People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-09-25
HOW lie GETS VOTES.
The Outrageous Methods Used to
Re-elect Atkinson.
MOST DESPICABLE CIRCULAR.
Political Document That Shames South.
ern Mauhond--A Lying APPEAL to
the PrsJudtces and Pas
sions of Ignorance.

A secret circular which is being sent
ut TO the negroes Of the state in the
interest OF w Y. Atkinson, has fallen
nto the hands Of The COMMERCIAL.
1t is so remarkable in character and
iisreputable in tone that Its publica-
lion will arouse indignation in every
respectable home in Georgia.
1t is one Of the most vicious and out
-ageous appeals that an insatiate cray
ing for official spols could evolve.
Below is the circular in full:
ATKINsoN's POSITION.
There can be no doubt that Governor
w. Y. Atkinson is sound when it
comes to the matter of protecting the
lives of citizens accused of crime, He
has stood strong and steadfast in his
determination to let the law take its
course in every instance that has been
allied to his attention. He has taken
very precautiOn in his power to pre-
vent mob violence, and uphold the
aW.
In his special message to the legis-
allure he says:
"Mob violence does not aid in sup
pressing lawlessne5s, but increases it.
| One mob begets another mob. We all
Know Of many wrongs it has done, and
If mistakes it has made in selecting
It's victims. How many Innocent men
ave been sacrificed by this lawless
o1urt can never be known, for 1t denies
% victims the right to be heard in
heir own defense, and then closes
| their mouths forever"
Could any language be Drawer or
| ruer than these words of our COVER
norf Speaking further, he says:
"These mobs, by violating the law,
| create spirit of laWIessness and indi-
'ectly increase the very crime which
hey seek to suppress. In several in
stances the parties lynched in this
state have been taken from the hands
If officers and most brutally, cruelty,
md inhumanly treated Such con-
| Iuct cannot be too severely condemned.
In my opinion il will be wise for the
general assembly to enact law pro-
SidinS that where person is taken
from the hands of officers and NAL
treated, or murdered, that the COVER
uor be authorized to remove frou office
he man from whose custody he was
AIKEN; that the administrator or the
| amily of the deceased shall have the
light to recover from the county the
full value of his life. In all such in
stances the legal representatives
| should have redress in the courts wit
right to sue IN any county adjoining
lie one where the offenSe was commit
ed, and the governor should be EN-
owered, in his discretion, to remove
lie officer"
This language of the governor is
like that used by the Republican
state central committee in its address
| 70 Republican voters of the state.
IN that address we find these words
"In the state elections Repu lican
friends are left free to act as their in
| VidnaI judgment may dictate We
commend hat the Republican voters
sc every effort 10 secure the election
members of the Legislature pledsed
he suppression of lynch law by en-
oweriug the governor to remove all
,heritfs within whose jurisdiction such
rimes were committed, and making
he county liable in the sum of five
thousand dollars for the benefit of the
egal heirs of the victim.''
iaN'iNN VIC SCS OiIhN 1ONCI AOE AlAiu-
sons attitude on the question is the
central committee. After Offering the
remedy above, Governor Atkinson
yOes on further to say in his special
message to the legislature:
"lf the measures herein suggested
= me do not meet with your approval,
most earnestly ask that you devise
Others and inact them into law. In
every effort you may make to stamp
out lynching you shall have my hearty
cooperation, and every law which you
may enact shall be enforced if | am
given the power to do So"
Thousands of hearts in the state have
been made to leap with Joy at Cover
nor Atkinson's bold stand in the case
Of Adolphus Duncan, a poor colorr.
boy who was sentenced TO be hanged,
but who was set free by the governor,
because it seemed that he was limo
cent. Whenever lynching has been
planned the governor has called out
the state troops to protect he prisoner,
whether white or black. The name of
Atkinson has been a terror 10 lynch
FRS, and has raised the dignity of the
state.
Thousands of colored men who did
not vote with him at the last election
will do 80 in October. He will be
elected, and ought to he, for the man
that is willing and will leave a sick
bed to go 10 protect person from the
mob, is the right kind of a man for
governor.
SCHOOLS,
One of the most important questions
Of today is that of education. 1t is
important because without it there can
be but little substantial improvement,
and because with it there comes a
knowledge of our true rights and
duties. No state can prosper as it
should when it offers no opportunity
10 its citizens to educate its children
1t is gratifying To see that the state OF
Georgia is rapidly pushing its way to
the front, very froi t rank in this mat
ter of educational opportunities to all
Of its children. In every militia dis
trict there is to be seen the school
house, and schools for both races are
being cared Tor by he state. From the
Ommon schools in Gror Sia have come
"me of the leading educators and pro.
'rssional men OF the South. Education
oday III Georgia's common schools j.
5 Tree as the air we breath, and the
ubic school system is excellent.
There is 10 denying he fact that the
Democratic parry in the state has
cuught the public school system to itr
resent high slate. 1t is also true tl'a'
He state school commissioners LSy'
i. l.. i