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

The notice that General Weaver would
not speak at Athens Monday was insult
f1cient, and large number Of the faith
full congregated there that day. Senator
Gordon was on hand, and with a brass
band made counter demonstration,
assembling not over one-fifth as many
as attended the Peoples rally. Local
speakers made addresses, and good order
and determination were exhibited. The
following was unanimously adopted
To THE LAw-ABIDING AND UPRIGHT
VOTERS OF GEORGIA:
Mrs General James B. Weaver was
assaulted on the balcony of the hotel at
Macon, Ga. The meeting at the same
place at which our presidential candi-
date, General Weaver, was speaking. was
broken up by a mob General Field,
our vice. presidential candidate, Con-
federate soldier who lost leg on the
battlefield, has been insulted at every
meeting he has held in the State, and
even assaulted. The noble congressman
from the tenth district, Hon. Thomas E.
Watson, ever watchful of the interests of
the people, has been denied the privilege
of speaking in the capitol building OF the
State, and his meeting, after beginning
his speech, broken up by a mob. General
Weaver has on two occasions also been
prevented by a bowling mob from speak
ing the State capitol building. The
people have been told that no party but
the Democratic was henCefOrth to be
allowed the used Of the capitol building
1t has been openly andsfrequently stated
that the Peoples party was not going to
be allowed the privilege of holding pub
lie meetings in any Of the large cities of
the State the education of the people
on political matters except the Demo
cratic policy was to be forbidden. It has
been stated that ''hayseeds' and Labor ers
had no right to use the capitol building
for political meetings which the hood
lum5 were bound to respect, and that
they would not be permitted TO hold such
meetings, and this hoodlum element-a
mob-baoked up by persons from whom
the people Of the State had reason to
hope for better things, that ''hayseeds'
and laborers had "no right there and
need expect none" The governor of
the State lent his sanction and winked
at the horrible proceedings to prevent
free speech and the education of the peO-
pie upon matters pertaining to their well
fare, all Of which demonstrates that the
ability of the laborer and honest yeo-
many of the State are to be deprived of
and denied even the right to peaceably
assemble and discuss the wrongs of which
they have most just right to complain.
Free speech is guaranteed by the con
stitution, yet we have been deprived of
that right even in our capitol.
no IF Eon Tot hoe IOxI
countenancing a mob, the object of
which was to prevent the right Of free
speech and peaceable assemblage, dis
graced the gubernatOrial chair of the
Empire State of the South, and we most
earnestly request that he resign the trust
the people bestowed upon him, in order
that it may be placed in more deserving
hands.
We denounce the assault by the Bour-
bon Democracy upon lady of high per-
sonal and Christian character, for no
other reason than because she was the
wife of our presidential candidate, as far
below the boosted chivalry of Georgia,
and we desire to enter our most emphatic
protest against this horrible act, and to
publish to the people that the Peoples
| party desire to reclaim and maintain our
former Southern chivalry that this trail
ing in the dust of our chivary is foul
blot upon the fair name and reputation
of Georgia for which only a minority is
| responsible, one of which is the governor ;
the first act in his opening of the cam
| paign being an attack upon woman.
The waving of the 'bloody shirt is as
much to be condemned in the South as
in the North, and we do condemn the
same. The attempt to revive sectional
ism is an effort of plutocracy and shy
lockism to detract the attention of. the
people from the vital principles of finance,
transportation, land and corporate mo-
nopoly, which have been robbing labor
of It's just reward, sapping manhood OF
its vigor, robbing womanhood of homes,
depriying children of their educa ton,
and making slaves of us all.
We denounce the numerous efforts to
deprive the citizens of Georgia Of free
speech on grave political questions as a
crime not only against the present gen
Grafton but against posterity.
We request of all good and liberty
loving people their assistance at the bal
lot box in rebuking the perpetrators OF
these most heinous crimes.
Adopted unanimously by mass meet
ing of Peoples party of Clarke and adj
joining counties this September 26, 1892.
Chairman Atkinson is said not to