Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-01
The FeltOn.HflI ImbroglIO.

1t has been announced that Senator
Hill has determined to make no reply
to the last letter of Rev. DR.. Felton, and
so it is to be presumed that the contro-
versy is concluded. This determination
of Mr.. Hill is not to be wondered at.
There is no doubt that he has, in the
mast laid himself liable to the attacks
made upon him by his reverend antago-
mist. and cannot successfully reply to
them. He has undoubtedly done
much to foment independentism in
Georgia, for, as he admits, he, on
several occasions. jeopardized his stand
ing with his Democratic constituents to
assist DR.. FELTON, in his numerous con
tests with the regular Democracy, and it
Is a matter of record that he has, more
than once, either presided at '1nde-
pendent" meetings, or appeared on the
stage with Independent" leaders, and SO
acted as If he was their friend and ally.
When DIR. FELTON,, therefore, charges
upon Mr.. Hill that his own Democracy
is not altogether free from faint, and
that. therefore. he is not exactly in posi-
ton to appear before the State as the
special champion of the Democratic
party, the reverend politician speaks
enough of truth to force Mr.. Hill to the
conclusion that in this case discretion is
the better part of valor, and that the
true motto for him to adopt is ''the least
said the sooner mended.
That this controversy has ended as 1t
has is no cause of regret. 1t has done
good, however, in that it has opened the
eyes of the people of the State to the fact
that the Independents of Georgia rely
for success in their conflict with the
Democracy only upon a coalition with
the Radicals, and that the disguise of
"Jeffersonian Democracy" which they
have assumed is exceedingly fimsy, and
adopted only to deceive the thoughtless
and unwary, and lead them into the
ranks of Radicalism-in other words,
that they are nothing more nor less than
wolves in sleeps clothing. And while it
has had this effect. it has also tended,
equally as clearly, to expose Mr.. Hills
political vacillations and tergiversations
in a stronger light than they have here
tofore been presented to the Georgia
Democracy, and shown that he is not
entitled to credentials as the leader and
champion of the Democratic party of the
State.
While the Felton-Hill imbroglio, there
fore, was simply and purely personal
alteration between two men, each de-
sirOus of advocating his individual in
terests and ambitious designs-and so
was really a matter in which the public
at large had no special interest, and felt
no desire to see continued-it has been
productive Of some benefit, and has a so
fixed the present status of Mr.. Hill. He
is irrevocably bound to the Democratic
party during the coming campaign, at
least, since he has so far committed him
self to that policy that he cannot retreat
without complete DISQUALIFICATION.
He has placed himself alongside
of Hon. Joseph E. Brown, Hon.
A. H. Stephens and other acknowledged
leading minds of the State, and we may,
therefore, hope to see him next fall unit
ing his talents and energies with theirs
in bringing about the signal and whole
sale defeat Of the allied Independent
and Radical enemies of the Democracy.
This itself is a good point gained, for Mr..
Hill is certainly brilliant, if politically &C.
centric. Since, therefore, he cannot, dur
ing the next campaign, use his splendid
abilities to the encouragement of indie
pendentism, we will be able to present
solid Democratic front to the toe, and
Georgia will probably regain her lost
prestige as the banner Democratic State
of the South, if not of the Union.