People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-30

same thing that Alexander Stephens
did. Laughter. And yet, he
catches hold of Alexander FL. Steph-
ems coat tails to save him from the
consequence of his vote on the Bull
lock bonds. Renewed laughter.
Reads.
But the Democrats with Herschel V.
johnson as their candidate for Governor,
fell back upon their old platform The
contest was warm and close, resulting in
the election of Mr.. johnson by about five
thousand votes.
There are plenty Of men here to-
dav that remember that.
A voice. Yes, | do.
Mr.. Watson Continues to ready:
Mr. Stephens was very anxious that
old party issues should be abandoned,
and that the Southern men should stand
united upon the Georgia platform of
1850, but when the union formed upon
this basis showed so little cohesion ard
permanence he lost still more of the con-
tidence he had in the ability of the South
to hold her own amid the perIls and
trials that were gathering thickly and in
many forms about her.
Let us see where he next was. In
1849 you had him an organized
Wing refusing to vote for Howell
Cobb. Then you find him organic
ing a new party. That new party
got defeated, and where did he GO?
Why, into the ranks of the desplsed
Democrats.
A voice. Tommy, that's where
you once were.
Mr.. Watson. Now what? Old
party lines were very much broken
up. Mr.. Stephens went to Augusta,
where I went the other night.
A voice. Tell US about that, Mr.
Watson. (Murmurs of indignation
through the audience.) Well, Mr..
Stephens went to Augusta and said
that he was going to run for Con-
gress. How? AS Wing? On the
ticket of the party which had given
him his first honors? Why did they
not ask him "What have you done
with the fag?" Why did not they
stand up and howl at him. Traitor,
traitor, traitor?" Why did not they
send men from point to point, armed
and bent on mischief, trying to draw
that little man into a difficulty and
take his life? Look at his course at
Washington. In that speech he an
nounced himself as a candidate for
Congress irrespective of any conven-
ton. Independent, running on his
own merits, toting his own skillet.
Why did not they ask him, "Little
Alex, what have you done with the
fag?" (Applause.) Mr.. Stephens
went right on to Washington, elected
as an independent, and Immediately
began
TAT this point considerable confu-
fusion ensued, from some cause I
could not discover
Mr.. Watson. Boys, be quiet.
A voice. Mr.. Watson, we could
not help it; Black fell. (Alluding
to the banner.)
Mr.. Watson. Why cannot you all
tbe quiet as that man up the tree yon-
der going to sleep? Iaughter.) He
knows that when I am preaching he
need not keep his eye skinned, and
he is taking his nap. But when Mr..
Black gets up he will have to keep
his eyes open to catch every word he
says.
Well, he (Stephens) says, Decem-
Der I'd, just after he has been elected
as an independent, speaking to this
very people, some of whom I am
looking at here to-day. After he had
left his party and creed, was the
charge made against him, as against
me, Of abandoning his flag and COM
ing back with the red sword of an
enemy in his hand? After he had
done what my friend, Mr.. Black, with
rhetorical flourish would call tramp
ling che flag under his feet, what did
he DOL say? [Reads]:
I am very well pleased with the politi-
cal prospects as far as l have yet seen. 1
find that better state of feeling is now
existing among the Northern Democrats
than have ever seen before. drew up
the resolution for their caucus last night,
which was presentedssby General Clancy
Jones, of Pennsylvania, and unanimously
adopted.
That is to say, he went out of the
Wing party into the Constitutional
party, and from that into no party at
all. Great enthusiasm and laugh
ter. Elected as an independent,
toting his own skillet and acknowl-
edging no party ties, he went
straight into the Democratic caucus
as quick as his nose could carry him.
Laughter. Why? Simply because
that grand old statesman saw with
the vision of prophetic instincts
where the path of duty led them,and
like brave old Democrat he did
not hesitate to tread that path.
[Great applause. Furthermore,
according to Mr.. Johnson, from that
time on Mr.. Stephens acted with the
Democratic party. So he did until
he got into this crowd Of Atlanta
and Augusta thimble riggers. Until
This very crowd that is o-day thirst
ing for my disgrace and my defeat
turned against the old man because
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