The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-14
A GOOD WORD FOR ATKINSON.
COIOred Voters Advised by COIOred
Men to support Him.

Men to support Him.
Thebes Liberty County, Georgia,
Sept. s, 1S96.-Editor Morning News.
If it would not be considered
a crime for such crea lures as
we are to think about something that per-
tains to the welfare of the citizens of our
state we would like to submit few facts
to the thinking public. Our thoughts are
neither silver nor gold. But having been
made responsible to no little extent, for
the leadership of our race in our section
of the country, in both church and state,
we have been led to think of our people
and their condition in the civil and politi-
cal departments of life as well as in the
ecclesiastical world. However, while we
think of our race as above stated, we do
not desire or claim any more nor any bet
ter things for them than we do for our
brother in white. Now we are about TO
be called upon to elect a governor for
Georgia. Many arguments are being set
forth to show which of the two men spok
en- Of is best fitted for the position. Some
obsolete thinkers say that the negroes
have nothing to do with the matter. We
admit that If we were not citizens that
would be true And if there were a re-
publican candidate for governor, we would
be certain to have nothing to do with the
nominees now before us. Therefore, the
matter of electing a governor for our state
is no longer theory, but condition that
confronts all of us.
AS we still think upon the subject this
question suggests itself What shall we
do? All obligations say, do the best thing.
But what is that Sound reasoning will
certainly throw light upon the subject
~
passes all philosophy Therefore let the
truth come. Who is your choice for the
gubernatorial chair? If you want a pro-
hibitionist, Mr. Wright does not claim to
be any better prohibitionist than Gov At
kinson; but he does claim to be a better
democrat. Can the latter claim be sub
Stimulated? If so, can Mr. Wright be q
new convert? If a convert at all; from
what and to what has he been converted
Evidently not from democracy because
that would upset his only claim which he
saws entities himself to be our governor
AS to what he has been converted to, We
are not prepared to say. But we do say
that he has not been converted to any
thing that embodies the interest of the ne
groes, for he condemns Gov. Atkinson be-
cause he has enough grace to address
them at the same time and place that he
does the other citizens Of Georgia. All
good citizens will agree that the perfor-
nance or performance of the
duties incumbent upon officials will de-
eide the question of their fitness for office.
Gov Atkinsons official acts do not show
him to be white or a black nor a demo-
cratic. neither a republican and not even
a prohibitionist or populist governor. But
they do show him to be a worthy governor
for the citizens of Georgia. All that is
needed as proof in this matter, is q mere
reference to Gov. Atkinsons position in
the John l. Hail bill his recommendation
to the general assembly in regards to the
chain-gang, his fight against lynching and
mob violence, his recommendation for aid
to educate the children of Georgia, and
especially for the colored schools and in
stitutes where special stress and increased
efforts are much needed and appreciated.
Time will not permit us to discuss the ia
NOUS Hinton case etc. In this particular
case the personal as well as the official
character of Georgfa's present governor,
is set forth to the world. No other chief
official of Georgia from Oglethorpe's day
down to the present, has ever demonstrate
ed such an act of Justice when It contro-
verified so many court decisions and cross
ed SO much public sentiment. But what
saws Mr.. Wright about these unusual
acts OF Justice. Atkinson deserves no
credit because it was his duty" II this Is
sound philosophy, then no man on earth
deserves praise lDi any VI Ills acts LOT no
man can do more than his duty. But see
here: II Gov. Atkinson has done his duty
Mr.. Wright could not do any more If he
were governor. After admitting these
facts. why does Mr.. Wright want to be
governor? The pardoning OF Innocent ne
groes. reforming the chain-gangs and re-
storing colored men to citizenship, seems
to be a light matter with Wright. How
ever. he seems inclined to think II right
80 4h,,a. blpeq the unfortunate white M. n
Now Mr. Wright is as fallacious In his
reasoning as his homecoming Vice Pres
ident (Thomas Watson), when he says
that Gov. Atkinson committed a crime
when he pardoned Hinton Now fellow
citizens we do not claim to know as much
personally about Gov Atkinson. as some
others, but we do know an impartial adj
ministra ton when we see and feel IT, MOI
that we think less OF Wright but we think
moro Of Atkinson. We wish 20 state
further that we regard right principles
more highly than VIC do party platforms
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