The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-07-01
A., THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 1, 1886.
HOW STAND YET

for that, and he that undertakes
it, will find the path to honor and
fame thorny one. From the days
OF Aristophanes to this, no man has
attained position without being as
sailed by some follower of this
Athenian satirist. 1t is the deadly
green of the poisonous hemlock that
throws its shade over fame and hon
or whenever it is brought to the
front, that has blighted the lives of
so many gifted sons of earth, causing
every thinking man to join with
Burns in declaring that ''Man's in
humanity to man makes countless
millions mourn"
Washington did not escape the
calumny of the vicious or criticism
and satire Of enemies who could bow
at no shrine except of their own
building. The ink had hardly dried
on the pages of the immortal declara-
ton of independence before its au-
thor was charged with Atheism.
"Old Hickory" loved and honored
by continent, was the subject of
more abuse and vituperation than
any public man of his day. Webster,
Clay and Calhoun were each calum-
mated and reviled by pot house pol
lticians and partzan cables.
Then is it any wonder that this
generation is neither better nor
worse than the. preceding? Arts
tophanes still lives. He sometimes
assumes the garb of an editor, and
again that OF parson who has sue
cessfully filched the garh of Heaven
to serve the devil in.
Thoughtful people of all shades of
political opinion understand such,
and assign them their true position
in the political and moral world.
Why assail Gordon as lessee of
convicts or why say Bacon did wrong
in inaugurating the system?
The people of Georgia then thought
it the best that could be done, Has
any other plan been suggested that
will bear better fruits If so these
satirist of higher aims and broad pa
triotlsm should suggest it-nay, dem
onstrate to the tax payers of the
State its feasibility. The Macon
Telegraph says Joe Brown wont lie
and wont steal, yet this same Joe has
been favorite lessee from the begin
ming and has twice been endorsed by
the people of Georgia, and yet it is
crime in Gordon that cannot be con
doned. Just here one plain word.
The poor but honest tax paying PEG
pie of the State have no sympathy for
murderers, rapists, burglars and
thieves, and the man or set Of men
who attempt to support these vile
wretches at the expense of honest in
dustry, will find that the true man
hood, yea the true womanhood of the
country will assert itself in no uncer-
tain manner. Neither Gordon or
Bacon can control this question and
stump speakers and dry goods box
politicians ought to know it. 1t is
question for legislative action. Send
able, good men to the Legislature
and they will take care at it.
Huntington, Tom Scott and the
Pacific railroad may be interesting
national questions, and the denial of
the soft impeachment when slipping
away from that historic door crack,
when the immortal Hill had the floor.
has passed into history am afraid
fabulous history, but let it rest.
There is question, however, that
has present potential existence. l
refer to the continuance of the pres
ent Railroad Commission law as now
administered. In this matter the
Executive is chief factor. 1t is by
his appointment that this salutary
legislation is to be made effective for
good or an engine in the hands of
corporations by which the people
may be crushed. 1t needs no argu-
ment to sustain this benifieent law as
now administered. If Gordon and
Bacon are both committed to this
law and its faithful administration,
other things being equal, it would be
IA question Of personal preference.
If on the other hand one of these
gentlemen is clear, positive and out
spoken in his support Of the measure
and the other vague, uncertain and
doubtful in his utterances, then it
seems to me every personal consider
alton should be subordinated to the
public good and that man who heart
lily supports the law, should be the
one to see that it is faithfully execu-
ted. How stand we Gordon and Ba-
con? This is the great question of
the day. d.
In answer to the above communi-
cation, we desire to say that General
Gordon has in unmistakable Ian
guage committed himself to the sup
port of the present Railroad Com
mission law. lie says he is for it