The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-03
The Atlanta Election !:

was very exciting and was conducted with
the energy of desperation by both parties
to it. The question was prohibition and
anti-prohibition, and the prohibition par
ty won by a majority of 2SS out of
a vote of about 1900. In the city
proper the majority against prohibition
was S2l, but the preponderance of the
temperance vote in the county, outside of
Atlanta, gave the majority in city and
county as stated aboye-2S8. The liquor
men Will take the matter to the Courts,
and if beaten before the State tribunals.
win eadeayor to get it before the Supreme
Court OF the United States by application
OF non-residents who have capital invested
in The brewery business i'll Atlanta. This
proceeding may keep it in the courts for
two or three years. and defeat prohibition
for the time being, but it willarouse public
feeling to higher pitch and greater deter
mination
For several weeks before the day of
election excitement ran very high. 1t was
known that the result was doubtful, and
would be determined by the colored vote,
numbering about $500 out of the 5000
voters registered. Bishop Turner and all the
ministers Of the colored churches arrayed
themselves on the side of temperance, and
worked with great zeal for the prohibit
tionists. Bishop Turner was unceasing
in his labors. and very affecting and pow
cuff, Il IN, hi A 1>on 80 H.
colored voters, however. supported the
liquor interest, but majority of them
voted with the prohibitionsts. Senator
Colquit, Rev. j. B. Hawthorne, Rev. Hay
good, Rev. Sam Jones and the Rev. Sam
Small, lold "Si'') made common cause
with Bishop Turner Senator Brown
and ex Governor Bullock and Senator
Browns son were prominent among
the ti-prohibitionists. With these prom
inent leaders, it can be well imagined the
feeling that was aroused. Then the Wo-
mans Temperance Union worked unceas-
ingly. The night before the election each
party completed its arrangements for cleo
tion day. They gathered their following
in special places and remained with them
all night. In the morning the respective
columns were marched to the polls. and
under proper police arrangements. the
election proceeded without any disturbance
not a drunken man being seen on the
streets during the entire day.
Under the Constitution of Georgia the
capitation tax is required to be paid as a
qualification to vote. Not only the taxes
of the previous year. but all back taxes
must be discharged. Each party gave no.
tice that it was ready to pay taxes for all
delinquents who would support its side.
In that way the vote was increased from
the ordinary number Of 5000 to about
9.O00--calling for large amount of money,
as some of the citizens of both sides were
delinquent for five or six years.
1t has already been given out that the
coalition formed in Atlanta and Fulton
county viii preserve.its organization, and
contest every Legislative and Congress
sional district in the State, at the election
next fall. 1t promises to disrupt old par
ties. as the bitter antagonisms occasioned
oyer the issue in Atlanta overshadow old
political differences and have brought to.
gether elements which have heretofore
been against each other. There are only
| fifteen OF sixteen counties in the State
which are not committed to prohibition,
indicating that the people Of the rural dis
tricts are in favor Of it, and united under
competent leaders, will he able to carry
the State il any general election.
| A propitious result of the contest which
closed on the 25th. was the absence of all
race prejudice. The colored people were
looked upon as the controlling power in
the contest, and that they gravitated to the
moral side of it is not surprising. Highly
emotional and impressive, they can be af-
fected by appeals to their feelings and bet
ter sentiments much more readily than the
white race, with whom more or less of a
mercenary spirit predominates, because Of
monled interest in the liquor trade. Thus
Bishop Turner. man Of strong mind and
great influence in his church, aided by the
other colored pastors, made one of the
most remarkable canvasses ever recorded
in this country. They slept neither day
nor night. Their endeayors were supple
mented by the courageous and well directed
efforts of the white ministers-and these
by the ladies who labored in season and
out of season and everywhere for cause
in which their happiness is to great de-
gree involved. These combined inHu-
ences, working in harmony and under
splendid leadership, constituted power
almost irresistible. 1t can be well under
stood what power they could exert in
general election, animated by the same feel.
ing and purpose which won the victory on
the 25th.
The effect must necessarily be to abate
the prejudices which have heretofore
drawn the lines between the races, and ed
ucate the people up to the proper appre
citation of the elective franchise whether
exercised by one class Of citizens or an
other.
1t should draw attention to one impor-
tant fact, that the colored people and the
WullO ICPuQllCdnb plOuN luolSt upOus
That is the repeal of the capitation tax
restriction on the ballot. 1t was placed in
the. constitution to practically disfranchise
the poor-a class to which community, the
State and the Nation have to appeal for
their defence in times of danger and the
enforcement of the laws in times of civil
commotion. To restrict political rights
merely because of poverty, and yet hold
the disfranchised amenable to all the laws
and especially depend upon them in times
of imminent danger, is a direct assault
upon the underlying principle of our polit-
ical institutions-an injustice that ought
not to be tolerated in State protesting to
have a Republican form of government
The emergencies Of the Atlanta contest,
indeed, have prominently brought to the
attention of the people of Geogia, no
doubt, the necessity for the removal OF this
ban from the citizen. who in all other re-
spects than his poverty. can be relied
upon to do the State service when called
upon.
1t will be IAN suspicious result, indeed,
if the ballot shall be made free in the En-
pire State of the South, as one of the out