Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-20

which we made DrleI alluslOn yesterday
places him now, beyond dispute or
cavil. fairly and squarely in the ranks OF
the organized Democracy. He is no
longer liable to the charge of coquetting
with the Independents, but, to the con-
trsry, most emphatically repeats his
assertions contained in his Smith letter,
to the effect that he has no sympathy
with any faction or any movement IN
opposition to the Democratic party, and
that be will accept no nomination from
any such faction, nor will he vote for any
but the regular Democratic nominee.
There IS no mincing Of words here, and
now it is simply impossible for Mr.. Ste
phens. even were he TO desire TO do so
hereafter, 10 assert his independence of
MS party without complete self-stuluf-
cation and the grossest inconsistency.
He has now unhesitatlngly and unequiv.
ocally written himself down "a Bourbon
Of the Bourbons."
Mr. Stephens political status, then,
being so clearly defined that his most
bitter opponents cannot now charge him
with being in the slightest degree an
tagonistic 10 his party, and he being
irrevocsbly bound by the action
Of his party, it remains to consider
calmly and dispassionstely the posi-
ton he will occupy before the
Democratic Convention which assemblies
in Atlanta on the 10Th proximO, as a can
didaie for the Gubernatorial nomination.
His position before the people of tie
State is certainly q remarkable one. For
nearly half 8 century he has been in public
life, during which time he has been more
or less prominent in the councils of his
State and country. and has achieved a
national reputation. Not only on this
account do the great masses of his fell
low citizens feel certain degree of pride
in him as Georgian who has survived
sll his early contemporaries, and who
still wears the harness of public ser
wait. but he has besides peculiar hold
upon the sympathies and affections
IF the people of his State who
love to allude to him as "the
great commoner," who. notwithstanding
the long series of hOnOrs he has enjoyed,
has still. under all circumstances, re
garded himself as simply Georgian and
nothing else. When a man such as he,
now in the declining years of life, tells
the people that, after serving them con-
tinuously for a length of time equal to
an ordinary life, his great ambition is to
be accorded by them the Chief Magis-
tracy of his Commonwealth as mark
Of their respect and regard, and as a
fitting close 10 a life time spent in their
service, it is easy to understand how his
fellow citizens will be willing to freely
condone whatever in his past record
they may not approve. and to crafty
what NAV certainly be considered lauda-
Die ambition.
These are the circumstances which
surround Mr.. Stephens as an Individual,
aud which would make his incumbency
of the GubernatOrial office accepta-
be to a large number Of his fel
low-citizens, outside of all political con-
sideratiOns whatever. 1t is indeed to
the personal influence which he un-
doubtedly exerts, which first inspired
the Independents with the idea that if
they could secure him to their faction it
would give them d certain re-
spectabilitY and strength which
would enable them to make some
Roadway in their opposition to
the Georgia Democracy. This same per.
sonal influence will undoubtedly have
its weight with the Democratic State
Convention. The fact that he possesses
1t: that he might have used 1t against the
party but would not; that by refusing to
do so he crushed out the opposition to
the Democracy, and upset Mr.. Arthur's
hopes of Mshoneizing Georgia, and that
he submits himself and his aspirations,
without reserve, to the wishes of
the Democratic Convention of his
State, all must tend In his favor
before that convention. He has certainly
done much which has met with the disap-
probation of the Democracy. His course
during the wsF is not forgotten, nor
have his many acts, which were, to say
the least, of questionable loyalty to his
party since the conflict. passed out of
remembrance. Still his many years of
public service, his refusal to affiliate
with the enemies of the Democracy, and
his determination to throw his whole
influence, personal as we'll as political,
on the side of that party, must com.
mend him to a large element of the con-
veniiOn. and will probably lead to his
nomination.
This is the conclusion TO which we are
forced 10 arrive after a calm review OF
tue MuOlC sAkudbtOus uC NEMo uOCs
not stand committed TO Mr.. Stephens nor
to any other candidate before the
convention. Whoever the party in
its wisdom may see fit to bestow the
honor of being the Democratic STAN
dard bearer Of Georgia will receive
our cordial support, but the facts that
we have herein briefly cited, viz; Mr..
Stephens long public career; the hold
which he has upon the people outside of
party; that he has allied himself, with
and submits wholly to, the will of the
Democratic party. and that he is the
most available man to crush out sore.
head opposition to the Democracy, leads
us to believe that he will most decidedly
have the inside track in the Atlanta con-
vention against all rivals for the nomina.
ton who mag appear against him.
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