Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-27
sPALDING COUNTY POLITICS.
The Organized Democracy on Top
for the First Time in Years.


for the First Time in Years.
GRIFFIN, Sept. 25.--The political fur
mace in Spalding county has been for the
past two weeks In a condition OF blister
ing heat, but the excitement has now set
tied down, and for the first time in ten
years the organized Democracy is on top
in our county. 1t Is little singular that
Democratic Georgia should have con-
ferred so many political honors upon citi-
gems of this small county when she has
not been in political harmony with the
dominant party In Georgia. Griffin has
during the period Of her indie
pendeDtism furnished to Georgia Gov
ernor, a Supreme Court Judge, several
Jud les OF the Superior Court, Congress
man and Solicitor General, the latter
be ng the independent leader Of the
county, and members of the State Execu-
tive Committee and other officers too
numerous to mention. About three weeks
since the Democratic Executive Commit
tee ordered Urinary elections all oyer the
county TO select delegates to a convention
TO assemble in Griffin on Sept. 10 to
select a candidate for the Legislature.
This was the signal to the anti-Pro-
hbition party, which has for sew
eraI years had absolute control OF this
county to open its fight upon the organ
lied Democracy of the county in the face
of the declaration by the Executive Com
mittee OF the organized Democracy, that
they desired, both In platform and candi-
date, TO entirely eliminate the liquor
question from the political issues of the
county. Mr.. T. R. Mills was the only
leading anti Prob ibitiouist who refused to
make the fight upon his party, and al
lowed himself to be chosen as a delegate
to the Democratic Convention. A week
before the assembling of the regular con-
ventl0n the aptis met In a great mass
meeting, in which the colored eie-
| ment was in a great mujority. They
adopted a set Of strong antiprohibitlon
| resolutions, and named MIR. Marion Pat
rick as their candidate. This gentleman
declined the nomination as there was too
much OF the darby in the convention to
suit his taste. The Democrats thereupon
adopted set of conservative resolutions,
recognizing the local option act as a set
Element OF the prohibition question,
naming the Hon. Frank Flvnt as their
Candidate, and asking all good citizens to
SUPPORT him regardless of their views
upon the liquor question. The ants
assembled upon the same day
and insisted upon the ques-
ton of liquor being made in
the race and placed in nomination a
young lawyer, Mr.. Cleveland. Mr..
Cleveland, in accepting the nomination,
asserted that he opposed the action OF the
regulars chiefly because the nominee was
PrOhibitionist, and because in the last
Legislature he had voted for the railroads
in their effort to obtain relief from the
commission. Mr.. Flynt promptly replied
that be would withdraw and allow the
antis to select any one OF five names
which Mr.. Cleveland stated would be
suitable to the antis. THIS WAS declined.
and Mr.. Flynt. With wonderful patriot
refused to accept the nomination
In order TO give no excuse
TO the boilers. The Democratic
committee thereupon made offer upon Of
fer to the boilers in the interest of har.
mony, but relying upon the strength OF
the negro vote the ants refused all efforts
at harmony. The respectable sentiment
Of this good old county thereupon became
aroused as it had never been before. Old
men and young, women. and even chill
dren, arose and demanded that this de-
grading opposition be conquered and
suppressed. The convention reassem-
bied, backed by a mighty aud irresistible
public opinion. Without further ef-
fort at compromise, although the ants,
seeing the handwriting on the wall, at the
last moment condescs nded 10 send a
tion, that body, without even comforting
with the waiting committee, placed by
unanimous acclamatiOn the name OF the
Hon. David j. Bailey in nomination as
the standard bearer of the determined
and unterritied Democracy of old Spald-
ing, received his acceptance and ad-
journed amidst the greatest enthusiasm
in and out of the convention which has
ever been accorded to a nominee in this
county. The ants became at once demon
allied, their candidate withdrew and
they have since failed to obtain the con-
sent OF any man TO sacrifice himself by
running race which must end in lnevi-
table defeat.
Col. Bailey will be the most marked
figure In the next House. In person ne is
grand and imposing, his character spot
less and pure and his intellect OF giant
proportions. He was one OF Georgia's
greatest and most eloquent sons in the
good old ante-bellum DAYS. He has served
as Speaker OF the House, as President of
the Senate, for several terms In Congress.
and when Joe Brown was tlrst nominated
for Governor could have been himself
nominated IL be had not chosen to decline
the position. For many years he has
preferred life of ease and seciusion,
devoted to the pursuit of literature
will fpd in this noble old Roman
the best converse tionaiisti in Georgia. and
when he opens his eloquent mouth some-
thing will be said which the whole State
will delight 10 hear. We are proud of our
members, and delighted that this great
old man has, by the wisdom OF the con-
vention, been drawn from his solitude, for
Georgia can i'll afford to lose the counsel
of men who possess such wisdom.