The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-03-21
MR.. ATKINsoN,s DAWSON SPEECH.
The Atlanta Constitution Makes Some
Timely Comments Upon 1t.
From the Atlanta Constitution.


From the Atlanta Constitution.
Colonel Atkinson's recent speech at
Dawson deserves to rank with the one
delivered at Jessup. In tone, spirit and
utterances the two speeches are substan-
TALLY the same.
The speaker tod his Dawson audience
that fitness should be the test of a
9ubernatorial candidate. He said that
the churches do not select for bishop
man because he was general, but a
man qualified in every way for such a
place. The idea is thrown out Indirect
ly that Christian minister is not quail
fed to deal with secular affairs, and is
not fitted for public service. Those who
heard Colonel Atkinson went away I'M
der the impression that only lawyers
were competent, in his judgement, to fill
political Offices. Business men, farmers,
preachers and others should stick to
their own callings and let the lawyers
run the government.
Now, this line of argument will not do
Colonel Atkinson any good. This per-
sistent effort to underrate the ministry
and place it under the ban will be re-
scented by the people. OF course, Colo
mel Atkinson can shape his own cam
paign in his own way. We ale not lay
ing down a programme or policy for
him, but we do not hesitate to put him
upon notice that this kind of talk about
the ministers of the gospel will not be
appreciated by the great body of our
voters.
The truth is, that in this country
many of the most notable and successful
men in political lifeahaye belonged to
the ministry. Hundreds of preachers
are first-class business men and are vaiu-
able advisers in public affairs. Because
a man is minister it does not follow
that he must take no active interest in
secular affairs. On the contrary, it is
his duty to look after his temporal in
terests, vote on the right side, and when
his people ask him to serve them in
public Office he should be commended
for responding to their call. General
Evans belongs to that old-fashioned class
of Georgians who have always held
themselves ready to serve their fellow
men to the best of their ability in any
line of endeavOr. He was a minister,
and, was, therefore, not subject to SER
vice under the confederacy, but he did
not take advantage of this bomb-proof
Nor did he look about for a big office
under the new government. He volun-
teered as private soldier and soon rose
70 the rank of general. He was one of
best fighters in the war, but he was as
modest when he wore epaulets as he has
always been in the pulpit. After the
war the general returned to his religious
work. By this time the people OF
Georgia had discovered that their quiet
fellow citizen was man of great ability
in many ways. He was not only good
soldier, a good general and a good
preacher, but his executive ability was
of a high order, and whenever financial
and business matters were discussed in
the conferences General Evans was al
ways relied upon, and his advice was
generally followed
But General Evans does not go before
the people Boosting of his military
record, his patriotism, his ability or any
of his virtues and qualifications. Nor
does he disparage Colonel Atkinson and
advise him to stick to the law instead of
plunging into politics. The general is
too old to throw eff the moaest habits
of lifetime and loom up on the stump
Dragging about his past. II he cannot
get the support of his fellow citizent
without resorting to such methods, he
does not want it, He is satisfied to
abide by the verdict of the voters of
Georgia, and he does not propose to ex-
alt himself at the expense of others.
Colonel Atkinson willdo we'll to study
the dignifed and modest campaign
methods of his magnanimous opponent
We do not believe that Colonel Atkin-
son realizes the full meaning of some of
his utterances, nor how they are regard
ed by serious minded people. For his
own sake we trust that he will drop his
present style of argument and rest his
case upon his merits.
Deafness Cannot Be Cured
by local applications, as they cannot