Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-21
The Augusta Meeting.

The Augusta meetih2'
Two things cropped out at the Augusta
joint meeting of Gen. Gordon and Maj. Ba-
con that are rather significant. One is that
there was quite a pronounced sentiment
against personalities, and the other was
that il the present method Of conducting
the campaign is continued, feeling
hostile to both Gen. Gordon and Mai. Ba-
con would manifest itself throughout the
State which might become strong enough
to prevent either Of them from getting
the nomination.
I Such a feeling has not been unexpect-
ed. The great majority Of Democrats Of
the State have too high regard
for their party TO desire to see its
usefulness impaired by needless wran
giles melted by two of its leaders.
The men who are looking to the future
welfare OF the State, and who understand
and appreciate the extent to which that
welfare is dependent upon harmony
within and unity of the party, are begin
ming to wonder What the outcome will be
if the campaign for the nomination for
Governor continues to be one Of person
alities until the meeting Of the conven-
ton. The feeling by that time will, in all
probability, be so intense that the de-
feated faction will be in no mood to sup
port the conventions choice.
few days ago we suggested the advis-
ability of sending able, conscientious and
uninstructed delegates to the convention.
If the delegates are clothed with discre-
ton they will be in position to meet any
emergeB cy that may arise; and who is
there who can say, from the present out
look OF the campaign, that there will not
be condition OF affairs in the convention
that Will require GOODNESS, Judgment and
the exercise of the utmost discretion to
prevent bolt, and the nomination Of two
candidates for Governor?
1t will hardly be denied that the har-
mony of the party is OF far more conse-
quence than the success OF either Gen.
Gordon or Mai. Bacon. No harm will
come to the State II neither of them is
nominated. Indeed, it Is a question well
worth considering whether 1t wouldn't
be advisable, from every point OF view,
TO place at the head OF the ticket the name
Of some one Of the many distinguished
gentlemen of the State who are not closely
identified with the campaign that is at
present dividing the people in nearly every
county.
AS far as we are able to discover there
is no overwhelming determination any
where to nominate either Gen. Gordon or
Maj. Bacon. The people generally favor
one or the other of them because they
have entered themselves for the race.
They have, OF course, very many strong
friends who would like to see them sue
cessful in preference to anybody else, but
there would not be a general wall OF dis
appointment II the convention should re-
fuse to nominate either of them. In fact,
it is not improbable that there would be
feeling of relief, aud quiet satisfaction, if
the convention should place the name of
a Savannah man at the head of the ticket,
or should ask one of Georgia's Repre-
sentatives in Congress to accept the
nomnation-Mr BlOunt or Mr.. Turner
for instance. Who is there who could or
would offer an objection to Henry G. Tur-
ner, of Quitman?
The Gordon-Bacon campaign. besides
being one of personalities, is one of reit-
erations. There are no differences between
the two candidates relative to public ques-
tions which they have made sufficient
ly apparent to interest the public. They
are bound to go on making the same old
charges against each other, and to pre-
vent them from becoming tiresome they
must make them stronger. The cam
paign, to say the least of 1t, threatens to
degenerate into a sort of smuggling match,
words instead Of fists being the weapons,
with a certainty that the one who says
the most bitterly personal things Will get
the most applause.