Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-16
win TIC Campaign BE a Hot One"

VIII The Campaign BE Tot one
Very many oil tne state papers-pe'hsps
tue majority of them-In -ist that ne cam
paIrn for the nomination for Governor,
which Gen. Gordon and Maj. Bacon are
conducting. VIII be a hot one. We do not
see why it should be. Mai Bacon has
said that be does not intend to introduce
ISLANDERS into his speeches, and Geu. Cor
don mas said about the same thing. They
have both expressed their views on State
questions which are now engaging the at
teution of the people, and they are not so
wide apart as to occasion any great
amount OF comment.
If we are to have a hot campaign either
! Gen. Gordon or Maj. Bacon, or both, must
I depart from the calm, conservative course
which, in their public utterances, they
have marked out for themselves. If both
OF them, however, have determined not to
reiterate charges which they cannot sus-
tain by ample evidence, or even to make
charges the truth of which they are not
certain about, it is not easy to see where
there is room for exciting a very great
| deal OF feeling.
1t has been charged, for instance, that
Gen. Gordon resigned his seat in the SEN
ate in accordance with the terms OF an
arrangement by which Gov. Colquitt
agreed 70 appoint Hon. Joseph E. Brown
10 the vacancy. Gen. Gordon denies that
this charge has any foundation whatever,
and calls for the proof OF it. II no proof
is forthcoming, what right has
anyone to repeat it. or course,
unless Mai Bacon is prepared to show
that the charge mas substantial founda-
tion. he is not going to repeat it, because
he is not the sort of a man to deal
in ISLANDERS, and, besides, he has
stated that he does not intend
to deal in them. There is no occasion to
call attention to other charges, because, it
they are considered as SANDERS until
some proof OF their truth is furnished, they
may play no part whatever in the cam
paign.
OF course it is easy to see that the cam
paign can readily be made very hot if the
policy OF recklessly making charges is
adopted by either or both of the candi-
dates, but il they aim to keep close to the
truth, and do not permit themselves to do
each other an injustice knowingly, 1t is
probable that a nomination will be
reached before the campaign becomes
even uncOmiortably warm.
Assuming that either Gen. Gordon or
Mai. Bacon will be the nominee, the peo-
pie will have no cause for regret or for
citation either for that matter. Either of
them will make a good Governor, and
will serve the state honestly ana ably.
The people can rest content, therefore,
that il no other candidate should seek the
nomination the interests OF the State are
safe. This being the situation, they can
afford to keep cool and enjoy whatever is
amusing in the campaign.
There will doubtless be some very
amusing things. There will be some
rather surprising dOngs perhaps by the
politicians who think they have a Thur
low Weed kind of genius for managing
political campaigns. The campaign may
become tiresome at times because there
will be So much Federation, but it will
display features once in awhile, doubt
less, that will relieve the feeling Of weari-
ness.
There ought to be nothing, however, to
arouse feeling OF excItement-nothing
to cause neIghbors to feel bitter towards
each other. Ii the fact is kept steadily in
mind that nobody has any claim to the
Governorship that is entitled TO recogni-
tion, and that the office belongs to the
people, to be given by them to the one
they want to have it, there will be no oc-
casion even to sympathize with the de-
feated candidate.