New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-16
REPUBLICANS IN GEORGIA.

Colonel John l.. Bryant, n prominent NeoISl"
Republican living at Atlanta Is at present Ill
u,on f,yng visit MI Bryant has from 1876 up to the
heripnlnc Of the present campaign been the chairman
OF the Republican State Committee, ana has always
taken leading part IN the politics of Georgia ikib
usf reporter recently called upon Mr. Bryant at bis
hotel and the following conversation took place
"what position does the Republican party occupy III
Georgia 2" inquired the reporter
The Republican party was organized in Georgia IN
1867 and candidates have been nominated ana sup
ported every election for state officers from 'ha' 'e
20 this The state Convention which met at Atlanta IN
April last large and able gathering ana most VI
the counties in the State represented by innuen
hal men The Republicans elected their State ticket IN
the spring of 1865 but the Presidential campaign
that year the Ku KuX Khan was organized ana bY Nio
lencc and fraud the Democrats carried the safe by
$4,000 majority. The Republicans were OF course,
somewhat discouraged, but they determined not
60 abandon their organization and IN 1872 they Ioled
6655O votes as they counted by the Democrats;
and 446 1876 The party IN Georgia has as bravo
leaders as can be found in any state
"Wil the Republicans make u vigorous canvass ID
this ca mpa IN a. asked the reporter
"Yes It is tue intention of the Republicans to nom
mate Governor candidates for Congress
for the different districts Presidential electors, and IN
fact. to make viz rous canvass as possible
sis youi organization throughout tic State competef
"Thoroughly and 1t extends into all the couDtles IN
the State"
"t all depenIs upon the count. and whether Repubh
cans are permitted without violence and ntiin-
idation being exercised the part of the Democrats
We hope to elect three congressman"
lis there any Of your cloctng the Governor
"As the Democrats have made regular nomination
for Governor but a majority of the Convention has
recommended the support of Governor Coidut thiok
another Democratic candidate will run. II the Repub-
Means could fair opportunity 20 vote and have
the ballots honestly eouuted they could elect Their can
didae for Governor il these two Democratic candidates
should continue the field until the election But If
the Democrats see that the Republicans likely to
win they VIII undoubtedly Withdraw Que OF thcr caudi-
dates and concentrate their vOte unon one MAJ"
"Do you think tina. as matter OF fact you have in
recent years acuay elected any OF your eand ates ?"
We undoubtedly elected them in 1874 and III 1870.
but they were counted out' Icy the Democrats, Who
have the control of the election mieainery Il
was in Georgia that the practice Of counting ouf
originated and the ID mocratic manipuatOrs OF our
State have lost none Of their cuhnng."
"Wha DO yon regard 20 the ultimate sue
cess OF the Republican party In the South ?"
"The conversion OF white men to Republican ideas
Al pres ut the Republican party i'll the south is com
posed manly cOlored men. The crafty leaders of
the Democratic party have succeeded III arrdigning
large m jority of tLe wne voters against the cO0red
meu--;nc Arso-saxon race against the African race
md the Anglo-Saxon has trumpled. Unless we can
divide tn white vote the South viii be forever solid
against the Republican party"
But You tlNlNc t.c NHicS ana hOlU lHe tolOTtu
vote ~
"Crrtainly II the right steps are taken. 1t was at
first suppos, by that - giving the coored men
the ballot a Republican party composed mainly OF
colOred could control such States as South Caro-
lima Mississippi ana louisiana where they were largely
in jprity
Those reasoned thus forgot that the Anso-saxon
docs not permit any other where he is If he
can prevent IT. The Republicans of the North have
done much strengthen the coored voters, but have
done very little 10 reach the whites The General
Government expended through the Freedmen's Bureau
nearly Sc OO0, 900 educate the coored people; and
Northera boJeyoeut soceiies have expended for the
some pufp,se $lO00O.OO0 and expendIug
nearly II 100000 annually; and nearly all these con
triOutons come from publican sources lrepeat
that up tbs little bas been done to convert
Southern whites 10 Republican ideas although very
much has been done to improve condition of the
tpat so much has been done for the coOrcd people
Iregtet hat effort has not been made 10 convert
"HoN 10 Won propose TO divide the whtesr
Ito answer you iuc.hgeItiv IT will be necessary to
hear IN mind that South practical foreign cOun-
try. is evil cation is entirely unlike that OF the North
That of the North modern American. Christian that
OF The south Is ari,tocrallc endai. me keppl can
party The repre- sentative Of American ieas TIC Dem
Ocrat party controlled us II ls' ny the arstociauc
lead OF The South, is the representative OF lhe fendd
ideas OF these Southern leaders The southern whites
NAV be divided intO two ciasses-the 1Ornter save
holding class. numbering less than 2OVOoOO ana me
non-s ayeholdug class numbering more than 100000
The Shareholders may he divided INTO two casseS-hO'e
III
less than lN. The former numb ring les, Than loooO
were the rulers OF the sOuih l"cy were '.c en VINO
controlled The Nation before the war; ana theS lhauSu
rated the rebellion. ., - a., $3.50,
slavery controversy which cOnYulscd the Nation Tor
many Seais n % 'o f me ,"n anohsLe slavery
and epfranchised the freedmen cannot reasonably
expect many converts 10 Repubiicansm from the old
siavenolding class, and particularly from toe rning
class who Impoverished py the war; ms they say
by tue Republican parry But the noDs,"seoPiders
as the negroes. Many OF them now understand TINS and
all may be convinced We should systematically reach
benefited Oy the triumph of Republican principles ~
the south; should remDd them OF tine fact that the
South has been ruled by the siaVchoiders III h ,vI
est of class alone. No free schools were established
ted 10 oand and cndow colleges where Children of
the Shareholders educated As result tne chi
and this class was extremely poor ana lghoraht since
the close of the war the ola sye t ars'0cI bay
opposed free school; ara have fSinse oS
maintenance. although than hal Of The population
above ten years OF age are unable 10 read ana wre.
pie The advocates OF free schools ana thus d'lde TIE
"why have so few of this non-sla veholding class
Joined The Repubcan party since the close OF tne war
- For many reasons. They have been taught TO look
upon the Republican parry az allegro parry They
have only the party that abolished slavery
and made the ncei" Gie5', .me hem t va o ne
negro. drew the color line, ana proclaim me Demo-
crate party The %hle nan P par anu u Io ate
the Narth and they ioSAea upon ne ,t par
the Representative OF NoTtut'H iiitiV
has been made 10 reach This class by Northern or sodl
ern Republican leaders"
"Why do oeheye that IT is now possible to gain
converts 10 Republcauism from tiis class T.
Because have settled the negro questions, and
may eli upon the discussion questions OF great i'm
pOriance both to cOlored ana 10 the whites Of the
Eouth. and especially this nOnslavehOding 1t Is
useless discuss the questions that have been settled
OF stand by what we have done. and point
with pride To glorious record bur may dis
cuss qu sons important 10 all citizens The great need
is men 40 ability to discuss these questions
This is a great missionary heidaDd laborers
The educated Southern men generally opposed
our prInc.pes and Of the CHILDREN beng edu-
Gated hate Republicans and Republican ideas; hence
fhe necessity, tGe present OF sendiug Northern
sDeakers TO South aid the workers already the
AID Rut We must educate Southern Republican hordes.