National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-16
Aln,nndnr M. slnnhcns.

htpItbentHllNe ppeeI, Vi NcoIklhi oh
Sunday sent dispatch TO ex-Ropresenta-
tive FELTON, at Atlanta, saying:
hope the committee OF Independent democrats
who meet tomorrow will recommend Mr.. Ste.
phcns ns the peoples candidate for governor
know positively he will not reject such recon-
mendniion, aud that II elected he will bo the gov
omor Of all tho people without regard to party.
lie viii be controlled by no ring.
The Washington correspondent (N. II,
R.) of the Atlanta Constitution reports an
interview with Mr.. Stephensdated Mayo,
in which the answersseem TO us far from
being in accord with the questions.
The eminent Georgian was willing to
serve rs governor if The people Of Georgia
should 80 desire. lie would not be
disregardGll Of such an expression of con-
iidencc as would be n nomination by the
Independents A nomination by the
Democratic party he would certainly re-
gard as such an expression of popularcon-
fldoncc and the peoples will as would in
| duCe him to allow himself to be u candi-
date, with tho understanding that if
elected he should in the interest of all
classes, disregard party organization. He
declined the interview unless he could be
reported verbatim. This assurance be-
ing given him, we deem IL important
duccd. We find them in the Atlanta
(Ga.) Constitution of May Z, Mr.. Stephens
said
"Tn the FIRST place, then, wantyou distinctly to
understand that nm not u candidate for gov.
crnor nor am candidate even for nomination to
that Office by any party IN Georgia. / think all
that Is being now said IN the papers Of Georgia
upon TINT subject grew out Of n remark Of mine
that you reported some time ngo, that II the poo.
pie Of Gcorgin really wished me to serve thom MS
governor. ns numerous letters received by inc In.
dcatc knew no reason at that tlmc If my health
continued ms good as II then was, which would
justify me In refusing 80 TO serve them though my
own wishes and desires were, MS they had been
repeatedly declared, TO retire from public life at
the expiration Of my present Congressional term.
This | nuw repeat Iy this language do not
mean TO announce myself as n candidate or oven
nn nspirant for the govcriiorshp but to express
simple willingness TO serve governor If the pco-
pie In un authoritative manner should express n
wish for Inc to serve them"
"ls there amy authority for tho statement that
you will accept the nomination for governor by
the mass meeting advertised to be held In Atlanta
OH the lst of June, and representing what is called
the coalition party In GcorgloY"
"Nono whatever though should not be disre.
gardful of such nn expression Of confidence by any
number of citizcus Of the State, and the more so
coming from men not ofmy own political 0ssocia-
ton"
"lf convention Of the Democratic party,
selected under the common uSagcs of the party,
should nominate you for governor, would you ac-
cept the nomination %
al should take that certainly ns such demon.
sttaton Of popular confidence and the will of the
people as would meet the contingency under
which have stated my willingness to serve In
that capacity to the best Of my ability, and
should accept the trust looking nilcr the rights
and interests OF all classes without regard TO party
organization, but with the object in view of re.
| storing harmony to the entire State building our
waste places, and restoring the old Commonwealth
as far MS possible to her former proud position In
the sisterhood Of the States of the Union"
We do not believethore is any art be-
hind these words The editor of the Con-
stitution, by his troubled editorial is evil
IDENTIFY of our opinion. He warns Mr..
Stephens that if he accepts u nomination
at the hands of the Independents he
compels n struggle. Mr.. Stephens says
he had not said he would accept the In
dependent nomination, but that he
would esteem such an expression highly,
and rather plainly indicates that
his not having said he would
accept need not prevent his nomi-
nation. From all of which we judge
that Representative Specr knows Mr..
Stephens's views, and urges that he be
made n Liberal candidate, knowing that
he will not forbid the use of his name to
men "not of his own political associa.
ton" We further believe that Mr.
Stephens intends by his interview to say
to the Democratic party of Georgia
You are numerous enough to make me
governor, but your nomination l will ac-
cept only on condition that if elected |
will not be party governor, and with
the further understanding that will not
reject an Independent nomination which
/ do not need for success, even to secure
yours, which would, in my case, be
equivalent to an election" When NJ
Thicrs found, after the second empire
that the republic meant tranquility fol
France he ceased to be the oracle of the
Orleanist faction. Mr.. Stephens is q
great prophet, full of renown even in his
own country. He may be to his country
what Thiers, whom he resembles in many
points, finally was to France.
lie seems to have taken u grand po
sition, not of hostility to the Democratic
party, but of opposition to so narrow
view as that which would refuse to sec
ond desirable nomination because i
came from the minority. He is tn,
schoolmaster who can, in such primar,
school ms the next gubernatorial cam
paign, either teach the Georgia Democ
racy how to be liberal or take the best o
them and unite them to the minority il
a new departure,
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