The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-09
DEMOCRATS ROUSINC RALLY
They Turn Out to Discuss
the Issues Of the Hour.
An APPEAL TO THE PARTY.

Speakers Handle Local Issues With
out Gloves.
There was a rousing meeting of the
democracy Of Chatham county at Catho
lie Library hall last night. The hal
was packed with enthusiastic democra Is
who voiced their sentiments in no uncer
tain sound in favor of placing the control
OF the party in the hands Of men whose
honesty is known from their past
records and not by their present profes
sions.
The hall was packed, over 100 men
standing in the rear, and there being as
many more in the gallery. The meeting
was called to order at So'clock by Mr. w
G.. Cam, who nominated Capt H. G.
Cunningham for chairman. The motion
was unanimously carried, and Capt.
Cunningham took his seat amid applause.
MIR. L. w. Neeson was elected secretary.
Capt. Cunningham opened the meeting
with rousing speech. He said that the
purposes Of the meeting had been well de-
fined in the call. 1t was a meeting of all
democrats in favor of fair primaries and
fair elections, and who do not desire
further domination of the party by Office
holders and Office seekers.
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
Local politics." said Capt. Cunning
ham, "are now the most important issue
with the people of this county Upon
this issue depends our peace and prosper
ity at home If we would maintain our
present position and continue our pros
perity we must have honest local govern
ment. This can only be obtained by fair
primaries in this county, and fair prima-
ries we will have or know the reason
why. The primaries are the most i'm
portant elections with US, because
the result Of these primaries practically
decides the result in the regular elections.
These primaries are consistent with the
practice of the Democratic party, and
their conduct is provided for by the state
law itself"
Capt. Cunningham referred to the last
primary, which, he said, twas governed
by no rules and no regulations except the
sweet will of those gentlemen who pre-
sided over it." 1t is necessary, he said,
for the unity of the party and the progress
and prosperity of this city and county
that the party primaries be properly
managed, and to this end ne urged every
good citizen TO attend the mass meetings
TO elect the new executive committee
Tuesday night, and see TO it that worthy
men are put upon the committee
Capt. Cunningham's remarks were
loudly applauded. AS chairman of the
meeting he called upon Col. Mercer to
speak upon the questions of the hour.
COL. MERGERS SPEECH.
Col. Mercer arose amid great applause.
He attempted TO speak from where he
stood, but the crowd insisted that he
should take the stage, which he did. He
said:
Fellow Democrats and Friends: We are
met together here might not as mem bers OF
any particular clique or club, for l. myself
am meml er OF no club and / know that
many OF you are not, but in order that we
may stimulate ourselves and our fellow
citizens TO do their political duty IL
is duty that no man should shirk to
take his part in giving influence and
support In favor Of honest government.
whether local, state or national We have
inc greatest government on the face OF
the earth today if IL be honestly conducted
III can not lie honestly conducted unless those
citizens who are best qualified to do so ever
else their influence TO this end. One OF the
means 10 this end is through party action.
ard 10 obtain honest government IL is Deccs-
saFy that honest men lie placed in charge of
the party machinery. For this reason il (
very necessary that we should every one of
US attend the mass meetings Tuesday
night and urge all Of our friends to
40 so. 1t is matter OF regret
that so many citizens with large interests in
the community neglect their political duties:
ana yet II would only require their attend
ance upon the party meetings and primaries
II n "a Tan 4 d In
cause or this that bad men get into Office and
puthc affairs are corruptly administered"
TIE NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Col. Mercer urged the necessity of electing
proper executive committee TO d.
rect the affairs OF the party during
the object of his I. solution offered at
the recent meeting Of the committee His
op.eGt, ne SAID was worthy and necessary
one, teing that the party should take steps
70 PROVIDE rules and regulations for the con
duct OF the primaries And yet he said
ms was the only voice that he had heard
in favor of the resolutions. II is
not only necessary, Col. Mercer said but
mandatory under the law OF the state that the
party provide such rules and regulations
who should give the committee this power -
he asked, nut the party itself. If the coming
executive committee IS TO decide who is Il,
hoid the primary elections. ana who is legally
emitted to vote at them and shall make Up
tne returns, now necessary IL is hat men
should be selected TO compose that committee
who command the confidence and respeet az
the community.
do not believe that any man who is an as
pirant Tor ONCE is competent TO serve as n
memCer OF this committee. 1 do not mean
that every man who has worthy ambition
OF some time aspiring for office shollld he de
barred from serving the party but / believe
that no man who is pronounced candidate
Tor ONCE should be member of the commit
tee that he may use his influence there to
boost himself into O1ice."
GEN. M'GLAsHAN's APPEAL.
Col. Mercer was frequently INTERRUPTED
with applause and he closed amid pro
longed applause. There were loud calls
for Mr.. ;. b. Adams, but it was announced
TO the regret of the crowd that Mr.
Adams had been called TO Waycross by a
telegram from his friend Gen. Evans,
who requested bis assistance there to-
day.
Gen. McGlashan next responded to the
Chairman S request and took the stage
amid applause. He said that he had
never thought it right for citizen to
shlrk his duties. AN Englishman once
said that the trouble with the American
people is that they achieved their liberty
too easily, and do not place sufficient
value upon IT,
Purity and honesty Of government
should be our aim, and it is our duty to
put honest men in Office and especially in
chatham county 1t is the duty of every
one, not only TO DO his full duty. but To
see that his neighbor does likewise
mere IS too much of this indifference as