Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-03
PrImarIes ThIs week-Duty Of inc

in every county should at
tend the meetings. so that delegates
who will ihtelligently. honestly
and faithfully carry out the
wishes Of the people, may be
chosen. BY that means only can it be
made certain that good men will be
sent to. Congress who viii reflect
credit upon their commonwealth
and zealously guard the welfare
of our people in the lower house of the
Federal Legislature Only in this way
can our politics be successfully elevated
above the control of rings. cl.ques and
bosses. and cut and dried programmes
be prevented.
SO far as the Gubernatorial delegates
are concerned, we desire to say one word
before the final action of the various
primaries to be held this week is taken.
We have, as our readers know, al
ready expressed the opinion that OF the
candidates who have been prominently
mentioned in connection with the GOV
orrorsbip. Hon. Alexander Fl. Stephens
has the decided advantage, and will re-
ceive the nonination. We believe that
the large majority of the Democracy of
the State will arrive at this determina-
ton for the following reasons: Mr.. Ste
phens has been identified with Georgian
public life for nearly half century. He is
truly about the last link which now
binds the past of our commonwealth
with her present, and when one in the
position he occupies is DESTROYS that bis
fellow citizens should round of half
century spent in their service with
Gubernatorial honOrs, it is most natural
that his desire should be acceded to.
Thousands of men in Georgia regard
this wish of Dir. Stephens as laudable
ambition. and think that the bestowal
upon him of the Governorship would be
hitting and appropriate close to his
long political career.
This feeling gives Mr.. Stephens
personal following in the State which is
conceded to be very strong. 1t was upon
his influence that Speer, FELTON,, the
Independents generally, and President
Arthur also, relied for mahoneizing
the State, and this is why
Mr.. Stephens was recently offered
the Independent nomination for
Governor. 1t cannot be denied that
had he accepted that nomination, ard
antagonized the Democratic party, he
would have caused great trouble. Not
only would his personal influence have
made itself felt, but he would have given
a dignity and respectability to the indie
pendent movement which it has never
enjoyed and which now it cannot enjoy.
We do not believe that, had he accepted
the Independent nomination, he
would have been able TO
have defeated the Democracy
but be would certainly have been the
means of bringing on severe and bitter
warfare. IN which the party would have
been more divided, and its final disruption
far more dangerously threatened than was
the case during the unfortunate Colaultt.
Norwood contest two years ago. The
fact. then, that Mr.. Stephens pos
sesses great. personal strength in
Georgia; that he might have used such
strength with serious effect against his
party, but that he refused to
do so. OF allow himself to DE used as a
tool TO demoralize the Democracy and
mahoneize his State-all these are de.
cidedly in his favor, and aft ord another
very powerful reason why he should be
accorded the GubernatOrial nomination
at the hands of his fellow Democrats.
Again the Democracy have at this
time special reason to act with great
wisdom and prudence. Never before in
the history of the party has it had more
cause to avoid internal dissersions and
present steady undivided front to the
foe. The Radicals concede that they
will meet with losses in the North this
fall, and their only hope to maintain
control of Congress is to Offset such
losses by gains from this section-the
result of Mahoneism in the Southern
States. The Democracy should see to it
that these Radical hopes are disap
pointed, and they should not allow
Federal patronage or anything else to
influence them to consent to divi
sions in their ranks. The nomina-
ton OF Mr.. Stephens will ensure
Democratic unity in Georgia, and will
crush oct Independentism so completely
that to believe it would lead to the re-
turn of ten straight out organized Demo.
Gratis as Representatives to the Forty.
eighth Congress from the Empire State
of the South. This fact alone is sufh
Gent to fully justify Mir. Stephens being
selected by the Democratic Convention,
TO be held in Atlanta on the 10Th inst,
as the standard bearer of the party.
We trust the primaries to be held to-
morrow and during the remainder of the
week will weigh carefully these matters.
and instruct their delegates accordingly
What Mr. Stephens has done il the
past &C which his party does not
approve belongs r. the past. The
present is all with which
we have NOW to do, and harmony. unity
snd victory for the party are thefrst OBJ
jects to be sought for. We believe Mr..
Stephens nomination viii secure all
these, aud while we will cordially sup
port any nominee who may be selected
by the Democracy of Georgia. we are
impelied by zeal for the welfare of the
Democratic party to express the hope
that the great commoner' will be Tho
weli,nigh HnaniEsous choice of the At
lsnta Convention,
Tie frorost.r