Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-25
Anti-Bourbonism in Georgia.

WASHINGTON, January 2l.-Ihe
important fact discussed quietly in
the highest political circles tonight
is the determination by the President
to lend his aid to the independent
movement in Georgia, and to recog-
nize as its leaders not the old worn-
out Republican bourbons, but the
respectable and respected liberals
who propose overturning both the
bourbon machines. There has been
great deal of speculation as to what
the President would do in this matter
ever since the announcement was
made in these dispatches that
an organized Independent movement
was probable in Georgia next fall.
Bourbon Republicans who were here
said that they had no doubt that the
President, stalwart OF the North,
would do all in his power for the
stalwarts of the South. Liberals
who were here said that Arthur, the
friend and supporter of Malone,
would, they doubted not, aid, by
every means in his power, any move
ment in any Southern States similar
to that which Malone headed in Vir-
ginia.
Despite their confident utterances,
both sides doubted as to the course
which the President would pursue
The Liberals were right.
A prominent colored Republican
politician, an applicant for an impor-
tant postofice in Georgia, called on
the Presid, Mt to-day. In the conver
sation, while the applicant was pre>
senting his claims for the Office, the
proposed liberal movement came up,
He pooh-poohed it. The men who
were at the bottom of it were princi-
pally Democrats or assistant Demo
Gratis. One Democrat was as good as
another Democrat and no better. He
thought that any movement against
the Democracy had better begin
within the Republican party lines,
and that being his view he was op-
posed to the proposed independent
movement.
The President listened quietly
until he had concluded, and then
said in substance: ''You, and men
like some of your color, and all of
your stripe of politics, had control Of
every Southern State from 1868
to 1876. In 1868 these States were
placed in your hands. With the
proper management you might have
controlled them unto this day. As a
matter of fact, how many do you
control to-day? ?"
"Not one, admitted his inter
locuter.
"No, not one" resumed the Pres
ident. "You lost them ali one by
one. You proved yourselves incap
able of holding those States wher
they were placed bodily in you1
grasp. Do youthink you are capable
of regaining what you SO allowed te
slip through your fngerse Do yor
think you can elect Governor mex
fall if you should nominated
If" began the colored gentleman
hesitatingly, ''we had the prope
protection we might.
Eyes, that's just it, said the Pres
ident quickly: could you do it b,
yourselves, as these men say the,
CAM"
mo, reluctantly admitted the col
ored gentleman, I'VE could not
"Then,' said the President, unit
with the men who can. have mad
up my mind that a permanently de
feated Republican party is of ittl
value in any State North or South
and that if any respected body o
men wage war on the bourbon De
mocracy-the victors over the Repuh
lican party in the South in every con
test-in the hope and with reason
able prospects of success, they shoul'
be supported by every enemy of tn
bourbons North or South.
"There is one other thing yo1
want to remember, and that is tina
men do not fight without hope G
reward. Ii these men are to con
quer the burbons, they will want th
offices of their States, and the
ought to have them"