The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-07-11

what he had done and would do for the peo-
ple. and that eternal vigilance was the price
Of liberty. No for his non action indicated
he was willing for elderly" to be forever
lost. He said to his futtering heart, BE
still-Gordon, Lester, and those other bat
tie Scared heroes, who fought for me during
the war, while was home taking my ease,
will fight for me now" He thus quoted
his fears and left others to bear the heat and
burden of the day, and raised no voice of
encouragement calculated 10 lift up the
bowed hearts of his conquered countrymen.
But Lester did, he stepped 10 the front.
Who is Me herol Lester or FELTON,? Who
deserves the reward Of popular preferment?
The man who dared 10 face IA triumphant
foe, backed by military bayonets, and do
battle for the people in the ddrkest hour Of
our States history. or the man who quietly
kept in the back ground and failed to come to
the peoples assistance with his great abili-
ties, but waited till the State was redeemed,
and the sunshine Of home rule gave token Of
peaceful rest after hard fought political
battle, and then as a silent spectator he close
y watched for the first speck Of dissatisfac-
ton that might show itself in the ranks Of
the good old Democratic party, and then
with gladdencd eyes and sharpened appe'
tite. he suddenly stepped from his seclus
ion In 10 the unfortunate gap, and by words
Of discord, took advantage OF the breach,
when as preacher Of the gospel lie should
have said like Abraham Of old, "Lct there
be no strife between us, we be brethren :"
bat being infused with an unholy ambition,
he stirred the embers inilamed where he
should have pacificd widened where he
should have bridged aroused prejudice
where he should have Gained passion in
cited mutiny where he should have coun-
selcd peace and having reapcd the fruits Of
four years Of such sowing, he has not
sought and does not seek reconciliation in
the divided house Of common polit-
ical family, but indefatigably seeks to ener-
gisc its prolongation indefinitely, and while
friends and democrats quarrel and fight, he
bears away the glttering prize Of office and
profit.
Fellow citizens does this state of affairs
compensate you forsbeing party to its con
tinuanceT Does this unchristian like strife
crafty your win you dishonor Lester,
the man who has rsked his life and lost his
arm for you and his country and faced
military imprisonment for you after the
war TO restore you to rights of freemen, or
will you give Lester the cold shoulder and
pass him by ungratefully, and honor FELTON,
again whom you have already honored
twice who lost nothing risked nothing.
cared for nothing or nobody but FELTON, p
win you give Lester the husk and FELTON,
the kernelf Can Cobb county turn her
back on so noble n son us LestcrY viii
you shatter his hopes and crush his conf
dcncc in the people with whom he lives,
his friends and neighborsY viii not Cobb
stand as squarely TO her Lester, as Barlow
stands to her Felton, Win you say by
your votes that he is not worthy Of home
endorsement? win you reward all of
his self sacrifices, and patriotic services
by defeat shame and humiliation? You
have honored your battle Scared Gordon,
will you not honor your one-armed LesterY
Win not Cobb take county pride in his pro
motonY Unfeeling must be that mothers
heart who will discard her own son, and
take TO her bosom in affectionate embrace
another's child. Unnatural then will IL be
for Cobb county to repudiate Lester her
gallant and worthy son, and crown with
laurel the brow of Bartow's FELTON,, a man
not more deserving than Lester? Stand to
your county man, and in the future you
will be glad that you cast your influence for
one whose capabilities manhood and integ-
rty entitle him to your elevation.