The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
ARP AND THE EDITORS.
Bill Replies to Comments on
His Remarks
ABOUT THE DEMOCRACY,
And the Difference Of Its Com
position North and South.

1t seems to trouble some very sensitive gen.
tle1nen that Bill Arp said the democracy Of
the north had within its ranks three-fourths of
the lower grades Of northern society. If this
is not true, say SO; if it is true, why make
fuss because Bill Arp said so? That the repub-
lieans OF the north represent her wealth and
culture and progress, everybody knows who
has Travelled north and mingled with her poo
pic. 1t is no secret no new discovery. And
hence it is perfectly natural that her lower
classes should be democrats. The poor and
the ignorant have but little inclination to
affiliate with the rich and proud. If there is a
party that is not so rich they viii go to it. In
the old times the poorer classes of this state
were democrats for the same reason. 1t was
rare to find a wool hat or a one-gallus man
anon the wings. The wing party of Georgia
represented mainly her wealth and culture.
The wing boys in our schools and colleges
outnumbered the sons of democratic fathers
three to one. Now I'm afraid that this will
offend some southern democrats, but it is new
ertheless fact and can be proven by DR.. Mil
Ter, and DR.. FELTON,, and Judge Underwood,
and q host of others who associated with or
followed tie lead of Crawford, and Troup,
and Toombs, and Stephens, and Jenkins, and
Ben Hill. The records of Franklin college
prove it, Joe Browns remarkable career as a
politician and statesman proves it, for he
sDrang from among the masses-the common
people-and they followed him because he did.
The first war he eyer waged was against the
ariStocracy-thelr wealth, their banks, and
their railroads.
But let that pass. The time was when
shouted for the democracy and thought the
country was ruined if a wing was elected
Young editors are affected that way now at
every election, whether state or national. With
them party is bigger thing than principle,
In fact. it is bigger thing with all partisans.
SO much so that before they know it they be-
come offensive partisans. Their side are all
saints, and the other all sinners. Now here
are two national platforms, one for protection
and the other against it. AS Congressman
Blount said: There is no straddle this time;
the issue is made up, the lines are drawn, and
the great fight has to be made"
Now, if political principles controlled editors
and statesmen, then Joe Brown and Dr.. Eel
ton and Colonel Hanson and host of southern
protectionists ought to fall out of the demo-
cratic columns and join the republicans, and
THE CONSTITUTION and the Chronicle, and the
Nashville, Chattanooga and Birmingham pa
perS ought to hoist the Harrison banner. That
would look like consistency. But the reason
they do not is because they have but little faith
in platforms, and do have faith in the honesty
of Cleveland's administration, and q liberal
distribution Of the offices, dignities, rewards,
emoluments and the ct eeteras thereof. Gen
eral Harrison may be just as honest, but we do
not know it, and besides he is standing ON
platform that is insulting to the south, for the
honor, the good name and the self-respect of
the south is bigger thing with us than party
or platforms, or anything else. We had great
respect for Mr.. Thurman until he fired off
that gun at us, and denounced man whom
our people have delighted to honor. / have
said my say about that, and the young editors
have had their say about me, and so we are
all even all round; and now let lis all be
calm and serene. For twenty-three years we
have been drilled into prudential silence, and
it has ayailed us nothing. Our prudence has
become seryility, and we have got SO accus-
toned to being watched and hawked at that it
is our normal condition. We dodge every time
they make motion whether they throw or
not John Sherman and his bummers came
down here and stole the vote of whole state
and yet at overy election they iudict us for in
timidatQg the negro out of his vote, They
know that that is plausible lie; but even if
it was a fact, 1t is none oftheir business. There
are thousands intinidated at the north-in-
undated by their employers in the great man
ufaetories, but we make no fuss about it. Our
candidates electioneer with the negroes at
every state OF county election just like they do
with the white folks, but nobody says word
to them at presidential election. They can't
even get drink or a chew of tobacco for their
votes and so they have quit voting pretty
much We don't need them. The state is
solid anyhow. a few darkies went up to Chi
cago as delegates from this state, but there are
not five colored men in this town who knew
who they we're or who sent them or what they
went for. They didn't care ifthey didn't know.
They will tell you when asked about it that
they "haint got no time to be foolin away
wild dat business" 1t is better to kick back
when they kick us. Give tit for tat as Ben
Hill did, and Bob Toombs. Hin commanded
the respect of the northern people by his bold
and manly uttcrances. Even Jim Blaine be-
came his friend, and they were often seen in
fellowship together, and Blaine was the first to
contribute to Hills monument.
Politics is a riddle anyhow. We can't under
stand how northern republicans and southern
democrats in congress can be SO friendly How
they can joke and drink and frolic together,
and then lam away in their speeches like they
would fight if it wasn't againt the rules of the
house, or the senate. Maybe If it wasn't
against the rules, they wouldn't lam away so
bad. Let n man look back and contemplate
the bitter feuds between many of our greatest
men, rs Toombs and Joe Brown, and Hin and
stephens and Colquitt and Norwood, and
Gordon and Bacon. Think of the rings that
have been broken, and new rings
made out Of old enemies. Consider
the long-continued, unwayering devotion of
Colquitt TO Pat Walsh and how rude'y it was
broken Compare the editorials OF today with
those a few years ago and see if you can find
consistency. Who are Bacon's frieLds now
and who are Colquitt's and who are Browns
nobody knows. All that the public knows is
that there is now deal. Politics is just as
much a science as playing chess and has about
as small a field for the emotions that give
grace and truth to character. Then what can
patriotism that begins at the freside, then
broadens TO his state then reaches to his pecu-
liar section, and at the last stretches wide its
arms and takes the whole nation in their en-
I brace2
l don't sec any good in the south abusing
Harrison nohow. The south is solid for Cleve-
! land and the battle ground is up north, and
the more we abuse him here the more it will
strengthen him up there. This chronic abuse,
this stereotyped SANDER that comes along
every four years, is Il shame. We went to war
because Lincoln was elected, and now we say
he was the very best friend the south had
above the line. We denounced Grant rs
brute and q drunkard, and Yet the great politi-
cal leaders of the south praised him alive and
incurred him when dead and threw flowers
upon his grave. Lamar delivered a eulocy
on Sumner and General Gordon became
Grants personal friend. They fall ont and
fall in worse than children ut play. They run
/ a drag-net through each others character. and
/ then make friends and put the net mp in the
loft for the next Time and il is all for office. 1t
was the Salle way in 1910, when General Har-
! rison ran against NanBurcn. log cabins and
| hard cider were the watchwordS then, for the
I general lived in the one and lived on the other
/ His grandson has no liking for either, they
y 3. ~sts1,., ~ -