The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-09-07
WATSON'S CAMPAIGN.
"A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO CONTROL
THE NEGRO VOTE.

His Speech at Sparta--An Eloquent Appeal
to Enthusiastic Audience of
Dusky Hue.
The campaign in the Tenth is now full
3y under way, and it is plain that it's
characteristic feature will be a desperate
attempt on the part of Mr.. Watson to
control the negro vote. This attempt is
deliberately entered upon. Immediate
dy after his return from Washington, be-
fore he had had time TO consult with
friends or studying the situation in the
district, Mr.. Watson made a speech at
his home, Thomson. That speech was
eoStenSibly an account of his stewardship
as the agent of the people at Washing
ton, but his hearers were astonished by
the attention which he devoted to the
negroes in his audience. He fattered
them, and tried to show them that he
was peculiarly their friend and bid
strongly fJr their support. In subse-
'quent speeches he has followed the same
policy, and it is evidentlthat he camehome
with his plan of campaign already mapp-
ed out 1t is to combine with the third
party strength the support of the ne
groes. Mr.. Watson probably reasons
that the intense, fanatical devotion
of his white followers to the subtreasury
and other schemes makes it safe for him
TO make the attempt.
The meeting at span ia last week was
the most notable of the campaign up to
this time, and there Mr.. Watson seems
to have addressed himself mainly to the
negroes Again he had the negro Will
son, federal office holder, as his speak
ing companion. The union of the two,
Watson and Wilson, may be said to thor
'oughly typify the forces which are be-
ing brought against the Democratic
party.
We do not doubt that to very large
degree Mr.. WATSON will be successful in
his efforts to attract the negroes. His
strength as a speaker is of the kind to
@be effective with an ignorant, emotional
people, They will not be able to discov-
er the falseness of many of his state.
ments nor to analyze his arguments so
as to see their essential weakn ass; but
they will be touched by his eloquence
and will readily believe that through
him they may be made prosperous and
Happy,
NE. H. S. Edwards, in his dispatch to
the Macon Evening News, describes
graphically the effect of Mr.. Watson's
Oratory upon the negroes:
ut was a jubilee for the negroes"
says Mr.. Edwards. "Never had speak
'er more enthusiastic audience, and the
way he held them away from the barbe-
cue was matter of wonder. Watson
grew eloquent in his description of the
NegrO'S new home, built with govern
ment money, and the crowd swayed and
Cheered, and when the pretty picture
was ended sent up such shout as moth
ing else but clean deem to the forty
acres and the mule could have produced.
1t was good-humored crowd through
out, bat frequently moved to intense ex-
oitement when az ugly turn might have
been given to affairs.
t'In his perOration occurred one of the
most curious scenes ever witnessed on
the stump Speaking of the forces sup
porting the third party he said; "FrOm
all ranks they are coming with cheers
upon their lips from the shops with
hands uplifted and thanking God; from
the cotton fields with prayers in their
hearts to Christ, the Christ love, and
from the blacksmith shops and carpen-
teTs' shops with God is good. God is
good; at every cabin door women stand
with uplifted h nds to bless them. (Old
negro in the crowd shouts: Don't
Sno them, and the negroes embrace each
N.ther.) Yes, they come up from the
Neoths, and God be praised The
peak II swayed as he spoke, and the
vraAd swayed in unison with him, shout
sag, inging and beating time in the good
Methodist style, and he closed utter
Iy ~ hausted. [ was overwhelmed.
.dnireds crowded forward to shake his
liaah. The scene was neyer-tO- be-for-
s,Cttcl one
Smart as Watson is, he has invented
n3thilg new. The new combination
, "a nst the Democratic party and the
~ g people relies upon the same means
~ were employed by the combination
Z iaS controlled the Southern states dur
Sn1 tie reconstruction period. The diff
,fo' epces are in the smaller details of the
conl. nation itself The negroes were
lbe larger part Of tae old combination,
nni they will be of the new. Then they
Were held in line and kept in a delight
> a Stlte of expectancy for years by IF IN
lseg IF forty acres, mule and other
ipitt from the federal government. Now
ale me purpose will be achieved by
promises OF houses built for the negroes
with government money, easy and cheap
, )1nS. The promises are somewhat less
definite now, but perhaps they will prove
lust rs eff ective with the new generation
VI nsgroes.
Ts~n as now the Republican federal
administration lent its aid, and Southern
Nh't5 men especially eager for Office
WeAr snot ashamed to make themselves
S'rvants of the most corrupt tyrany that