The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-17

brand new regime in Georgia politics.
The fight for the Senate was made in the
lace of the men, who have controlled dur
ing the past few years, and the old re-
glme' at least for the time, has gone
down. There will be a breathing spell
before the new and the old forces cross
ianees again. What may happen in this
space cannot be surmised, but if there is
anything in the words of the prophets of
to-day, South Georgia will lead the van
when the next clash of arms does come
While Mr.. Clay's personal hold upon the
party machinery undoubtedly gave him
strong prestige In the race for senator,
and his unfailing energy and personal pop
ularlty stood him in equally good stead
vet ms most enthusiastic friends have
never claimed that he could win without
the mastery hand of Mr. duBignon TO
GUIDE his ship. In making the fight Mr.
uuhlgnon did not hesitate to measure
iahces al once with Gov. Atkinson and
ms cohorts. F'iguratively speaking, it
looked as if the two chiefs would meet
Ill Hahd-to-hand conflict. The first move
was breaking off between Mr.. Clay and
tne governor. Mr.. Clay went to the home
Vi the governor and warned him to stay
out % Oh the contest. When the governor
rejected the advice, Mr. CLAY left the
mansion and Immediately declared war.
Chder Mr.. duBignon an alliance was
lndue with the Howell forces, and a COM
Lon Hsht made upon Gov Atkinson He
was soon unhorsed and forced off the field.
tnel came the real display Of general
Stlp. Mr.. Howell, who had encouraged Mr..
10y IN the first stages of the conflict,
"nen the prospect was anything but bright
Tor him, thought that he would prove an
easy victim. With the governor out of the
"oy'ne thought that he would loom up like
'ne pillar of fire to the wandering children
~ israel. He had been the most conspic-
uous among the advocates Of the silver
Iheory of finance in this state. and when
s"e senatorial robe was hung upon the
peg 70 await claimant, his friends point
ca TO him as the logical and irresistible
candidate. But he reckoned without his
ilost. by the irony of fate the man who
IIau Deen selected to help defeat the COM
nloh enemy, suddenly developed into a
Nuanuty of strength that had been wholly
unexpected. Mr.. Howell, the head and the
Aeart OF the anti-Atkinson fight who had
USED mis- good Offices to get Mr. Clay into
e ele race for the purpose of pulling chest
nuts out of the fire for him, suddenly awoke
" the fact that the young man from
COBB could not only pull the chestnuts
out OF the embers, but could keep them
Thus It was that the Atkinson votes.
upon which Mr.. Howell relied, clung TO
-Hr Clay and finally elected him. Mr.
aldoWell builded great pillar with Mr..
LAY at the top, hoping that it would fall
dhd dash him to pieces, but instead he
pulled IT down upon himself and was
crushed.
Mr. Clay's nomination was the result
OF the most unique train of circumstances
tnat ever surrounded a senatorial candi-
uate In this or any other state. When
ne went into the contest he was by every
one regarded as the weakest candidate
III the field. But for Mr.. Howell whose
main purpose at the beginning was to
break Gov. Atkinson down, he would
probably have retired. Up to the Satur-
Gay before the caucus met on Monday,
when Mr. duBlgnon began his active
work, Mr. Clay did not claim more than
tWenty-four votes. When the caucus. on
the first ballot, gave him forty-eight. he
was probably as much, IL not
more, surprised than any other