The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-16
RXPLOSIey OF THE PARTY IN
GEORGIA.

We have had occasion to refer to the
ugly quarrel in Georgia between Cover
nor Colquitt and Senator Ben Hill.
The matter IS more serious than we
supposed. An Atlanta special to the
st. Louis Republican says there is a very
ugly state of feeling in Georgia politi-
cal circles just now, which may not un-
reasonably be supposed to threaten the
so, 900 Democratic majority that two
years ago won the huge banner offered
by Texas for the largest Democratic
majority cast by any 2outhern State.
The disturbance caused by Senator
Hills late action has widened and
deepened. Mr.. Hill has contended all
the time that his objective point was
to secure the discharge of Treasury
Clerk Murphy, who had paid
fee to a client-ofI Mr.. Hills to do
what Mr.. Hill charged was illegiti-
mate work. Governor Colquitt, how
ever, was outraged at the insinuations
against himself that followed Mr..
Hills assault on Murphy, and demand
ed an investigation at the hands of
the Legislature, that it might be shown
that no sinister connection could have
existed between himself and Murphy
in the matter of the fee. The inves-
tigatlon was full and thorough,
and the committee, while differing as
to the minor points, denounced as ma
lignant and slanderous all insinuations
against the Governor. Mr.. Hill in an
interview with the Baltimore Gazette
denounced the report of the commit
tee in very bitter terms, say
ing if the Democracy of Geor-
gia adopted that report it did
not deserve to succeed, and would
be beaten. In the interview he alluded
to the Governor in such terms that, al
though be professed kindly feeling for
the Governor. the latter felt impelled
to denounce Mr.. Hill as his active and
malevolent enemy. An open fight is
therefore inevitable between these
leaders. The State press almost unan-
imously indorse Governor Colquitt in
this contest, while the four papers now
in opposition to the organized DemoC-
racy oppose him. Mr.. Murphy, it is
said, is preparing very bitter personal
assault on Mr.. Hill, and some hard |
words may be looked for. The Inde-
pendent papers alluded to have been |
very bitter toward Senator Gordon |
since that gentleman canvassed the |
seventh and ninth districts (Which |
were carried by the independently in
favor of party nominees. Aside from
personal abuse they make but one def
mite charge against him, which is that
he voted for the confirmation of
Fred Douglass and then denied
it on the stump. Gen. Gordon
denounces this as false, and says that
whenever it is presented in respectable
shape or by respectable person he
will prove it to be such. There is now
no doubt that the Independents, hav-
ing captured, under FELTON, and Speer,
the two strongest Democratic districts
Ut Georgia, and having seriously de-
Others, will attempt to cap
ture the State in the next election. 1t
is claimed that these assaults on Col
quit and Gordon, who are par ercel-
,ence the leaders of the organized De-
mocracy, are part of a scheme to break
down the party in the State. The
plan of nominations has been generally
abolished, and the negro has come to
The front as an active politician again,
and this time with the privilege, if
hey can be consolidated, of holding
he balance of power. The lines will be
irawn between the Democrats and In
dependents in the next election, and
,hese ruptures among the leaders are
simply premonitions of the coming COL
lict.