Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-23
Hin Va FELTON,.

4nC EEldAOA 4Attas
published Saturday, in reply to the seri-
Gus charges of a lack of political princi-
pie. recently made against him by Rev.
DR.. FELTON,, was undeniably an admira-
bic document. 1t was written in dig
niied and quiet, but incisive strain, so
entirely different from Mr.. Hills usual
style when engaging in alterations OF
this character, as to disappoint great
many who expected a torrent of wither-
ing iuvective, such as the Senator can
indulge in, against the reverend indepen
dent leader. Indeed, it was no doubt
earnestly hoped-and 1t may be even
prayed for-by Rev. FELTON, and
his friends that Mr.. Hill would
have been goaded into indulging in
an outburst of passion, since the
passionate man. who writes or speaks
unrestrainedly, is always indiscreet,
and is apt not only to excite g
feeling against him more or less to his
injury, but a'sO, through want Of due
reflection. to leave himself open to sue
cessful attack. Mr.. Hill was therefore
wise in beng careful and dignifed, and
in not permitting himself to be carried
away by his feelings into rashness.
Why Mr.. Hill should, so fortunately
for himself, have so widely departed
from his usual course in this instance,
and instead of pouring out the walls of
his wrath upon DR.. Felton's head, have re-
piled so eveI temperedly, but effectively,
to his clerical antagonist, is matter of
somewhat curious conjecture. Perhaps
he felt that there was too much of truth
in his reverend opponents charges
against him of political vacillation for
him to risk rashness. He even admits
that there was ground for the statement
that he had, at times, been wanting in
stern and strict loyalty to his party, for
he cOufesses that at the risk of mourning
the displeasure of lis constituents and
political friends, he had, time and again,
taken up the cudgels in behalf of the
champion independent evangelist But
then again it may have been that he really
did regret the breaking up of a close
friendship with Rev Dr. FELTON,, which
he states had been of forty years stand
ing, and perhaps it was this which dis
armed his passion and made him, as he
says, write more in sorrow than in an
ger"
Whether these conjectures as to Mr..
Hills course in writing his letter are OF
are not correct, however, one thing is
certain. His reply was all the more ef-
fective and singing because of its calm
ness, and will undoubtedly tend to
unite the Democracy of Georgia more
firmly than ever in opposition to the
mongrel Radical Independent movement.
Nor will this be the only good effect
which it will produce. 1t will eff
fectually tend to keep Mr.. Hill fixedly
in the Democratic harness during the
campaign of next fall, and his &C
knowledged talents will, at that time, at
least. be devoted not to the
encouragement of independentism, out
to advancing the success cf the party
which has so highly IGNORED him in the
past. He has placed himself unreservedly
and ir-eyocablY alongside Of Ex-Governor
Brown and Hon. a II. Stephens, and
this guarantees exactly the result which
Mr.. Hill alludes to 10 his reply, viz: The
presentation by the Democracy of an
unbroken front against a common foe.