New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-15
BOURBON DISINTEGRATION.
THE REVOLT IN GEORGIA.


[PRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
WASHINGTON, May 13.-There is no State in which
the new tendencies that are showing themselves in
the Democratic party throughout the South are
more marked than they are in Georgia. 1t is plain
that times have changed there, when negro is ap-
pointed postmaster in especially intelligent COM
munity on the recommendation of a Democratic
Congressman; when one faction of the Democratic
party are charging that the other faction are respon
sible for the recent murder of white man by negro
because the members of the latter faction have
taught the negroes that they have rights which
even BOurbons Onght to respect; and when
one faction of the party not only proclaim that
they will protect the colorcd people in their rights
but look to them for political support. The an
nOuncement that Alexander Ii. Stephens will prob
ably be nominated rs n candidate for Governor
with the strong impression that if he is he will be
entirely Independent of the party leaders both as n
candidate and n Governor in case OF his election
increases the interest in this situation. If he runs
it will be rather as Alexander II. Stephens than
the Democratic candidate and the fact that the In
dependents show disposition to accept him
promptly is significant.
One Of the most prominent men in the Indepen-
dent movement is Congressman Speer, who bids fair
to play prominent part in the politics of the
SOulh. lie is a be rlless young man of thirtythree
who IS now serving his second term in the House.
and first ran for Congress when he was twenty
eight years old. He was prccOcious from the begin
ming, having been in the Rebel army at sixteen. He
is looked upon leader by many of the young
Democrats Of his State; and, although his district
gave 10 900 majority for Hancock. he carried 1t as
an Independent candidate for Congress by 1000 ma
jorty. lie voted with Alexander II. Stephens and Dr.
FELTON, in the XLVIth Congress against the political
riders, etc Mr. Speer on beng asked what he
thought of Mr.. Stephenss candidacy said promptly:
"He is my candidate. believe that if he is a
candidate, whether he is nominated by the Demo-
cratic Convention or not he will sweep the State.
lie will not engage in scramble for the office 1t
was his intention to retire altogether but the de-
mand for his services from the people of Georgia.
who are anxious to get from under the control of
the machine politicians is so general that don't
think he can refuse it,"
"Will he be taken up as a candidate as between
the factions ~
"No; not in that sense He is Independent enough
to suit the Independents. We know him, and know
that his administration will be fair, honorable and
pure. We know his liberal spirit and that he never
surrenders his independence to party dictatIon."
"To what extent is the Independent party ap-
poaching organization "
"There is no organized Independent party in
Georgia. I here are many Democrats, however,wh
are more liberal and more tolerant than many who
assume to lead that party, now as politi-
clans and now as journalists They are
men who are fully abreast of the times,
and expect great career for the South. They do
not look to the past, except to avoid its mistakes
and profit by its examples. They recognize fully the
legal status of the colored men. They are willing
TO accord TO them all the rights which the laws give
them aud to defend them III those rights. Mr..
Stephens's nomination would not, in my judgment,
be supported by the ulra-partisan Bourbon leaders
and journals of the State. If they should support
him il would be because they know that he would
beat them If they opposed him. and
they would support him grudgingly. /
notice that the Independent papers without
exception indorsc Mr.. Stephens, while the Bourbon
papers take to the idea very reluctantly The In
dependent people hold mass-meetng IN June and
nv information IL that they will put forward Mr..
Stephens then as candidate for Governor and com
mend him to the people. 1t is not at all unlikely
that when the Democratic Convention meets it will
nominate Mr. Stephens-just as the convention IN
his district does, after he has announced that he
will stand for Congress- and will do whether the
District Convention nOmnates him or not. Mr.
Stephens in my Judgment would get majority of the
white votes and all of the cOlored He is especially
endeared to colored people by his kindness OF heart
and his liberal policy"
"Is there a coalition in Georgia 7"
"There is no coalition between the Republicans
and the Independents there have the best means
of knowing this to be true. | see, however, from
the papers that the colored people have held very
large Convention in Macon, comprising many OF
their best and most reputable men, and have adopted
resolutions saying that they will support the lnde-
pendent candidates, if they are the right sort of
men. This was doubt representative Conyen-
tiOnp
Mr. Speer spoke very freely of the bitterness of
the Bourbons He said: "To show you how some
of the extreme partisans hate the purposes and
policy of the Independents, few weeks ago there
was an unfortunate difficulty in my town, i'll which
a young white man was killed by young colOred
man. Ii was an occurrence which might have hap
pened anywhere The extreme party papers in
G. orgia charged that murder to the Independent
movement and to my Independent candidacy for
Congress- and that charge has been sOwn broadcast
over the State. THE boy who did the killing was
only nineteen years old, had never voted, and, l
understand, was my political enemy; but
that did not not concern the esteemed
editors. They did not hesitate to charge me
and the people | represent with the responsibility
aud guilt of this murder, whereas | live IN one OF
the most refined communities in the South the
home of law and order The prime object of such
men is to crush out all independence of political
thought and action. They hate an Independent
worse than a Republican, because they know Re-
publican cannot hurt them and an Independent
"To do this such papers as The Macon Telegraph
and Messenger are willing to traduce character and
to mako the most brutal assaults upon
Independents In one paper, me Ban
ner- Watchmdn, published in my town, was
printed few days since what purported to be
communication proposing to send a man to wash
ington to Guiteau' me and show me the road that
Garfield lately travelled! l am careful. however,
to exonerate the people of Georgia from any
L lrnIn the