Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-02

In accordance with the call Of Col Rufus
E Lester, Chairman Of the Democratic party
of Chatham county, a mass meeting Of the
Democracy was held at the Savannah Thea
ire last night. The Theatre was well filed,
and the sssemblage represented the intelli-
gence Of the county, snd the esrnestness
manifested and attention given the speakers
attested the deep interest felt in the result
Of the approaching election.
Shortly after eight o'clock Colonel Lester
arose and was greeted with applause. He
stated the object Of the meeting, and then
addressed the assemblsge in a brief and
earnest manner. He said that the Demo-
oracy were opposed by q sectional party,
party of spells rather than q party for
the administration of good government
in this country. The National Republican
party and the Democratic party are arrayed
against each other The principles Of the
two parties Of the Republican party has any
priuciples) laughter are known to every
Democrat iu the land, and the conviction is
now forced home to every good citizen that
It IS not safe to trust this government to the
| Republican party any longer. It has always
1 DeEu 3 ESCllQudl pdIb15 dHu Aao uoCA Ito
power to the detriment OF the people
and for the Advancement Of a few.
/ There is now a chance Of wrestling
| power from this party, re-establlshing in
| power the good old Democratic party that
/ has given all of the greatness, glory and
| prosperity to this country 1t has ever enjoy
| ed. Every good citizen has an interest in
| this matter, AMI should not fslter in his
duty. The two parties are in conflict, each
/ asks the suffrages Of the entire country, and
each is putting forth its claim. It is for the
| people TO decide. The prospect is that
| the next Congress will be Democratic lap
plsuseE, but the question is with
| you whether the prospect shall be made
certainty The news from OHIO is encour-
aging. Applause. The people OF that
/ great State have become disguised with
/ that party whose sole object is spoils, and
sends greeting to Georgia and to her sister
| States and asks them to assist in the work
| Of making the next House Democratic.
| TAppIsuse IL we fail in our duty aud
| allow this, the First Congressional
District OF Georgia, to go Republican,
how long will it be before the
! stain Is wiped out? If a Republican Is
| elected from this district we lose two votes
il we elect 3 Democrat we gain two votes,
| and the importance Of this in the organiza
ton of the House, upon which so much de-
| bends, is apparent. There is no reason for
a failure, and your influence to avoid such
calamity is asked. The nominee whom you
have selected to represent you In Congress
| Is before you, and will address you. APP
plause.I That he is a true Democrat no
one will deny. Applause. He is square,
| toed fl 3t-heel Democrat-One who is not
afraid in the National Hall to assert aud
maintain the principles of the grand party
OF which he is the standard bearer. He
was faithful and fearless ia the past, and
/ No. hn mil ho faithful RI
his trust in the future ? He would
now Introduce the Hon. John c..
Nichols, the candidate OF the
Democrats Of " from the First Congress
sianal district TApplsuse
| Col. Nichols arose and was received very
cordially. BE stated that he was exceed
inpIv obliged TO his friend, Col. Lester, for
the remarks concerning him personally, but
| as TO his record as a Democrat, to which
| reference had been made, he could say
without egotism, that it was unques-
TONED, As to his ability TO represent
the district, the people must Judge by
his past. He appeared before this Intelligent
assemblage as the standard-oearer or the
| Democratic party OF the First Congressional
Districs, and would not discuss he issues
| between the two parties - they were
too well understood. It was only necessary
To discuss the practice between the two
parties. He asserted that the Republican
party bad originated in robbery OF the
neoDle: that at the outset Of
the South OF over $300,000,O 00- He re-
ferred to the misehievOus and ruinOus
results following the teachings OF Lloyd
| Garrison. ThurioW Weed, Horace Greeley
(for whom he had to his regret, he would
saw. yoted) aad dwelt upon the experience
of the State OF Georgia durisg the recon
struction period, and the troubles
and outrsges of that time. The Re
publican party had maintained their
system of plumber up to the present
| dav. Georgia, in the esrly days OF recon-
struction, had become aroused under the
inspIrstiOu OF the great Ben Hill, and
through the efforts OF Lawton, Lester and
his friend. WAXING Russell (who, though he
| NAV have done wrong, had done great good
to the party and county,, Lspplausel the
| State was redeemed. He had been
elected from the Third Senatorial
district. and when that Legislature met they
found that Rufus B. Bullock, the fraudulent
| Governor, had run away. COnley, the Presi-
dent OF the Senate, was considered next IN
promotion, aud the question was whether
the Legislature had the courage to throw
him overheard and pass the act requiring an
election.
This was done, aud James Milton Smith
was elected Governor. The Democrats OF
| GeOrVia have proved of what material they
and started on the road to prosperity. This
was accom- ished by the people going to
| the polls aud voting. he would ask them
now. not for his sake, but for the sake Of
the party of which he was the stand
ard bearer, to rally to the polls on the
7th Of November and eject their candidate.
There had been something said about his
position on the tariff question. In reply to
this, he would say that he would as Demo-
erat oDpose' an increase Of the tariff, and
would stand by his convictions. In regard
to the tariff on rice, he would say II
the rice planters would present evil
dence before Congress that they could not
raise rice at less than the present tari1, ne
would not favor s reduction. He was OPP
posed to any tariff that would render I'M
profitable any industry. He opposed the
| internal revenue laws which oppressed the
poor man, and favored q revenue from tax
on incomes which would compel the large
millionaire of the North-Astor, Wander
bilt, Gould, ETC., to pay tribute
to the government. II he was elected to
Congress he would do all in his power to
represent the interests OF the entire people.
He had no pledges to make, but would
| faithfully and honestly in the future, as be
had done in the past, strictly advocate the
| interests of his section, and maintain the
| true PRINCIPLES OF the Democratic party.
| fApplsuse. He referred to the dissensions
4
| illustrated their position by the relation OF
| little anecdote, which was pleasantly received
| He felt convinced that the Chatham county
Democracy would do their duty and he would
say now, as he had said many times before,
| that the Democracy of Chatham is the
most gallant Democracy in the state or else
| where. He would say to the colored men,
| OF Chatham, II there were any present, that
| the Democratic party would maintain good
! government for them IN spite OF themselves,
| and would look after their interests. He
closed his address BY appealing to the
| Democracy not to be lured by the idea that
| victory was easily won, but TO rally TO the
polls on election day and give their support
| TO the Democratic party, whose standard
| bearer he was honored to be. lApplause
/ Colonel Lester then introduced Captain
George A. Mercer, who was received with
tremendous applause. Captain Mercer re-
| turned hts acknowledgment for the cordial
/ greeting, which gave him great pleasure, as
/ he believed &c an assurance from the Democ-
racy OF Chatham that they were in accord
with the principles which he would advocate.
| Four wears ago It was his pleasure
| to address Ike sssemblage 10 support OF
| the same gentleman who was now their
nominee for Congress. There were many
present who would then recolleet the Issues
| which the people were forced to meet. The
| contest was then between Capt. Corker, the
| Greenback candidate, and Col. Nichols, the
regular Democratic nominee, aud II he re-
membered Alright, Corker received !, OBI votes
and Col. Nichols Al. That was q contest
/ IN which Democrats might well be divided
/ IN opinion. He called attention TO Il In
order to contrast that contest with the