Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-09-15
The Third Party in Georgia.
fColumbia Register.

columbia Register.
The Register editor has just returned
from trip to the Empire State of the
South, Georgia, and took occasion, dur
ing his visit, to feel the pulse of the peo-
pie on the Peoples Party issue.
The Democrat who ignores the strength
and determination of this new movement
is. either politically blind or fool. The
success of our party is threatened, and
dangerously imperiled at that, and twill
take the hardest kind of work to bring
the seeding Democrats back into the
fold.
This Third Party strength rests in the
rural communities-int the side-paths and
by-ways-and it's difficult to reach. And
its followers, too, are blinded in their
faith and zeal, and with many Of them it
is like pouring water on ducks back to
try to argue them out of their opinion.
If the section that we visited is fair
sample of Georgia it will be nip-and-
tuck race between the Third Partyites
and Democrats, SO far as the white vote
is concerned; but we are informed that
! ~ - mary counties the Democrats have a
decided majority. But one thing is cef-
tain-the balance of power rests in the
hands of the negro, and the eyes of both
parties are now appealingly turned upon
him. Last Saturday, in Oconee county,
the Peoples Party had primary to
select a candidate for the Legislature.
The previous night both parties held
meetings in every militia district for the
purpose of controlling the colored vote.
The Democrats had speakers on hand,
who sought to convince the negro that it
was to his interest to go with their side.
The Peoples Party leaders visited every
cotton field and urged the darkey to come
out and vote with them in the to-mor-
rows primary.
Watkinsville, the county town, was
filled with blacks, but only about twenty
voted in the election. They said they
were not as yet decided how they would
go. The State election comes off on the
first Wednesday in October, and this con-
test will decide the fate of the Third
Party movement. From what we can
learn, Georgia will be safe to the Democ-
racy by about 10000 majority. The
Democrats claim 10000, but we think
they are over-sanguine. We noticed that
the large landowners are generally DEM
ocrats, and they will control their hands.
The rank and file of the Third Party are
poor men, and while, in many counties,
they may have majority of the white
vote, they have the wealth and power of
the State to combat.
Every effort will be used to defeat Tom
Watson, for it is generally considered
that his overthrow means the destruction
of the Third Party movement, while his
triumph, against such fearful odds, will
make him the future political autocrat of
Georgia. We yesterday talked with
Judge Roney, of Watson's own county,
and that gentleman says the result is
yelled in doubt, although it is generally
believed that Black will beat Watson.
Thousands of dollars will be spentin this
contest Richmond every neglo whos:::.
tax arrearages do not exceed IS have
been paid up and made voter, and it is
though that Augusta will give Black
5000 majority. If this can be done,
Watson's defeat is assured.
1t is looked upon by the Democrats as
fortunate that the State election comes
off before the national contest, as Gov.
Northen is very popular with the negroes
on account of his opposition to lynch
law. If the State can give rousing
Democratic majority in October it will
have a crushing effect on the Third
Party movement in November and the
election for county officers that takes
place in January. A very bitter fight is
made upon Col. Peek, the Peoples Party
candidate for Governor. on account of a
bill that he introduced and Watson sup
ported while both were members of the
| Legislature in 1887, making the violation
of a contract by farm hand misde-
meanor. A picture Of Peek and Watson
turning free laborers into convicts is
shown at the head of the bill that is scat
tered among negroes all over the State.
Our Georgia friends are certainly badly
muddled, and look with envious eyes
upon the happy conditioH of affairs over
in South Carolina, where the Alliance
fought their battles in the Democratic
ranks, and our political differences were
amicably settled by the whites without
appealing to negroes. The Third Party
ii-ites in Georgia were anxious to know if
our farmers would be with them. We
told their voters the Alliance in this
State were Democrats and would vote
for the nominees of their party, both
State and national. Several of their
leaders admitted that it was a serious
mistake on their part going into Third
Party, but it was too late to recede.
Georgia will give Cleveland between
3o,eo0 ara $1,000 majority. 1t need not
be considered as doubtful State. The
negroes will generally vote the Republi-
can ticket, and enough of the whites will
come together to save their electoral vote
for our nominees. We do not know
what will be the result in the Congress
sional contests. but believe that the Dem
ocrats will elect their every nominee.
There is great deal OF missionary work
to do, however but men viii be found to
do it.