The sun., 1896-10-11
THE NrsRo vorE nv GEORGIA.
why 1t Turned the scales in Favor OF Gov
Atkinson.

To THE EDITOR or TIE SUN-Sir: It is
strange intelligence that We hnve from Georgia
that Gov. Atkinson and the rock ribbed De-
mocracy owe their success in large part to tho
support of Afro. American voters
Senator Marion Butler OF North Carolina,
Chairman of the National Populist Committee,
says: 1T in almost certain that a majority of
the white votes Of Georgia WAS cast for the
Peoples party state ticket" and he adds that.
evidently the Democratic party is indebted to
the negro vote tor whatever Kind Of victory
they nave won."
This is rather unkind, coming from the chief
spokesman of the Populst aggregation OF reac-
tinnists. when it is remeiu hered that the Rev.
William Il. White of the Augusta CieOrgid Rdy-
tisf. the oldest Afro A merican editor in tho
State; the Rev. Z. R. Carter Of tho Atlanta Edll-
odtOr. and many other influential men OF their
race supported Candidate Wright on the pro-
htbition .ssue only, and that the Pupulist party
made persistent and systematic bid for AFRO
American votes ana got some. Put the Afro
American voter nowhere takes kindly to Popu-
list theories AMI Pnpul.st cand!dates. He rec
Ogni2es the whole outfit AZ having the voice Of
Jacob and the hand OF Esan. He endenvprs I'd
get on the safe side OF politics, however the SIT
uat may be fused for him bv warning
white men. He is also in the main true to those
Who ars true To him. whether they be in the
Republican OF other parties.
What the facts Of Lhr Georgia election
Only twu parties had Candidates in nomina-
tiun-the Democratic party anu the Pnuullst
party. The Republicans made no nominations.
ami 1t WAS understood that every Republican
was free tn make mis- choices between the DemC-
Gratis and Poputists. 1t was only 1t the last
moment hat Chairman A E. Buck h-thuHgut
him that lt would bo good pulitics To throw the
influence az the Ropu Di!can party against Lhs
Democratic party; but he made up his mind
late. The influential A irD- Americans OF tho
state had already de -rnued to support Gov.
Atkinson. ard could not De called of. Why
l. Gov Atkinson favored local option as op-
posed to proh bition.
=. He favored enlargement OF the public
school system.
,. He oDpn.ed lynch law in all It's forms, and
insisted that the Government OF Georgia
cnpahe OF dealing with al of its criininals.
whether they charged with stealing a
chicken raping q woman and that IN -lLher
case the accused was entitled To a tria IN the
legal way. aud hat mob law was law all,
anu should be stamp.'i out
4. Gov. Atkinson maintained that the penal
system of Georgia was an anach rnnism a ,ur-
vivnl of the barbarian OF The slave period
that the sysfsm should bs wiped ont when IS
legal existence terminates In 1897 and that
while II exists the lessers of convtcts should 10
tracts forfeit them. - -
Grow. Atkinson has nGt been a Tin soldier while
holding his Office during the past two years.
without fear or favor 1t wnu!d have oeen \
positive calamity to the State II 4 man so cnnr-
ageous IA Gov. Atk!nson had been r-buSs,i by
defeat. This point needs "a 90 mphasiGed. be-
cause in a majority of cases since 1875 southern
IOverlOrS nave url1teu win pNDIic opinion
rather than controlled it to these matters.
He and Gov. o. Ferrall Of Virginia the only
ones who have undertaken to that the laws
OF the State are obeyed as far as they had power
- ntOrce them.
Is 1t surprising that the fro American voters
OF Georgia turned tho scales in favor ur trnv.
Atkinson Would 1t not have bsrn a reproach
to them II they hal not heartily supported
VINO tor two years hLd done his duty 70 Al!
the citizens nf the state? They had rllinan
anu the PopuIiAt thieves aud reS SoiUtI0nists "a
south Carolina 70 guide them and warn them,
and they took heed.
The fight IN Georgia was Il state AFFAIR. II was
determined on Stale issues alone 'Tnv. Atkin-
son WAS the safest and most acceptable randi-
date n nomination. and the great bulk Of the
Afro American vrte went To him las eHG OF 10
the Pouniist candidate. He stond for cunaerva-
tism. for enforcement of tho law. and On that
issue he heat ht- opponent.
The North and the West have declared that
they do not want Force bill for the south he
cause they cannot have one that will not affect
them equally. They want the >nrth settle
and cpntroi its own affairs. ~ hey do theirs.
They should therefore rejoice IN tie Success u
a man like Gov. Atkinson, whether through the
support NJ A fro mertran votes or In fe>pite OF
them. He has great intellectual capacity: ne ID
eloquent In the trus sens~: he IS Az courageous
H. q lion; ne loves the South. ana Genru IA in
particular and II Is the duty of The propia IT
the country ut large. a. 10 - NJ the people of
Georgia. 10 hold up his hands To sustain aim IN
his adj niEt ration of the Affairs or mis- state in
the interest ~ all the Denpie and Not OF one
race ~ tile people.
So long A. Georgia produces and Eusralus such
men rs ". Y. Atkinson there will be need NJ
Force hills. and the vexed qleatOn Of citizen
snip will oe sovsf in the reg' lar. X grad uni way.
NEW YORK, oct. Ia T. THOMAS FORTUNE.