Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-30
Rev. Felton,. n.D.-His Speech.

issues of the day. A good audience as
sembled to hear him, many doubtless
from curiosity and many others in the
hope of hearing him descant learnedly
upon the history, principles, etc.,
of the two great parties of the
country, so that they might clearly
understand the teachings Of those
parties, and be the better enabled
hereafter Ito express it biblically) to give
a reason for the faith that is in them.
Many others still doubtless expected to
hear a regular political sermon, and this
class must have largely predominated'
for had they really been in church the
assemblage could hardly have been more
orderly. From the beginning nearly TO
the end of his discourse the speaker was
listened to in almost solemn silence, and
when every now and then some
enthusiastic brother would rash
" disturb the sOlemnity OF
the occasion by thoughtless rapping
upon the floor with his cane, he was in
stantly awed again into quietude, and
soon the monotonous sound OF the
reverend gentleman's voice alone broke
uponthe stiffness of the scene. The oc-
casion was indeed, for the most part, so
solemn and churchlike that had the rev
erend speaker invited any one OF
the brethren present to conclude the ser
vices with an appropriate prayer, or had
he called upon the congregation to unite
with him in singing the long-metre doT-
ology, no establishment whatever could
have been felt.
1t may, therefore, readily be imagined
how great and universal was the disap
pointment experienced. The reverend
gentleman neither preached sermon IN
which he deduced moral lessons from
the corrupt state of our politics, nor did
he utter warning, based upon his per
sonal experience, against the snares and
pitfalls which beset the path of the
youthful and innocent politician. He did
not even deliver an instructive
lecture upon the political principles
which form the cornerstone of the re
public. He spoke Feltonism pure and
simple, and confined himself to the
enunciation of the Heterogeneous doctrines
which, after much labor and travail, the
Feltonite caucus lately assembled in At
lanta strung together aud dignifed by
the name of platform. A glance at this
instrument, therefore, will give very
fair idea of his discourse.
This platform, prOnunciamento, or by
whatever name it may be called, begins
by naively declaring, first of all, that nei-
Their the Democratic nor the Republican
party as at present organized is &C
ceptable to the disciples of FeltOnism.
It then declares in favor of certain &C
kuowledged Democratic principles, such
as honesty in meeting all obligations,
public and private, the political freedom
of all citizens and their enjoyment of all
political rights. 1t then, however, pro-
ceeds to advocate certain well known
Republican ideas, such as the supremacy
of the Federal over State governments,
and the right of the General Govern
ment to exercise paternal supervision over
the education of the embryo citi-
zens of any State. In other words,
it is simply a conglomeratiOn of
ideas gathered from the oft-enunciated
principles Of both the Democratic and
Republican parties-s political streak of
fat and streak of lean, as it were. Or,
to express it more dignifedly, and after
the manner of st. Paul, at whose feet
DR. Felton, has, it is to be imagined, been
reared-evel as that eminent apostle was
himself brought up at the feet of CANA
liel-the reverend Doctor and his follow
ers desire ''to be all things to all men,"
Without intending any disrespect TO
the cloth, we cannot resist the impress
sion that in formulating this Democrat
co Republican platform, the reverend
gentleman who was the leading and
moving spirit of the Atlanta caucus
was actuated by selfish motives rather
than from desire 10 purify our politics
We, therefore, cannot but think that had
the preamble to the Feltonite Atlanta
/ platform read, Whereas we have aban-
dOued all hope Of securing any office
whatever under either the Democratic
or Republican party. as at present organ
| lied, therefore be it resolved, etc" it
would have more honestly and truth
fully contained the real views and ideas
of its trainers Nevertheless we opine
that the voters of Georgia will
have no difficulty in seeing through
the designs of the promoters of
this new movement, and We predict now
its woful failure. Democrats will none
of 1t, not only because they are too
firmly welded to the teachings of the
old party with which they have so long
been identified, but, as citizens, they have
seen Georgia flourish and prosper under
Democratic rule, and, like wise and pru-
dent men, they propose to ''let well
enough alone" Neither will straight
out Republicans give the movement
their Endorsement, as it invites them to
a dish of exceedingly tough crow, since
its platform declares their par
ty unworthy of trust, and be-
sides enunciates certain principles
to which they have eyer displayed bit
ter antagonism. Mr.. FELTON, and his fol-
lowers then, having the support Of
neither Democrats nor Republicans, will
be in the position of the unfortunate in
dividual, who, refusing to occupy either
of two stools offered him, fell down be-
tween them, and was forced to extricate
himself, as best he might, from his en-
barrassing pFedicament
1t may be accepted as an axiom, which
is being freshly exemplifed by the sure
disiutegration now going on in the ranks
of the MahOneites of Virginia, that there
can exist but two great parties in this
Union. DR.. FELTON, will, therefore, find
that, even should he secure the influence
of Mr.. Arthur and his entire administra-
ton, it would prove powerless to save