The Dawson journal., 1886-06-03
BACON and Gordon are beth
busy making campaign speeches.
They are speaking separately.
Communicated.

views of the present gubernatorial canvass.
Major Bacon and General Gordon do
not seem to me to represent conflicting DO
litical doctrines. They are both reputa-
BILE democrats 1t is not clear that they
are the cxponents of conflicting policies of
State government. In voting for one or
the other cannot feel that am taking
stand on any political ISSUE The question
is one of personal fitness and claim for the
Office.
Major Bacon and his friends do not set
up any great and self-sacriticing public
service of his by which he has acquired
claim to the distinction of being our Gov
ernor. If one should say it is due to his
talents, without disparagement to him, 1t
may well be answered that Georgia has
many sons of equal ability whether as law
yers, orators or statesmen. They do not
pretend that they have right to the GU
bernatorial chair. If his legislative career
is invoked it may be admitted that he has
done well. But very many others have
been as useful in supporting good meas
ures and promoting wise legislation. One
fact exists. Most of his time as a legisla-
tor he has enjoyed the honor of being
Speaker of the House. lie made good
Speaker. But his service as such was well
compensated. He received a much larger
nar 6ipm than Cthor offio;aI ro,>roso,tot;ro,
The honor and distinction were liberal pay
And what about the work? 1t has GER
tainlY had several advantages. He was
exempt from the necessity of taking issue
upon the many questions of legislation,
about which members differed, and by de-
batting and contending on which men en-
countered dlslikes and made enemies. He
could record his vote on the popular side,
and, when he felt tina. it was good op-
portunity to make favor tu himself, he
could take the floor and speak popular SEN
t.ment. AS soon as his gavel announced
adjournment he was free to go out up, n
social enjoyment and after gay society un-
til the opening of the next session. But
many committeeman had to work all
through the recesses. Many member on
the floor was pressed into active debate in
behalf of good measures, or against evil,
and had to hear the consequent resentment
OF opponents. Sir the Speakers place is
a well-paid, nice place and beautifully
suited to the wants of the politician whose
main study is popularity. cannot regard
Major Bacon's enjoyment of that honor so
long as just ground for him to claim, at
the hands of the people, the gubernatorial
office. tt
The truth is, his whole case is rested
upon an effort to show Gen. Gordon unca-
| pable and unworthy to have the office.
think but little of any mans claims which
depends 80 largely on tearing down his
adversary's fame. Besides General Cor
don, young man, staked his all upon the
military service of his country He won
a soldiers fame not less brilliant than the
brightest names in ancient or modern his
tory. Ills suffering and sacrifices were
numerous, severe and of lcng endurance.
lie was five times dreadfully wounded at
Sharpsburg This splendid military rec
ord Was followed by years of devotion to
public service in civil life. His wonderful
ielilitary renown, his personal address and
great personal magnetism made him di-
plomatist of rare power His influence in
the United States Senate and in the pri-
Yate councils oi presidents and statesmen
was exceled By none. All this he cxerted
to help his downtrodden section. Tohim,
more than any one else, South Carolina
owes her deIIverance from the d6vouring
jaws of Radicalism and carpetbagism.
Now contemplate his splendid history.
Is 1t not 4 treasure of which Georgia should
be proudS Should we not rejoice to hand
1t down untarnished to future senerationsp
BIT 1t is proposed to cover up hll the glo-
rious light of such a record with reproach-
es of Intellectual feebleness and moral cor
ruption 1t is proposed to deprive my
children of the satisfaction of claiming
among the evidences of the glory of their
native State the fair and luminous history
OF John B. Gordon. resent it. AS a
proud Georgian l will not consent to have
his history marred by the addition of a
falsehood charging him with insanity and
disgraceful corruption. l will not vote
for man whose great argument for my
support is an effert to blacken such fame.
Let Georgia hurl back upon those who
undertake work 80 inglorious for merely
private advancement the ignominy which
they are seeking TO fix on one of Georgia's
noblest sons
Let the people of Terrell county and all
the surrounding country come out to Daw-
son next Friday, June the 4th, and hear
Gordoa's appeal. Honorable and patriotic
Bacon men, come and calmly review your
choice. Unless Gordon is a weak or bad
man don't join with the party which pro-
| poses to blast his fame and fasten such dis
grace On Georsta's fair history.
PATRIOT.