them in complete ac-
cord with their allies at the North. 1t declares
for q common school system 'free from secta-
rian CONTROL" it indorses to the fullest extent
:he bloody shirt programme of Morton IL Co.:
1t declares for hard money as against green
backs, and for centralism as against State
rights. In the second place, they are strength
ened by the strength of their adversaries.
The apparent paradox is easily explained. The
Democrats feel themselves SO strong, have
conquered so easily in all the elections held
since 1868, that they overestimate their own
power and underestimate the power of their
opponents. Men ambitious to obtain office
are unwilling to wait until the party demands
their services. Unable to control the regular
organization Of the party, they do not
care to obey where they cannot command.
They wish to disregard party lines, to
treat party nominations with contempt, and
to go "before the people" upon "their
own merits" Independent candidates in the
field will give the Radicals an opportunity of
regaining theE lost power. Unless the So
called independent movement be nipped in the
bud the Radicals will hold the balance of
power in nearly every county in the State and
of the Democrats can only be assured by a
rigid adherence to party lines and an implicit
obedience to party discipline. The duty OF
every good Democrat in the coming campaign
is plain and simple. Independents must be
considered as Radicals and treated as Radicals.
If necessary, the harsh, but wholesome, policy
which prevailed IN 1868, 1869 and 1870 must
be employed again. Independent candidates
must be crushed like young vipers whenever
and wherever they make their appearance.
Let the best men of every county attend the
primary meetings and take an active interest
in placing the control Of the party machinery
N good hands. Let them see to it that only
good men and true Democrats are nominated
for office, and then, when nominations are
made, let the nominees be sustained by the
solid strength of the party. The man who
bolts the nomination of the party must not be
allowed to remain among US. He is no longer
of US, and must be spurned into the camp of
those whose flag he is secretly supporting. He
must not be allowed to live with the sheep and
work with the goats.