People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-09
SOME LIVELY LIES.

State, it sets the pace for the small
prevaricators, and doubtless deceives
many of its small weekly followers
into believing that what they publish
from it's columns is true, or merely
embellished to ordinary Democratic
taste. The Associated Press touches
up and colore the outside telegraphic
reports to suit the views of the Trust
owning all the wires, and therefore
allows a concentration of the energy
of the editors on State and local
affairs. Young men are furnished
railroad passes and paid to visit
places where discussions cause the
people to collect, and reports go out
to the people that great crowds are
converted to Democracy; that the
Peoples speakers are pigmies intel
lectually, and that all is serene for
the " organized Democracy" in all
parts of the State. These reports
are rehashed throughout the weekly
press, often by men who do not be-
ieve them, but who know the people
are interested in campaign news, and
who publish to keep up an appear
ance Of enterprise to their readers.
But not only in its news columns
does the Constitution misrepresent.
In last Sundays paper, over the sig
nature of its managing editor, Clark
Howell, one of the most Infamous
falsehoods ever given to the people
was made public. The following is
here reproduced, that this criticism
may be specific and undenlable:
"The white and black vote of the dis
trict being almost equal, the negro be-
comes a most important factor in the re-
suit. Watson stops at nothing short of
absolute incendiarism to enlist him.
Ever since his return from Washington
he has been chasing the black vote all
over the district, sprinkling salt on it's
tail whenever he gets within reach of it.
The negroes in some parts of the district
are wild about him; they hail him as q
win %ho hon 81 hi
ment and talk about it with intoxicated
delight; they are suddenly bold and de-
faint and point to him as their Messiah
who will wipe away the color line. A
few days ago he spoke in Sparta to the
negroes, and INDUCED in some of the
most fanciful talk as to what he propos-
ed to do for them. That night they as
sailed the house at which he stopped and
literally overrun it. The modest and re-
fined matron, a southern woman, expos
tulated at the intrusion, but was brush
ed from her own door by a burly negro,
who exclaimed, I come to see my Jesus
Christ, ard I viii dc d II
"Watson afterwards explained to her
that his remarks concerning political
equality had been misunderstood by his
hearers, and had been construed into an
endorsement of social equality beyond
his intention"
The article from which this is ex-
tracted is a letter to the New York
Herald, which the Constitution states
was published in the New York
and Paris editions Of that paper.
Mr.. Watson spoke at Sparta
August &c. His speech was publish
ed in full September 2, the language
being reproduced as accurately as
skilled stenographer could report it.
That republication was in the Con-
stitution office, Saturday morning,
and besides Mr.. Watson's speech of
the day before is reported by the
Constitution correcting the statement
garbled by Mr.. Clark Howell. Mr..
Watson LETT Sparta at 2 O'Clock ID
the afternoon of the day on which he
spoke. No negroes visited him at
his room. Clark Howell does not
state what Mr.. Watson said, but
characterized it as "most fanciful
talk" and leaving the inference that
he endorsed the lies reported. Now
the grave charge is here made, that
Mr.. Clark Howell intended that the
language he uses in his letter should
sustain the lie about what Mr.. Wat
son said, and he repeated the lie
about what occurred in Sparta that
night knowing it to be untrue. If
he can stand under such an imputa-
ton, he will Of course enter no dis
Claimer. But does he realize the in
fanny of such conduct?
The Democratic papers have for
week or more been copying and
gloating over a document said to
have "found its way into the hands
of the president of Democratic
club at Cedartown. It purports to
be statement, under oath, by one