The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-05-20
THE SITUATION IN cEoRcl..

Senator Colquitt was home from
Washington few days ago. General
Gordon is here now Allianceman Liv-
ingston and other congressman are to
be here in few days. and after them
will come the two rams" and then
it will be times fit to exclaim: .:Hell's
broke loose in Georgia.
majority of white Georgians have
firmly resolved that Solid South
is not the best thing to be desired,
writes Sarge Plunkett in the Southern
Alliance Farmer. The section is in a
sorry plight materially. the people are
deserving the old leaders and one side
or the other are cursing the new ones.
A division that will bring back some
thing of the conditions that were here
/ when the Democrats and Wings
watched each other is now the popu-
| lar demand among the town workmen.
and the average countryman is paw
ing the clay roots for Third Party"
movement
1t is funny to see how closely the
old leaders are drawing to one an.
other. Differences are being COM
promised and enmities forgotten, but
it is safe to say that it will take
combination of much more religion,
war record and judgment than can be
gotten together in these times to save
the old party from going to pieces.
AS Jenkins mouthed about the loss
OF an ear till he stirred up great
trouble, SO few nave mouthed about
the corruption Of the old party till
there is to be split. 1t has resolved
itself in Georgia TO the people against
the politicians with the negro to
come IN for the spoils I'm afraid.
There is no denying the fact that the
state is badly split up-this is po-
litical tactics on the principal that if
l CAN'T get it you shar't have it. 1t
will defeat Hill for the nomination and
prevent Cleveland from getting the
same. In the meantime the break
grows wider and will keep on growing
till at last Georgia may cast her cleo
toral vote for Third party" man.
This will break up the Solid South. "
A condition thought to be wise by
many of our bright young leaders but
a thing to be deplored is the opinion
of the old and trained ones. Siding
with the old leaders are a few vigor-
GUS young men capable of doing some
good work
Outsiders do not know on how
fiimsy thread a turn in politics has
been averted in this state for the past
several years. There was rampant
desire at one time for independent
politics in many Of the congressional
districts. Emory Speer. now United
States circuit Judge and Dr. FELTON,
were successful Independents several
years ago. Norwood's race against
Colquitt for governor ten years ago
smacked of independentism, and there
are many who yet believe that had
not Bob Toombs been prevented from
making a speech appointed to be de-
livered at the capitol building here
politics would have been changed all
round. The story is good enough to
tell to show upon what a fimsy thread
that campaign hinged, as is believed
| by many.
Bob Toombs was to speak IN the in
terest of Norwood upon certain
night. He arrived in Atlanta in the
early morning and took rooms at the
best hotel. The news soon spread
that he was here and the people run
wild with enthusiasm and it seemed to
be doubtful which Of the two candi-
dates had majority.
TOmbs must not speak. was the
judgment of Colquitt's best friends,
but how to prevent it was the ques-
ton. A caucus of Colquitt's follow
ers was held and the matter dis
cussed. 1t would not do to try harsh
means they knew General Toombs
too we'll for that; they could not pur-
'suade him against his convictions,
they knew that; all the gold in Amer
lea could not buy the grand old man,
they knew that
Has he weaknesso" was the ques-
ton.
! Yes. one!
He drinks wine when it is red in the
cup.
Here was the one chance to prevent
his thunderb bolts from being hurled
against Colquitt
/ 1t was a success!
| Woombs did not speak that night
The people gathered till the repre-
sentative hall of the grea. capitol was
j filled and the streets were. crowded
I. outside. They were wild with en-
| thusiasm and weary at waiting but no
/ Toombs came. He never came. and
he never spoke against Col9uitt and
! that gentleman was elected by a ma
! jOrity never before known in the
state-he was 'vindicated.'
/ The men who drank with Toombs
/ that day are still alive and prominent
they will be actively prominent in
the coming campaign and are men of
methods.
There are many people in Georgia
yet who plant by the moon. believe in
luck and are watchful of causes and
| effects. This class believe that
neither Cleveland. Hill or Harrison
! will be the next president They
predicate this belief upon the fact
that never a presidential asprant
from Willard Fillmore to the present
/ day who visited Atlanta has ever sue
| ceeded in being elected.