Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-21

Democratic Stdte NOIhiAatlOnss
The State Democratic Convention has
finished its work and adjourned. The
result was the nomination of Hon. A. Il.
Stephens for Governor on the first bal
lot by a well-nigh unanimous vote, the
selection of Hon. Thomas Hardeman as
Congressman t-Large, and the renomi-
nation of all the old State officers.
This action Of the convention will, we
doubt not, meet with the sincere and
hearty appreciation of our people. The
utmost harmony prevailed, and the
spirit which seemed to take possession
of the body was to preserve the unity Of
the party. During the preliminary cam
paign previous to the assembling of the
convention, preferences for and against
the Gubernatorial candidates were freely
and unstintedly declared, and the friends
both of Mr.. Stephens and Mr.. Bacon.
lost no opportunity, and relaxed
no effort to incline popular opinion
towards their special favorites. When
the convention did meet, however, the
spirit of antagOnism seemed entirely to
he forgotten: all bitterness of feeling was
cast aside: as soon as the will OF the
neople became positively understood
There was A general acquiescence therein,
and every idea seemed to have been alb
sorbed in the one desire to preserve
neace and harmony, and present an IN
divided front to the foe.
Especially is this determination on the
mart of Mr.. Bacon and his friends to be
most highly commended, and it must
rebound to the future advantage of that
gentleman. From the first the opposi-
ton to him proceeded from no personal
or unfriendly feeling. His ability was
recognized, his loyalty to the Democracy
unouestiOned, and he himself stOod-as
he still stands-high in the estimation Of
the party. When it was known, how
ever, that Mr. Stephens desired Guber
Material honors from the hands
of his fellow citizens as a fitting close to
a half century devoted to their service,
and when. besides his long years of pub
lie life. If was remembered that he had
declared that he would unreservedly
abide by the action of the convention
as a true Democrat, and that he mad
positively refused to accept the nomina-
ton of the Independent opponents of the
Democratic party thereby effectually
crushing out that mongrel organization,
when by accepting he might have in
vested it with some claim to responsibility
and enabled it to have given the
Democracy some trouble-his claims
upon the convention could not be
ignored. Popular sentiment rapidly
crystallized in his favor, and it was
generally conceded that his laudable
ambition should be gratified. tits alone
to the peculiar chain of circumstances
which governed in his case that his
success and Mr.. Bacon's defeat are
mainly to be attributed, and the latter
gentleman has no cause to feel mortihca-
tioa at his failure. To the contrary, we
believe he to-day occupies a higher posi-
ton in the estimation of his fellow
Democrats than he did before the con
ventiOn assembled.
The selection of Hon. Thomas Harde-
man as COngressman.at-large was also
iudicious and just Several Of Georgia's
distinguished sons were aspirants for
that honor, and had it been conferred
upon any ore of them, the position
would have been ably filled. We had
hoped that the claims of the seabOard
would have been recognized, and that
the Congressional mantle would have
fallen upon one of the gentlemen who
we have advocated for this nomination.
The convention thought differently. how
ever, and we acquiesce in the decision
Mr.. Hardeman is known throughout the
length and breadth of the State as a
gentleman of undOubted ability, sterling
integrity and great public-spiritedness
1t is needless to say that the interests of
Georgia will be well guarded by him in
the Federal Legislature.
The prompt denomination of all the
other State officers is also worthy of
commentator. They have proven by
their acts that they each possess the JEFF
fersonian qualities of public servants,
viz: Honesty, integrity aud capacity.
1t was wise in the convention to de-
termine in their cases Ito let well enough
alone, and, with them retained in office,
there need be no apprehension felt lest
the State will not continue to prosper
during the next two years as she has
during the present administration.
The convention, therefore, has done
its work periodically and well. 1t now
behooves every Democrat in the State TO
heartily indOIse its course at the polls on
The 4th day of October next, and pile up
such rousing Democratic majority as
will convince Independents, soreheads
and Radicals generally Of the utter hope
Iessness of any attempts 10 Mahoneize the
Empire State of the South.
After very long delay, the Commit
tee on Post Offices and Post Roads has