The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-12
Watson,s Proposition.


The proposition which Mr. Remsen. the
ordinary OF Lincoln county. makes for
his friend. Mr.. Thomas Watson. is a
most remarkable one It is that II the
democrats OF the Tenth district will elect
Mr.. Watson 20 congress he will resign
Immediately after the election and retire
from politics forever. He desires to be
elected for one purpose only, and that is
to refute the charge that he was traitor
to the Democratic party.
We DO not for moment suppose that
the proposition will be accepted. There
is no way in which It could be satisfac-
torily accepted, because it is a matter
in which every democrat Of the district
is entitled TO have a voice. II the demo-
Gratis OF Richmond county should accept
it the democrats OF the other counties OF
the district might not.
And why should the democrats Of any
county accept Il? They are not particu-
larly interested in having Mr.. Watson
indicated. Why should they stultify
themselves in order to crafty him? Why
should they say. by their votes. that they
did Mr.. Watson an injustice when they
charged him with betraying the party
that sent him to congress, when they do
not believe they did anything of the kind?
Why should they put themselves In a
false position in order that what Mr..
Watson regards a stigma might be re-
moved from his name?
But suppose that in some manner Mr..
Watson's proposition should be accepted,
and he should be elected to congress by
democratic votes, and Mr.. Watson should
carry out his part of the bargain. Would
there not have to be another election?
Are the people Of the Tenth district will
ing to have three elections in order to
get a representative? We think not. The
most of them are satisfied with the cleo
ton they have had already. There are
thousands of them who cannot afford to
be going to the polls whenever Mai. Black
chooses to resign or Mr.. Watson asks
a vindication. Maj. Black and Mr. Wat
son are not the only parties interested
in elections in the Tenth district. If they
could do the voting as well as hold the
Office the people probably wouldn't care
how many elections We're held for the
purpose Of reimbursement or vindication.
Unfortunately for them they must do the
voting, and as the majority of them out
side of the cities live a long way from
the polls elections are a considerable
drain upon their time.
But how about Mr.. Watsons supporters?
Are they willing that he shall leave them
in the lurch, provided he can get a vim
dication? DO they think this proposition
of his is fair to them? They have worked
for him and voted for him because they
believed in the cause he represents. Does
not Mr.. Watson's proposition look like
an abandonment of them and the populist
cause? To say they will be surprised
when they hear of what Mr.. Watson has
done is putting the situation mildly.
AS matter of fact. does not Mr.. Wat
sons proposition create the impression
that he has no hope of being elected at
the special election upon which he and
Maj. Black have agreed? II he felt sure
of carrying the district would he have
made such a proposition? The making
of such a proposition justifes the con-
clusion that there is not so much after all
in the claim the populists make that Mr..
Watson was defeated by fraud Mr.. Wat
sons proposition is a strange one to saw
the least of it.