Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-30
PRINCIPLES and Men.

The people and the Democracy OF
Chatham county should bear in mind
that in the present legislative campaign
they are engaged in no ordinary contest
Ifit were simply party contest it would
be only necessary to remind them of the
time-honored Democratic motto, ''Prin-
ciples, not Men" But in this contest,
where Democratic supremacy and the
sovereignty of the people are both able
at stake, we can well urge upon them to
adopt the motto principles and Men"
That Democratic principle in its high
est sense is involved, there can be no dis
pute. When the party held its first
meeting at the Theatre last Monday
week, tho ruling spirit that controlled
its action was opposition to bossism and
the dIctatiOn of one man. They felt that
it was degrading to their manhood that
any one citizen or any ring Of citizens in
this community could have the power
to thrust cut and dried programme OF
his or their own preparation down the
throats of the free sovereign voters Of
this enlightened community. They de.
termined, therefore, not to submit to
any such tyranny, and they resolved to
assert themselves and their rights and
power. They did so, and the result
is well known. The opposition, when
they found themselves defeated so over
whelmingly, should, like good citizens
and good Democrats, have ckeerfullY
yielded acquiescence to the will of the
majority. But, no. They had waxed
fat, and they kicked. So long as they
could not rule they determined, if posi-
bic, to ruin, and so they arrOgantly defed
the Democratic party, placed ticket of
their own in the field, and flung down
the gage of battle. The Democracy of
Chatham promptly took it up, and now
it remains with them to decide whether,
after so doing, they will go down before
their enemies, or whether they will
rise in their might and force
these enemies to fall on their
knees and sue for terms of
peace. If the Democracy of Chatham
determine to make their power felt they
can do so. If they assert their strength,
it must prove invinclble against factious
opposition.
But in addition to this ques-
ton of Democratic principle, the
interests of the community are involved
ia this campaign, and, in this connection,
it is incumbent upon the voters to con-
slider also the personnel of the ticket pre-
sented to them by the Democratic party.
On this ticket are gentlemen whose
ability and fitness for the Legislature
cannot be questioned. They are property
holders and therefore are personally in
terested in the welfare of the county.
They are representative men, they
fore, and understand fully the
wants of every class of our
citizens. They are intelligent men,
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laws suitable to the necessities of the
community in which they live. They
will not legislate specially for any one
individual, nor for any one class of
individuals, but they will devote their
time, energies and talents to the benefit
of all. In other words, they will fully
represent the people and will legislate
for the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der.
This then is the issue presented to the
people and intelligence of Chatham
county in the legislative contest in which
they are now engaged. Democratic
principles and good, true representative
men are offered to them for their suf
frages. 1t is their duty to vindicate the
one and stand up in solid phalanx in sup
port of the other Let them but do this,
and the integrity of the party will be
preserved, and the dignity and manhood
of the people will be sustained.