Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-04
The Duty of Georgia Democrats in
the Present Campaign.

Liberty, in its abstract significance, is
individual independence IN such mat
tiers as do not corceFn the interestsof
any one else, and in its relative bear
ing upon men, as members of societies,
it is the enjoyment Of the freedom per.
mitted by the obligations due tossociety
for the protection it affords. On these
principles governments for general wei
fare are organized, and under them, par
ties for the administration of govern
menk For as no two minds are cOnsti-
tuted alike in all respects, there must be
differences Of opinion as to the measures
requisite for securing the objects of gov
ernment-namely, life, liberty, and the
pursuite of happiness; and we are bound
I IN honor to assume that the diversities
of views are the opponents of honest
intentions.
These general civil and political maxims
are the conclusions of moral sense.
Hence it becomes a moral duty to sup
port our government so long as it fulflls
its contract with the people; and an i'm
perative moral obligation upon each citi
zen or subject to support zealously that
party which, according to his honest
convictions, will best secure the objects
of government. principles, not men,
is the motto of every true lover of liberty,
as the history of the human race teaches,
and in popular forms of government, it is
the axiom Of security for the perpetual
ton of Democratic Republican truths.
What, then, is the position of one desiring
to enter public life who proclaims him
self a member of one party, and yet
voluntarily assumes the leadership of
another party, whose object is to destroy
tn toto that party to which he &C
knowledge, allegiance? Where the con
sistency, the honor, the honesty, the
moral, of such course7 Yet the people
of Georgia are to day witnessing
such an exhibition of political hOcuS
poeus, and are called upon to choose be-
tween it and the integrity of political
consistency 10 profession and action.
From the adoption of our Federal
Constitution to the present time, the
Democratic party, by whatever name
known in the mutations wrought by
time, has ever supported it faithfully
in its text and spirit. 1t was this rigid
adherence to its provisions that resulted
in disastrous civil war, and now that
the war is determined, it is again
thriving with all its energy to reinstate
sound government, by putting down the
men who have been for twenty years
trying, with a reckless disregard of the
Constitution, to change the form and
Gntmus of our Federal Union. Are not
these statements facts, and have we put
them too strongly? Are not the people
throughout the length ard breadth of
the United States engaged in political
struggle involving the life of Democratic
Republjeanism2 They most assuredly are,
or the people of Georgia have been
strangely deluded. But there is no hal
lucination disordering our sensible per
ceptions, and the duty of every Demo
crat, who sincerely holds to principles
as our fundamental rule for civil and
political safety, to give his active, ear
nest support to the party that upholds
those principles by voting for the men
it has put in the field as their standard
bearers. We must remember that our
action now is preliminary to the great
contest awaiting us in the Presidential
election of 1884, and that Indifference
or divisions at this time will impair the
thorough organization that will then be
needed to assure US victory. There a
no middle course of safety for
Democrats. We must be true
to our party, or give al and
comfort to the Radicals by an 40.
stract indulgence of individual indie
pendence in matters concerning the in
terest of Democratic republican gov
eminent and liberty.
Mr.. Stephens is the exponent in this
State at this time of the National Democ-
racy that has made this country prosper
GUS and great. But what does General
Gartrell represent, protesting in
aoOrds to be a Democrat, but
in acts heading Radicalism for the de-
struction of those Democratic principles
on which our government is based. Can
a man blow hot and cold at the same
time And can General Gartrell &C
complish the equally impossible feat of
being Democrat and Radical at the
same timer Our reason tells us that he
cannot. and that his weakness for Office
is only used by the Radicals as posi-
bic instrument to secure the control and
the treasury of the State. Every Radi-
cal vote that corruption can influence or
purchase, will be cast for General Gar
trell, and if through the mistaken preju-
dices and independence of individual
Democrats his ambition FOR the execu-
tive chair of Georgia should be graft
fed, we may count with certainty (fOr
how can it be otherwiseO on seeing
Bullock, Bryant. Atkins and the entire
crowd of carpetbaggers aud Radicals
ruling in the councils of Georgia as at
the close of the war. Does any Geor-
n - hr1 a
hope not. And yet it may be so, if we
do not sacrifice our mistaken indepen-
dence and preiudices on the altar OF
patriotism and rally strongly to the
support of Mr.. Stephens and the Demo
cratic party.
Georgia Form Book.
This valuable addition to Georgia law