Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-04
THE GUBERNAToRIAL RACE.
James 5. Boynton the Man.

Editor Morning Nelrs, That the Guber-
material question is a matter of great im-
pOrtance as regards our political welfare
will naturally suggest itself to the mind
Of every rejecting man. The time is rap
idly approaching when the Democracy of
Georgia, in convention assembled, repre-
senting as it will the sovereignty of a
great people, will be expected to select as
the standard-bearer of our party i'm this
campaign man not unworthy to wear
the mantle of his illustriOus predecessor.
The Democratic party demands leader,
true and tried; a man upon whose broad
escutcheOn rests no stain or tint of dis
honor; man whose public and private
record is rs spOtless as star; man who
knows enough to know the full require
mentS of the high and important trust,
and knowing will be courageous enough
to faithfully and honestly perform each
and every duty required at his hands.
Such man is James :. BoyntOn. now
acting Governor, man in every way
worthy Of the sufrages of the people of
his native State.
He Is eminently self-made man. Early
Injured to the toll and hardships of life's
misunderstanding his career poor
and friendless, but with indOmitable en-
ergy and perseVerance-and finally land
ing i'm the Executive chair. the Chief Mag
istTate of his State.
But we are informed by the political
enemies of Governor BOyntOn that he was
untrue TO his people during the dark days
of reconstruction in our then torn and
bleeding State.
Let us examine this charge-nOt in the
light of partisan, not i'm the light of one
blinded by prejudice or friendship or SYM
pathy, but in the calm, impartial light of
intelligent public opinion. seeking only
TO ascertain the truth.
During the evil days just after the war,
when political darkness had encOmpassed
the land and the scalawags and the car
pet-baggers, like the cloud of Egyptian
lOcusts, were swarming everywhere
throughout our plague-stricken State,
there was singular opposition of pOliti-
cal opinions among our leading statesmen.
There were good and true men who
refused to take part in public affairs, and
advised others to do likewise. They be-
lieved that the Radical party of that day
would sooner or later lose control of the
State, and fall to pieces by virtue of the
universal corruption which then existed
i'm its ranks, and they preferred to let
them dig their own grave.
There were others whose Democracy
was equally unquestiOned who took quite
a different view of the ''situation," and
held that our wisest political policy was
to use all legitimate means to put good
men-men of sound Democratic or "true"
Republican principles-in office.
Under these circumstances, therefore,
Colonel BOyntOn applied for and held
office under Radical or Republican adj
ministratiOn, and he did it at the instance
of as good and true men and Democrats
as ever trod the soil of Georgia.
The next charge made against the Gov
arunr oud which il tho I1rinainoI ono of
the ''three,'' is that he was guilty of using
unpatriOtic language in cOngratulating
Ex-Governor Bullock on the return of the
State to a Republican administration,
which, strictly interpreted, means nothing
more than an exchange of ''military'
rule for a rule of civil law and order,
which our people rejOiced to witness, and
which was certainly change worthy of
congratulations.
''If this be treason let his enemies
''make the most of it, 1t would be just
as consistent to charge certain Democrats
with political apOstacy for publicly con-
graduating the late President Garfield on
a change in the Federal administration
to more republican methods.
The charge of ineIigibility needs no re-
ply. No question can, with any prOpriety,
be raised as TO his eligibility before the
people. and the election Ofa Governor Will
not likely devOlye upon the Legislature.
As the, enemies of Governor BOyntOn
have seen fit to rake up the past with the
view Of defeating his nomination, let us
20 still further back, yes, back to the
lurid and gloomy days of 1SG4-l, when de-
sertiOns had thinned our ranks to a mere
handful of men: when sherman and his
hireling hosts were trampling upon the
breast of Georgia, and all heroic souls
were rallying around the flag of their cOun-
try. where, oh! where, were some of these
chivalric spirits who now call in question
the patriotism of James ;. BOyntOn?
Col. BOyntOn's gallant conduct on the
sanguinary field Of Chickamauga, his con-
duct on many other well fought fields, his
mounting his crutches and leadine his
gallant little band into battle, though Sc
TiOusly wOunded-all these facts will en-
dear him to the memory of the boys in
gray and to the people for whom he
fought. 'If the spirits of the illustrious
dead participate in the concerns of the
living" the Yenerated shades of AleXan-
der II. stephens must needs look down in
sorrow and cOmmiseratiOn over this un-
seemly contest.
Let the people rise in their might and
majesty and forever settle the question
by the unanimous nomination and cleo
ton of Gov. James :. BOyntOn.
DEMOCRITUS.