The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-08-21
SKETCHES FROM THE SOUTH.
The Impressions of Buckeye Rambler
in Dixie.
Politics. Politicians. Incidents. Etc NO. 8.
BIZ W. S. S.


To the Editor of The Leader:
The gubernatorial struggle is one
of the most bitter ever witnessed in
the State of Georgia. The conven-
ton has been in session seven days,
and on the twenty ninth ballot the
result was the same as the first. Col
quit, the present incumbent, is one of
five aspirants. He has the largest
following, majority; but the two
thirds rule keeps him out. His first
score was about 2O9, his twenty-ninth
211. The whole affair is greatly
mixed. There is no Republican can.
didate in the field, and this is proba-
bly, one of the reasons why the Dem
ocrats are cutting up so badly. All
are copperheads, from the most bitter
to the comparatively mild. AS l said
before, Colquitt is not as Democratic
as many wish, hence the opposition.
The Negroes will support him if nom-
mated, or if he runs on an independ-
ent ticket he is certain Of an election.
1t is the best they can do just under
the present circumstances. Hill, Cor
don, Brown and Stephens support the
present Executive. If he is success
Joe Brown will return to the Senate;
if not, some other Bourbon of Georgia
will succeed him. A house divided
against itself can not stand. We look,
then, for an ultimate crumbling ofthe
Georgia Democracy and the final
supremacy of the Republican party.
Things look that way now. Doubts
and fears are not unfrequently ex
pressed by the Democratic party.
Here the Negro is crushed. His con-
dition is rather serious. A change
must take place for better or for
worse; the latter it can not we'll
be, unless he is relegated to his ante
bellum condition. AS the observer
passes to and fro in these rebellious
sections, compares the state of the two
races, and thinks of the probable
future of the black, he is compelled to
regard it as knotty problem. There
is hope, taking a philosophical view
of it, but hope not to be realized just
now.
l return to convention notes. The
following is going the rounds of the
press, that a proposition in Gordon's
own handwriting had been submit
ted to Hardeman's Zone of the aspi-
rants for Governor) friends that if he
(H.) would withdraw and throw his
strength to Oolquitt, that Gordon,
Brown and Colquitt-the triumvirate
stood ready to support him (Har-
deman) in 1882, and were willing to
sign the paper. Gordon denies this
in toto. This is intended to destroy
Colquitt's chances.
There was a difficulty" last week
between ex-senator Gordon's son and
one M. E. Thornton, a newspaper
man. Thornton had written to the
Augusta (Ga.) Evening News that the
ex-senator had been offered and paid
handsome sum by Justice Field, to
represent his (F.'s) Presidential inter-
ests in the State of Georgia. Young
Gordon claimed that he reflected
seriously upon his fathers char
acter, and demanded a retraction.
The result was a hand to hand
contest. Gordon lost finger, which
the incisors of Thornton succeeded
in taking off. The latter was severe
ly bruised over head and shoulders
and lost considerable blood in the
affray. General Gordon, with others,
separated the two. The matter is not
yet settled. The code may be resort
ed to, as duels are always on the ia pis;
word and a blow constitute South
ern chivalry. This scene took place
in Atlanta, Ga, at the Kimball House.
By the way, there are two of these
Kimba,ls who figured quite largely
Immediately after reconstruction.
They were stauch (O Republicans
with Bullock, Joe Brown and others
They built a hotel that rivals any in
the South. They had to leave the
South, or keep cool, because of their
supposed principles. One is now a
candidate for Mayor of the city of At.
lanta, with Democratic support and
aid, and under Democratic influence
Surely the old adage still holds,
"Tempora untantur ct nos mutamuI
in Ills" A word more in regard to
the Democratic muddle. A nomina.
ton at this writing seems quite i'm
probable. Governor Colquitt lacks
20 of the two. thirds vote of the con-
vention. The matter will be referred
to the people with recommendation
from the majority to elect Colquitt il
October, without nomination. Rumors
however, are as thick as gnats in some
of our Southern States, and as plenti
full as blackberries. | will note tn,
changes in my next, together with
an epitome of the Of the Claytor
county outrage, of which your read
ers have undoubtedly heard.
Macon, Ga.