Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-14
Ex.Gorernor Smith on the COALITION.

to forget past differences, to present an
unbroken front to the foe in the cam
paign of next fall. Senators Brown and
Hill and Representative Stephens have
already given proof Of the truth OF this
position by the promptness with which
they have aligned themselves on the
Democratic side, although doubtless
when Rev. DR.. FELTON, first inaugurated
his independent coalition movement he
calculated on receiving aid and comfort
from some, if not all, of these gentlemen.
Now we have additional evidence from
the remarks recently made in Atlanta by
Ex-Governor J. NJ Smith, that the party
will be thoroughly united against the
success of the schemes Of the reverend
Independent.
It will be remembered that the ex-
| Governor acted heart and soul with the
faction which last year supported Mr..
Norwood, and was probably the ablest
speaker on the stump who affiliated with
the opposition against Gov. Colquitt. 1t
was the bitterness which characterized
that campaign, on both sides, that led
Rev. DR.. FELTON, and his Republican al
lies to believe that there was large ele-
ment. composed of such men as the ex-
Governor. within the Democratic ranks
which would gladly welcome any new
departure. and which would willingly
assist in widening any breach in the
party which might be precipitated. In
other words, Rev. DR.. FELTON, manifestly
labOred under the impression that the
supporters of Mr.. Norwood, while al
ways declaring themselves to be straight
out Democrats, were nevertheless ready
and willing, at any time that opportunity
offered, to become Independent Demo
Gratis"
The reverend doctor naturally believed
that he had some just ground for jump
ing at this conclusion, inasmuch as the
Norwood faction had telegraphed him,
before putting Mr.. Norwood in the field,
requesting him to lead them. 1t was
not unreasonable, therefore, for the rev.
erend politician to imagine that, at least,
some portion of Mr.. Norwood's friends
would be once more willing to place
themselves under his leadership. So far,
however, all indications point to the
fact that he has calculated without
his host most decidedly. Ex-Governor
Smith plainly shows this when he says
that the Democracy during the last cam
paign merely had family quarrel, and,
confident in its overwhelming strength
and careless of opposition, divided into
two factions" But he continues to say
regarding these factions, that ''theY
simply disagreed on personal questions
and certain points of minor importance, "
but "they both loved and revered the
Democratic party, the record that 1t had
made in Georgia. and the principles on
which it is based, and will readily unite
when 1t is threatened by outside assault"
He then expresses the opinion that it
would be wise in the party to nominate
for Governor in the next race man who
was not particularly prominent on either
side of the last campaign, lest the preju-
dices then excited might exert an inau-
ence in the future.
These sentiments of Ex-Governor
Smith will, we doubt not, in the main,
be heartily echoed by the adherents of
both the factions which so unfortunately
divided the Georgia Democracy last
year. We go further than the ex-Gov-
ernOr, however. and confidently express
the belief that in the face of the assault
threatened upon the Democracy by the
Independent Radical cohorts of Rev. DR..
FELTON,, no matter who is nominated,
whether he is man prominent in either
the Colquitt or Norwood ranks, the
Democratic voters of Georgia will allow
no prejudices excited by last years
campaign to influence them, but will
unite as one man in support of
the regular nominee. They realize fully
the truth of what Ex-Governor Smith
again says when he declares that the
success of the coalition would be in
every way detrimental to Georgia's in
terest, and would simply remand the
control of affairs IN the State to the
hands of the Republicans. This would
mean, as the ex- Governor fOrcibly puts
it, a revival of the old race issues, and
the Inauguration of schemes of extrava-
gance which would lead to the insecurity
of property and damage to the public
credit, since, ''this is the record the Re
publican party made when It was in
power before, and sit would be repeat
| ed if it were put in power now. With
the negroes and the Republicans again in
control of the State, we should have i'm
migration checked, capital would cease
to seek investment within our borders,
and we should quickly lose the progress
we have made since the State was re-
claimed from their hands"
We repeat, then, that the vast majority
of the people of Georgia will fully ap-
preciate the truth of what Mr. Smith
here says, and will regard the success of
the FELTON, coalition as merely the aces
sion once more to power in this State of
Republican and negro rule with all its
attendant evils. The failure of that coal
itiOn, therefore, Is already doomed, and
should any young and aspiring politi
clan, impatient of delay at his elevation
at the hands of the Democracy, blindly
rush into Rev. DR.. Felton's arms at this
time, he will make the political mistake
of his life. He will henceforth be class
ed as a Republican and an enemy Of the
Democracy, and no matter how vocifer-
ously he may shout Bourbon" he Will
find that it will not save him. His politi-
cal career will certainly receive a set
back of many years, if it is not entirely
blighted; for one thing is certain, the
people of Georgia are fully determined
that nothing which bears the faintest
faint of Radicalism shall ever again meet
with favor in the Empire State of the