New-York tribune., 1882-04-12
7Ur crORGI4 INDEPENDENTS

The Anti Bourbon movement in Georgia
seems to be gaining ground steadily and
sur ely. Its leaders do not make much noise,
but they keep quietly at work and succeed Ill
attracting the attention of the people. Their
principal spokesman, ex-Congressman FELTON,,
is making speeches in different parts of the
Slate, and is greeted everywhere with large
and thoughtful audiences. He spoke recently
in Savannah before very large assemblage, and
while the Bourbon editors were able to ridiculc
his speech to the length of a column, they were
prudent enough not to print word OF the
speech itself A careful perdsal of the speech
convinces us of the wisdom of this course. Ii
was one Of those speeches which make votes
thoughtful filed with striking demonstrations
of the evils of Bourbon rule and impressive
with appeals for the advancement of Georgia
to a level with the civilization of to-day. One
of the Bourbon editors remarks that the speech
was received with great solemnity and with
few demo nstrations of pleasure. We should
have been surprised to hear that it had been
received in any other way. If there is anything
which is calculated TO cast gloom over an in
teligent audience, it is a correct description OF
Bourbonsm in Georgia, or any other Southern
State, as it exists to-day If Georgians them
selves begin to realize the melancholy aspects
OF the situation, the day for regeneration is not
far oft.
A large part Of Mr.. FeltOn's speech was de-
voted to State questions, but the most in
terestng portion of it to people outside
Georgia was its references to National ques-
tons. On these he was as sound as he was
fearless and unequivocal. "What objection"
he asked, "can any Georgian have to the
"doctrine that every ballot cast at an cleo
ton should represent the individual con-
victions of the voter, rather than the COM
"mand of a supreme caucus9 What objection
L" can any man have to that grand essential of Il
L free government free ballot and fair count
" of all the votes honestly cast at State or
National election 2" Nobody except Rourbons
ever objected to that doctrine, and they object
because on fair count they will be put out of
power. "What party" continued Mr.. FELTON,,
objects to the payment OF honest debts
" Who objects to tariff for revenue with ample
encouragement and incidental protection to
" all home industres7 Who in Georgia will
insist that the National Government is not the
supreme authority. and has the first claim to
"our obedience7 What Georgian will object
to plain English education for every child in
~ the State both white and cOlOred !"
No true Georgian, or true American any
where, can find aught to disapprove in these
principles. They are the very foundation of
our greatness and prosperity; they have built
up the North, and they will build up the South
Just as soon as her people adopt and live up to
them. There is no other way for Georgia or
any other Southern State to prosper, or to catch
up with the North So long as political pro-
scription and false counting are practised in
the South, just so long will the Southern States
be Stunned by both men and capital The evil
must be rooted out at home and by such move
ments as this which Mr.. FELTON, is leading in
Georgia. The BourbOns, with their intoler-
ance, tissue ballots, rifle clubs and red Shirts
must be overthrown and a firm stand taken by
the people of the State OH the side of old-fash-
ioned honesty in all things. Then new day
will dawn upon the South.