Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-09
Independentism in GeorgIa.

In brief editorial article, published
in these columns on Saturday, allusion
was made to the exertions now being
put forth by the hopeless Republican
minority in Georgia, allied with few
disconnected political Democratic Mi
cawbers to create the impression IN
Washington that the State is ripe for
Mahoneization, and that with the as
slstance of the Federal administration,
movement in that direction would be
successful. These malcontents may sue
coed IN so far as they may induce Mr..
Arthur to lend his assistance to the &C
complishment of their designs, but be-
yOnd this there is nothing to indicate
that they will not meet with woful
failure.
In the first place. there is literally no
political grouGd in Georgia to furnish
any foothold for a Malone movement.
The basis principle of Mahoneism is re-
pudiation. Thanks to Providence and
the energy of her people, Georgia's debt
is small; her bonds command a good
premium; her credit is high, and her
citizens propose to keep it So So it
may be regarded as a settled fact that
no party having reputation as the motto
upon its banners can hope to succeed in
the Empire State of the South.
In the next place, should Mr.. Arthur
attempt to control any election in Geor-
gia by means of Federal interference it
would, of itself, prove death blow to
the prospects Of any party basing their
hopes upon such a reliance. Virginia
escaped the horrors of reconstruction so
lightly that a large number of her white
citizens were ready to forget them when
Malone held out, as the price of such
fOrgetfulness, a tightening of the bur
dens of taxation, under which her people
grOaned, through the medium Of repudia-
ton. But not so with Georgia. She
has passed through the fiery furnace of
carpet bagism and negro domination too
thoroughly and too recently for the
hOrrid membranes of those days to be
easily obliterated. 1t was too hideOus
an experience to be readily forgotten, and
the very idea of Federal interference in
the domestic affairs of this State-the
main stay and support of BullOckism
and Radical misrule in former days-is
even now enough to send a SILVER
through the soul of every respectable
AMI loyal Georgian.
But, apart from all this, the election
held in Georgia less than two years ago
should be convincing to the Federal ad-
mlnistratiOn, the fragmentary indie
pendent faction in the State, and the
country at large, that opposition to the
Democratic party in Georgia IS in the
~ature of q fOrlOrn hope. Never was
there in any State more determined at
tempt made to secure the defeat Of the
regular Democracy and the success Of
the Independents, than was made in
Georgia during the last GubernatOrial
campaign. The Democratic administra-
ton of Governor Colquitt was scanned
on the stump and through the press with
the most earnest eagerness for flaws,
and when one, real or imaginary, was
found, no effort was spared to widen
it into a serious breach, and thereby ex
cite prejudice and dissatisfaction. Every
element in the State likely to prove
available to secure success was appealed
to. Mr. Norwood, himself a Democrat,
an ex-Democratic United States Senator,
and a gentleman whose ability cannot be
questioned, personally visited every sec
ton of the State making the most earnest |
appeals to the people in behalf of the
cause he represented, and in these efforts
he was ably seconded by many of the
best minds in Georgia. Yet all proved |
unavailing. The Independents received
Waterloo defeat, and the regular
Democracy scored a triumph considered
overwhelming, even in this State of over
whelming Democratic majorities.
II malcOntent movement, organized, |
supported and worked for, as was that
Of the last State campaign, failed, we
cannot see upon what possible grounds |
independents. Mahoneites, indictments,
or by whatever other name they may be |
called, can hope for success now, when |
the Democracy of Georgia is united, the |
State, under its benign rule, is prosper
ing, amicable relations exist between |
the races, and all classes of our people |
are contented and happy. We venture |
the assertion that if an independent cam |
palgn is organized in Georgia for next |
fall, it will be conducted chiefly in
Washington, and will be more heard of |
in the national capital than at home. And |
while a few Of the mslcOntents may
secure Federal Office to help the cause
along, as was the case IN Virginia |
where, to aid in fastening reputation on
that State, battle scared Federal vete- |
rams were displaced, and their offices |
filed by ex-COnfederate Readjusters-
1t will, in the end, amount to nothing. |
The tremendous majority which Gov
ernor Colquitt received in 1880 will |
dwindle into insignifcance compared |
with the shower of votes by which the
Independents will be showed under" in
1882.
Accnrdinn To the Ct Ionic nannrs