Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-04

The Democratic Party and its Rulers
The Augusta Chronicle, IN an article en-
Titled Keep it Before the People," says:
The Democratic party in Georgia for
the past ten years has been drunk with
success. 1t mas been ruled by men who
came out OF the war with popular records
and who have flashed those qualifications
in the eyes OF the people when they wanted
public office. They have injected the tao
tics OF the army into the lists OF civil life.
They have charged upon political prefer
ment with martial clash, and overbOrne
all opposition. They have not answered
the tests OF public life-tney have
too often been found want
ing in the qualifications for
h gh Office; they have again aud again
ursteadied the rule OF the conservative
minds in the state administration; they
have brought -eproach upon her regime
in national affairs. Generals in war they
have proclaimed themselves leaders in
peace, and people who followed them in
battle have too frequently and blindly &C
corded them devotion in their hunt for
public place. The objection to all this is
that men have been suffered to do ques-
tiOnable things because OF their past
records, and cliques and clans have been
allowed to mOnOpolize public place be-
cause their army commissions are still
recognized
While not admitting or denying that
the above is correct we submit that it is
pretty weeping assault upon the record
Of the Democratic parry in this State for
the last ten years. and OF GeOrgia's sons
OF whose fame as soldiers the people OF
Georgia are justly proud. If the party
has been drunk for the past ten years it
can hardly nave done anything that is
worthy the respect and approval Of sober
people.
AS matter of fact, however, have not
the affairs Of this State been managed
pretty well since the Democrats wrested
the State from the Republicans and car
pet baggers? Has not this party, which
the Chronicle says has been drunk with
success for so many years, managed the
States finances very well? Is not the
States credit far above par. Are not all
the States institutions in a reasonably
healthy condition and fairly well man
aged? Are not the schools about as we'll
provided for as those of any other South
ern state? When the situation IS viewed
calmly it doesn't appear that the Demo-
cratic party, even If drunk with success,
as the Chronicle says, has managed so
badly.
But who are the military gentlemen
who have not answered the tests of public
life, and The men who have been suffered
odo questionable things because of their
past records" Why reflect on all who
have sought or held public places who
come within the classes mentioned in the
Chronicles article?" Surely all do not
deserve condemnation.
But if for the past ten years the Demo-
cratic party has been in an unfit condition
to guide the destines of the State, and the
men whom the people put in the places of
trust were unequal to the responsibilities
they undertook to assume, and in some
instances failed 10 respect the
confidence reposed in them, what
did the Chronicle do to open the eyes of
the people to what 1t now SAYS was the
true condition of affairs? Who are the
men whom it condemned and when were
the occasions that it warned the people
that the party was drunk with success
and was not, therefore, in condition to
be trusted? A few excerpts from it's files
at this time in answer TO these questions
would be timely.