Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-18
The Issues Before the Voters of the
First District.


First District.
In discussing the approaching Con-
gressional election in this district, to
take place on the 7th proximo, it is no.
uncommon matter for the principles
involved in the contest to be forgotten,
and for the two candidates who are
opposing each other for Congressional
honOrs to be alone the subject of com
ment. One man will vote for MIR. Atkins
because he likes him the better person
ally, while another will vote for Colonel
Nichols for the same reason. Thus 1t
would seem that among number of our
citizens the true Importance of the present
Congressional contest is wholly lost sight
of, and the real issue is sunk in mere
personalism.
There is something of far more i'm
portance involved in this contest than
personalism, and that is principle. 1t is
not merely Col. Nichols nor Mr.. Atkins
for whom the voters will be called upon
to express their preferences on the day
of the election The one represents
Radicalism, pure and simple. He feels
no personal or material interest in the
district, but merely wishes to occupy
seat in Congress so that he may swell the
ranks of the Republican party in that
body. He has no valid claim upon the
people of the district for their suffrages,
and so he relies for success
only upon the purchase of votes with
portion of Jay Hubbel's corruption
fund, the influence of the Federal ad-
ministration IN his behalf, and arousing
race prejudice. The other is life long
resident of the district, and a representa-
tive of that party which is identified
with its wealth, intelligence and prosper.
itY-the old line Democracy. He has no
Jay Hubbell fund at his back. He comes
not before the people as a chronic Office
holder and Office seeker, propped up by
al administration which has made
itself odious, even in Northern Repub-
fcan strongholds, by its interference
with State affairs. He does not seek
election by arraying race against race,
but rather he calls upon all good cIti-
zens. white and black, who truly desire
the maintenance of the welfare and pros
perity of the district, the South and the
country, to support the principles and
the party of which he is the representa-
tive and the standard bearer.
The real issue, then, with which the
people of the cold First ere confronted
Is the same one which they have so often
passed upOn-DemocracY VS.. Radical
ism. The personnel of the two candi-
dates is not involved in the contest. The
only question to be decided is, shall the
district be represented in the Federal
Legislature by the P publican party
which has never yet borne sway in the
South without inflicting baleful misfor-
tune upon her, and indeed whose fOunda-
ton stone is hatred of our section and
our people or by the Democracy, under
whose benign rule the whole South has
prOspered, Georgia has risen from the
very dust to her present proud position
in the family of States, and which is.
literally and emphatically, home party.
These are the main subjects presented
to the voters of this district, without re-
gard to race or color, for their considera-
ton. Let them reflect carefully and
seriously thereupon, and there can be no
doubt as to the issue. The next House
will be Democratic, and it would be a
positive stigma upon us if, at this time,
just when the North is becoming aroused
to the misrule and evil of Radicalism,
the people of the First Georgia district
should prove recreaDt to their record and
permit corruption funds, the power of
the Federal administration, or any other
influence, to induce them to consent to
be misrepresented in the FOrtY-eighth
Congress by Republican.