People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-13

iod, by the party ID power, if you
know A. Well, the Democratic
party in Georgia consists principally
of those who hold offices and are
able to MANIPULATE thu machine. The
masses are Disguised with the Dem
ocratic party, as Democratic papers
all over the state will show. There
s no bitterer opponent of Democra
y than the "5parta Ishmselite," the
paper that houndel Mr.. Watson and
myself in the campaigns of 1892 and
1894 When men became dissatisfied
and complained they were ostracized
by the men who control, they were
made uncomfortable in business, So
cial and financial relations Eat b
man who dared to think differently
from the manipulation of the machine,
was called an enemy to the Govern
ment and was treated as if he really
we're. The men who stood high in
social, political and fir anoial circles,
previous to the birth of the Populist
party, when they affiliated with this
new party, we're Immediately classed
as the enemies of the peace and as
disturbers, and treated as if they
were Common felons. Men who
had held legislative and judicial pc,
sitions, when they affiliated with the
Populist party, were classed as enc
mics OF the people. This is true
the preventative OF Warren, the
sheriff of McDuffie, men who had
been Democrats Claiborne Snead,
who had been judge under the Dem
ooratic administration, = WAS ostrs
cized because of their afihation with
the Populist party. 1t wa enough
to say that you were Populist,
to have every Democratic heel
against you, whatever had been your
previous standing.
Q. What was the effect, il a p olit-
ical or partisan way, upon these lib
eral Democrats who received the
treatment you have described A.
Those who had backbone to stand il,
TODD out, and some of them who
were weak were swept back, either
INTO silence or acquiescence.
Q What became of those who
"stood out" or remained out of the
Democrats party-what party affil-
Iation did they form? A In the
South, the average white man thinks
Just about as much of the Repubii-
can party as he average negro does
of the Democratic party. Al white
men look VITA scorn, as a genera
thing, upon white men WAC are r.
pu oioans, and all negroes look with
scorn and di-gust upon the few who
affiliate with the Democratic party.
Naturally then, when the VIII 9 man
became disguised with the Demo
cratic party, not being able to stand
the r publican party, they went to
the Populist and are with it to-day.
Q. Do the statements you have
made apply to the Tenth Congress
ional District in the state of Geor
gia? A. 1t certainly does. There
are but very few white Republicans
in that district.
@ Now, when these people con-
oluded 10 form the Populist par y,
or to join j., what advan oes if any
di / they make to the negro on that
subject? A. l might say that, as
Major Back knows, the prlncip ii
speakers in that campaign were Mr..
Watson and myself, and l truly
know what concessions were made
TO the negroes and what promises
were offered to them. What was
offered to the negro was a revival
of industrial conditions, and the
good which might accrue to the
country oy promoting the Populist
party to power. The element gen.
orally, that aft lated With the Popu-
list party, was the la boring and farm
ing classes Of whites, and they
claimed to the negro that their in
terests were the same as the inter.
ests of the negroes engaged in like
pursuits-whateVer was good for us,
was necessarily good for them.
They made no promises OF office to
the negroes, that is true. Wnen my
friends in Hancock county wanted to
nominate me for the legislature, l
re used on the orOund that it WOul1