Savannah morning news., 1886-06-22
slnnder and sIanderers.

Slander and Slanderers.
From all parts Of the State come reports
that the people are disgusted with the
way the Gordon Bacon campaign is being
conducted. and condemn the policy OF
publishing charges Of a slanderous char
acter which may have little or no founda-
ton.
The leading organs of Gen. Gordon and
Mai. Bacon last Sunday devoted a consid-
erable portion Of their editorial space to
the refutation of what they called SLAM
ders. The organ Of Gen. Gordon said that
"even the meanest slanderer should have
the conscience to publish the dis
proving OF its calumny when it is
/ offered" and then proceeded to defend
Gen. Gordon against the reiterated charge
that be blackened the memory OF the late
| Hon. B. II. Hill when he said that Mr.,
/ Hill had offered him share e in the State
road lease.
/ In another column the same organ said
/ that "the history OF Georgia politics does
not furnish more baseless slander and a
4 more crushing reply than the charge that
Gen. Gordon, as Senator, was corrupted
| by Huntington's gold and the answer to
| that charge" 1t then pointed out that
instead OF being bribed to assist Hunting
/ ton in his Southern Pacific railroad
scheme, Gen. Gordon prevented Tom Scott
from getting $50. 900, ,0O0out of the Treasury
in aid OF his Texas Pacific scheme, and,
| therefore, deserves the thanks OF CRATE
ful people.
Maj Bacon's organ let the light OF truth
in upon Two ISLANDERS which are being cir
culated about Maj. Bacon, and threatened
the slanderers with its scalping knife.
One of the ISLANDERS is that Mai. Bacon is
the attorney of the Central railroad, and
of the East Tennessee, Virginia and GeOr-
gia system, and that he is backed by
these corporations. and, hence, IL elected
Governor will be their tool. AS a matter
OF fact, the organ said, he is not the attor-
ney of the Central, and his only relation
with the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia road is that he is sometimes en-
ployed by it in a strictly legal way.
The other slander is a mean one, and
shows what horrible things rise to the
surface when the dirty pool OF politics is
greatly disturbed. 1t is in effect that
Maj. Bacon not only shamefully mistreats
his wife but that he is in the habit of
cruelty whipping her. The organ, after
stamping this slander as falsehood, AS it
undoubtedly is, and a very contemplate
one at that, exclai med, "God preserve
this Statev
Well, how is it to be preserved! Ger
tainly not by encouraging the continu-
ance of a campaign that is so prolific or
SANDER? The Gordon Bacon campaign
is a personal one. The two candidates
are not in the field at the call of the
people. They are there of their own ac-
cord, and the politicians and the WIRE
pullers have succeeded in dividing the
people into two hostile camps, one under
the Gordon banner and the other under
the Bacon banner. Is there anywhere a
feeling that the prosperity of the State or
the happiness Of the people depends upon
the election of either Gen. Gordon or Maj
,BacOni There is not. Indeed, if true
expression of the people could be got it
would doubtless appear that If both can
didates were to withdraw from the con-
test there would be a feeling OF relief all
over the State.
1t is clear, however, that they do not
mean to withdraw. They mean to fight
10 the finish. Why would it not be ad-
visable then for the people to stamp with
their disapproval this personal campaign
of slanGer Dy sending enough uninstruct-
ed delegates to the convention to nomi-
nate for Governor a man who has not
been slandered and has not countenanced
the slandering of others2