Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-09
The GEORGIA DEMOCRACY
THEIR DUTY DISTINCTLY SET
FORTH.
Address from the state Democratic
Executive COmmttGee-Go0d Doc
trine Which the Dem 0 cratic Masses
should Heed.


sprung up In two Congressional districts, and
In a few Of the counties IN contests for the
Legislature. But never before has a thorough
and determined effort been made TO csrrv
the State bya combination between Radicals
and disaHected Democrats This uuprece-
dented movement and unholy alliance VIII be
readily defeated, If the people can but be
aroused from apparent apathy to the true
condition OF affairs. The immense majority
by which the party in power has ALWAYS car
rled the elections since the State was re-
deemed from the couuptions OF reconstruc-
tlon and the Radical regime, has led the
individual voter to assume that his personal
presence at the polls was not a necessity.
and 1t would now seem that where the
standards OF Democracy We're not placed
IN the hands OF the candidate Of his choice,
ne is disposed to inactivity.
The apathy which grows out OF the preva-
ience OF this erroneous ides is further mani
Iested In disposition on the part of some
to disregard the moral binding force which
attaches to party nomiDation. Just so long
as men fall, as Democrats, to accord to the
nominees OF their party hearty and con
tinuous support, the hopes Of the Republi-
cans will be fired to greater energy and more
untiring efforts. The Executive Commit
tee, feeling that a clear and concise state
ment OF the true issues involved in the pre-
sent campaign, would go far toward the
correction OF the evils of apathy and disaf-
lection at present existing, earnestly entreat
your careful consideration of the following
views:
1t is immaterial to the organized Damoc-
racy whether the Republicans fight under
their own flag or whether they assume the
specious garb OF Independents. Whence
comes coalition independentism p" Inde-
pendence of action and OF though is 10 be
nfrnA mi h..
present or future. II so based, It becomes
the most servile dependence, especially If
such consideration is to be paid by the enc
mics OF the party to which the new born
independent" belonged. Offices are few
and aspiraGts many. The Democratic party
is unable to place in the posts ofhonor ali OF
its adherents, however capable they NAV be-
But where the claims of one OF such candi-
dates have been rejected, there may be
prospect Of success, with the assistance OF ths
large col0red vote among us, IL he runs
under some other name than Democrat"
To this vote he appeals, and is christened,
In water anything but holy, as the "inde-
pendent Democrat" With seemingly plausi-
BILE arguments as to the unfsirness ot party
conventions, he carries with him a few dis
affected brothers, and appeals to the Radi-
cal party, composed In this State almost
exclusively OF negroes, to elevate him into
office. The independent" in the twin
king Of an eye, becomes "the dependent"
on Radicals. The consideration he is to be
paid is Office aud spoils; the consideration
they are to receive is increased Radical
strength and decreased Democratic harmO-
ny and unity. II the coalition is successful,
there can be but one result-Radieal rule in
Georgia.
So many years Of prosperity have inter-
vened since the dark days of reconstruction
Dav,r nj INsnar.
we'll to seriously contemplate what Is the
natural and necessary result OF Radical rule
In this State. 1t means negro supremacy
wherever that race has the majority OF
votes. 1t means negro supremacy, or-if it
be possible to contemplate a deeper
degradation in a condition SO fallen
something worse where the negroes, com
bined with disatfected whites, have control.
The simplicity Of the average colored voter.
together with his innate gentleness and
good nature, rendered him comparatively
harmless when left to himself, but
when aroused by the manipulation of de-
signing persons, and urged on by the greed
OF power and gain, a more dangerous ele-
ment in our political fabric can hardly be
conceived. This State can never be submit
ted to the domination of the cOIored race,
and the people Of Georgia will see to it that
neither by desertiOn from the Democratic
result be permitted. Aud yet to this indie
pendentlsm directly and logically points!
There are but two parties In Georgia-the
Democratic and Radical. He who does not
belong to the one, necessarily attaches him
self TO the other, and II he wears the dis.
guise Of the "Independent coalition Demo-
crat," he simply becomes the more insidious
in his attacks upon the institutions of our
State. Cassius was a far more dangerous
auaunu tO Roma than Hannibal a aCucvgpa
tor In the camp is always more to be feared
than the enemy upon the open field This
Radical party in Georgia looks alone to the
negro vote for support, and to the admins
tration at Washington, it's most corrupt
branch, for supplies. Fed from such a
source-that has turned the White House
into New York political trading booth
what must be the growth The Inactive or
apathetic Democrat, however sound his
course may appear to him, unintentiOnally
adds to the power OF Radicaism In the exact
that he decreases the strength of
his own party.
For twelve long years Republicanism has
proffered to our people the issue between
the white race and the black race, and that
issue is still prominently before us. We have
endeavored in every honorable way to de-
feat It, and so far we have succeeded. Let
us not now, when we are reaching the full
-
this issue with EecOming fortitude and firm
ness. II we falter for moment, If the
enthusiasm of the Democrats, that enthu-
siasm which is born OF the loftiest purpose
that ever animated humanity, pales before
the advancing enemy, years OF toll and
arduous struggle will not remove the un-
happy results. The elevation of the negro
to power, social and political, which
is the true aim Of Repubncanism
Ahn GnsTfh fc FoF,
friends of the country should hope to avert.
And it can only be averted by the Demo
cratic party, indissolubly united, acting to-
gether IL vast harmonious whole, To the
Democrats of Georgia is entrusted the noble
OF preserving the principles
of our commonwealth safe from the ruthless
attack of those who urge the supremacy of
the colOred race. VIII the Democrats OF
Georgia shirk this responsibility? Or will
they not, as men true and tried, boldly meet
the issue, and having boldly met 1t, as sue
cessfully vanquish it2 AS Democrats, as
GeorgiaDs, as citizens, as fathers, husbands
and sons, We say to you, let no
trifiing consideration Of personal pref
erence or favoritism deter you from
your duty; but with clear conception
Of the magnitude OF the questions before
you, support with your accustomed zeal the
distinguished gentleman whom the Demo-
principles and to further its high and noble
aims.
The Democrats of Georgia have always
extended to the colOred race that measure
OF justice and consideration which is COM
mensurate with the rights of its members as
citizens OF the State. To do more than this
would impose burdens with which it would
be wrong to load them. To do less than this
would blot the civilization to which we be-
long. The Democratic party can well afford
TO be, IS it in truth is, Just to the colored
race. 1t can afford TO be generous, and is
committed to their education and improve
ment as rapidly as the resources of the State
will permit. But It recognizes that the
great interests Of the cOmmonweal' b, poliu-
cal, social and commercial, are in the hands
Of the white people, ,and they should control
those interests by every honorable means.
There is no way so certain By which these
vital interests may be successfully protected
and fostered as by the administration of the
government at the hands Of those whom the
Democratic party places in power. And
how can such an administration be best Sc
curedS
The Republican party itself is the perfec-
tion OF discipline, however corrupt T. nav
be in its methods. To meet it seccessfnlly
upon the political battlefield, unframed le-
gions must not be sent. Able and honest
party leaders are necessary to organization,
but whenever they fail IN their duty, or act