The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-07

/ Work for Georgia Democrats to Do.
The approaching political campaign in
/ this state will be a very important one.
! The state executive committee Of the Demo-
cratic party will meet March to make
! preparations for it. The chairman Of the
committee, Mr.. W. Y. Atkinson, in an in
/ terview which appears in connection with
I the call for the meeting Of the committee.
/ makes some pertinent remarks about the
4 political situation, and throws out some
suggestions that are worth careful conside-
ration.
Mr.. Atkinson recognizes the existence Of
a new political organization in this state
the Peoples party-aDd although he does
not believe it will amount TO much. he
thinks it would be wise for the Democratic
party TO be on its guard against it. Mr..
Atkinson Is Of the opinion that it will not
draw much strength from the Democratic
party, but that it will get a good
many recruits from the Republican
party. He thinks that it will make
an effort to organize and control the black
voters. If it succeeds in doing that it may,
Mr.. Atkinson says, win few local victories
but its success even In that respect will not
be long-lived.
1t is difficult 10 see how men who have
been lifelong democrats can consistently
become members Of party that purposes
20 rely upon the black voters for success.
They cannot expect. OF course, TO control
the party. II the blacks are IN the ajor-
ity they will control 1t, and if 1t should gain
the ascendancy we should have condition
Of affairs Ia the state much like that which
existed when carpet-bag rule prevailed.
Mr.. Atkinson speaks Of those democrats
who are identifying themselves with the
Peoples party as disruptionists, and says
that If they should succeed in carrying out
their schemes they would put Georgia back
twenty-five years. II bis understanding Of
the situation is correct. what he says about
the injury that would be done the state in
the event OF the SUCCESS OF the Peoples
party is no doubt true.
But il democrats in all parts Of the state
will do their duty the Peoples party
will be so greatly in the minority IN the
campaign this year that its existence will
be very short one. And these is no reason
for thinking that democrats will not do their
duty. Many Of them have not taken very
active part In politics for a number Of years,
because there has been no opposition practi-
cally to their party, but If there should be
opposition worthy Of notice they would be
seen at political gatherings and at the polls
working as earnestly for their party as ever
they did
The leaders OF the Peoples party are
making a mistake in thinking that all the
democrats who sympathize with the al
lance, or even large percentage Of them.
will support that party. When they find
that party lines are being drawn they will
recall what the Democratic party has done
for the south, and see clearer than they do
now perhaps that it, and it alone, can give
the farmers the relief they demand, and
they will not leave it. On the contrary.
seeing it threatened, they will do their ut
most to defend it. They viii do harder
work for it than ever before.
Mr.. Atkinson speaks the sentiments of
the best and truest democrats when he
says "the Democratic party must put to
the front men OF brains and convictions. It
would be disastrous to have the party led
by men who would sacrifice principle for
personal success" The party cannot afford
to have as leaders trimmers or men who
make compromises. Those who carry the
banner of democracy must haveAfaith in
democratic principles and must ready to
stand up for those principles under any and
all circumstances. With such men at the
front there would be no reason for fearing
the Peoples party.