Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-12
BACON MAKES HIS BOW.
AUGUSTA HEARS HIS FIRST
SPEECH IN THE FIGHT.

Gen. Gordon's Entry into the Race Rid
iculed-Party Divisions Wiped Out by
Judge Simmons' WithdrawaI-He Pro-
claims Himself the Friend OF the Rail
road COmmission-COnvict Public
Schools and Bonds.
AUGUSTA, GA, May 11.-Hon. A. o.
Bacon was serenaded at the Central hotel
this evening, and in response to repeated
calls Hon. r. II. May announced that Mr..
Bacon would address the throng from the
temporary structure erected for judges in
the firemen's contest, which occurred
to-day, which was directly in front
of the hotel across the street.
The news that Mr.. Bacon was in Augusta
and would speak spread like wildfre and
created enthusiasm the town over, and in
fifteen minutes 1000 were gathered
around the frail structure, and the crowd
constantly Increased as the Major spoke.
He began by acknowledging the compli-
ment paid him by citizens who stand fore
most in the State, representing its pro-
gress, virtue and Intelligence. He
came to Augusta on flying trip and had
no thought of making speech.
SIMMONS RETIREMENT.
For months the question of the selec-
ton OF Democratic candidate for Gov
ernOr had been considered calmly by the
people. The names OF several distln-
gulshed gentlemen had been suggested,
but they had declined to run. Two
avowed candidates remained. The can
vass was absolutely devoid of excitement
or feeling. The general drift of prefer
ence seemed to run steadily in one direc-
ton, the popular mind adjusting itself to
EnEnIt
that one of the avowed can
ddates gracefully retired, With
his retirement the lame eX-
cuse that it was necessary that some
one of commanding and towering fame
should appear on the scene to heal divi-
siOns and unite factions, at a sacrifice of
private interests and the aban-
dOnment of gigantic business engage
ments in other States, was removed. The
retirement OF Simmons rendered unneces-
sorry the sacrifice Of private interests, and
Gen. Gordon could have returned to New
York with the satisfaction of having fully
performed his duty.
GoRDON's ENTRY.
All was peace, when Gen. Gordon
leaped into the arena with dramatic &C
compartment. With positions reversed,
Mr. Bacon would never have acted as
Gen. Gordon. The campaign will be
heated, but MIR. Bacon will exclude imprO-
prieties. There will be no dirt Singing
on his part. Legitimate issues
will be discussed. Personal acts will
be criticised. Unclean scandal will
find no mention from him. If suspicious
which brought disgrace on our politics be
again dragged forth it will not be the act
of friend of his. One subject now earn
estly concerns the public mind-the Rail-
road Commission.
HIS POSITION WELL KNOWN.
His position was fully stated. The
Railroad Commission was a fixed institu-
ton of the State. There should be no
antagonisms between the railroads and
the people, and a wise commission was
the best means to prevent it. He had in
the question the interest of any other
citizen. He never owned a share or
dollars worth of railroad stock. The
penltentiary was second matter
of Importance. The present valid
contracts should not be disturbed,
After the expiration of the contracts put
the cOnvicts to building public roads and
other public works of like character.
Convict labor should not be a means OF
private speculation and gain. Convict
labor should not be opposed to free labor.
lie had himself never been directly or in
directly concerned in any convict lease or
bpeCuidblbus
The third business question was the
disposition of the State road. Personally
he opposed the sale of the State road.
LEASE PREFERRED.
He preferred a lease under wise pro-
visions. Whether sold or leased, it should
be done with an eye single TO the public
good. If leased, IL should be held not
nominally, but in fact, by the citizens of
Georgia. A final reason against the sale
is that the revenue from the road affords
the strongest guarantee of a fund for
the maintenance of public schools with
out resortiDg to a direct property
tax. The public schools and institutions
OF charity should be maintained and fos-
tered to every extent practicable
without increasing taxation. lie men,
toned the fraudulent bond question
as res adjudicata, but it was
proper to keep the matter in the
minds Of the people, as the holders OF said
bonds were untiring in fertile devices by
which they sought TO revive the question.
He challenged the closest scrutiny of his
record in the Legislature. "lf upon eX-
animation OF NY record you find that /
abandoned no duty and have been false 10
no trust, ask that you will accept that
fact as assurance Of my fidelity in the
hr, int