The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-10-23
MAGNANIMoUs TOM WATSON.


GOIdS6OrO Caucasian, Sd.
MAGNANIMOUS TOM WATSON.
In 1890 Hon. Themes E. Watson
was elected to Congress in the Tenth
Georgia district. He served with great
ability and made a national reputa-
ton, Plutocracy, however, was not
satisfied with such an honest Congress
man. In 1892 the Peoples party re
nominated MI. Watson and Democrats
rallied to his support. He carried
nearly every county in the district ex
cept Richmond, in which the city of
Augusta is located. In Augusta enough
ballots were stuffed in the boxes to
overcome a majority Of four thousand
outside, and Mr.. Black was declared
elected. In the recent State election
Judge Hines, Peoples party nominee
foriGovernor, carried the Tenth district
with 952 majority. Watson will poll
more votes than Hines. But many
fear that the same dirty work will be
resorted to in Augusta to defeat Mr..
Watson on the 9th of next month.
Many of the Peoples party men, and
they are almost solid in the district
outside of Augusta, are in favor of boy
cotting the city, throwing their trade
elsewhere. This would be a serious
blow to the city, especially in this time
~ IoD-OaaT1o 0nG M 1nT1h% "nJ111
brighten the citizens there into com
plete subsection rather than bring ruin
upon themselves. But big hearted,
magnanimous Tom Watson opposes
the plan both on the stump and
through his paper, the Atlanta Daily
Press. Read what he says:
Elsewhere we publish a letter which
voices the feeling of thousands of in
dignant people.
I'VE cannot agree with our CORES
pondent. We know him to be an
honest patriotic citizen, but we think
his proposition unwise.
"Boycotts are dangerous weapons.
Only in the most extreme cases are
they justifable; and ven then they
should be of such q nature that only
the guilty are made to suffer.
I'VE heartily COncurred in the Jute-
baggipg boycott, because there we
could strike directly the men who
were violating the law, and plundering
the people.
But to boycott a city, like Augusta,
means an injury to the innocent as
we'll as the guilty.
Our own friends there would suffer.
Those brave men who have stood true
to us through all the storms of politi
cal persecution have a right to expect
that we will take no step which does
them harm"
Continuing he says:
Would il be right to bring ruin to
an honest merchant, or factor, who
is already taxed nigh unto death by
the very ringsters who commit cleo
ton frauds?
How can the merchant help it9
He is powerless. He cannot save
himself from the greedy grasp of the
remorseless gang which plumber the
city of Augusta under the forms of
laW-much less can he save as
"How, then, are we to stop this
stealage of votes IN the interest Of our
peerless Christian gentleman, Mr..
Black? We can do it by continually
fighting the evil with the weapons of
peace.
I'VE will continually appeal TO the
law, to public conscience, and to Con
gress.
THE laws of the land are not en-
tirely dead.
Public conscience will not always
sleep.
Congress will not be always Damo
cratic.
I'VE have seen a Democratic Con
gress for the last time-thank Godr
That is noble sentiment. Mr.. Wat
son is by far the most popular man in
Georgia with the great masses, in town
and country, and the few who are
prejudiced against him will soon learn
better. We predict that the stand he
has taken in this matter, while it will
not be appreciated by the political
thugs in Augusta, will insure his cleo
ton, for the good citizens there will
certainly not allow such dastardly out
RACES against him when he is standing
between them and certain financial
ruin were the thousands of indignant
and outraged people not held in check
by his appeals for peace and justice.
-~ ~
A Democratic editor thus expresses
his inward feelings:
Sing a song of six nickles
Pocket full of trash, =
Over head and ears in debt