People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-30
THE TENTH DISTRICT.
WATSON AND BLACK DEBATE AT
THOMSON.
The Most Orderly Meeting Of the Series
is at WatsOn's Home. Closes
the Joint Discussion.

at Augusta, was the meeting at
Thomson. The former was disgrace
ful beyond the power of pen tongue
or pen to portray. The latter would
reflect credit on any community, by
the gentle courtesy and the high
minded, chivalrous hospitality of the
people of McDufie county. The
former was the home of Major
Black; the latter was the home of
Hon. Thomas f. Watson.
In striking contrast was the re-
spect shown the two contestants by
their neighbors. Mr.. Watson's
friends and neighbors showed the
most respectful attention to Major
Black, even when they could not in
dorse his views. Mr.. Blacks friends
and neighbors did not show respect
even to himself in the city of
Augusta.
In striking contrast was the en-
thusiasm shown for a true, honest
patriot, by patriots, to the brutal
hoodlumistic spirit betrayed by the
claquers of corrupt political rings
and railroad monopoists toward the
accredited champion of these or
gained wrongs.
In striking contrast, too, is this
report, giving the words of both
speakers fully and fairly, to the
garbled ibels and forgeries Of the
partisan press of Georgia. Major
Black, as l have been informed, has
been written to the effect that if he
had any fault to find with this
series of reports, to make it known
and it would be corrected. He has
Endorsed them by his silence.
ON THE GROUND.
| left Augusta on the midnight
train in order to be on the ground in
time to survey the skirmish lines and
draw conclusions. Starting out for
a stroll the next morning, I found
the streets lined with sturdy farmers,
with fire in their eyes and the name
of Watson on their lips. I found,
too, that many houses were decorated
with flags, half black and half blue.
A farmer remarked, "NNhy, Watson
has already beaten them black and
blue"
The meeting was held in a beauti-
full grove southwest of the city, and
probably five thousand people were
present; Mr.. Black having about
1900 and Mr.. Watson $500.
During the early part of the
morning there were scarcely any
Black men present, as they were
waiting for the Augusta train with
the crowd of trained yawpers. The
first thing that attracted my atten-
ton from the stand was band
wagon from Lincoln county, with
the words "People's Party" on one
side and "forty acres and a mule"
with the mule hitched to plow) on
the other.
When your reporter reached the
stand he was received with cheers,
for which he modestly blushed and
returned thanks in a few able bodied
sentences.
BANNERS.
The next thing that attracted my
attention was a beautiful banner
about 28x40. 1t was made of white
satin with a good picture of Mr..
Watson on the upper left hand cor
ner and embroidered with lilies and
marguerites. 1t had a gold fringe
and silver tassels with the words,
"The Peoples Friend" inscribed d.
agonally across the face of the ban
ner. The staff was surmounted with
a golden eagle. This did great
credit to the taste, skill and gener-
osity of the fair donors. 1t was the
gift of McDufie's lovely daughters.
Miss Lulu Pearce advanced to the
stand bearing another banner about
20x30 of white Chinese silk with a
fine picture of Mr.. Watson near the
top and in the centre. A laurel
wreath encircled the picture while
underneath were inscribed the words,
"The Champion of our Rights"
The bottom was trimmed with
golden fringe, and it was fitting