The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-06-04

If am not mistaken. the great majority
of our old-timers will say that Ben Hill
speech during the month of July. 1861. was
the most notable Grafton ever delivered III
Atlanta.
OF this speech Avery's History says:
Mr.. Hill denounced the Reconstruction
measures with unsurpassed and naming
e.oquence. and he followed it later Win
series of Notes on the Situation, on the
same line which for magnificent inVecli'o
equal anything in ancient or modern an
nails. There is no doubt that Mr. Hlii was
the leader in this savage anti-recons'ruc-
ton campaign.
This tribute may be too strong. but the
5000 people who heard Mr.. Hill on thai
occasion would have heartily indorsed
Colonel Avery's enthusiastic praise.
The conditions were exceptional. we
were under bayonet rule. and Georgia was
no longer a state. but simply section OF
d military district commanded py Gehera ID
John Pope.
our people were over-awed and silenced.
Property owners dreaded confiscation
and the Union League here in Atlanta
was a strong secret organization.
Good citizens everywhere feared an
archy on the one hand or military oeS-
potism on the other.
sheriffs and solicitors right and LETT. lie
was an unreasonable autocrat The ne
groes and white radicals were backed Dy
him, and in one of his letters TO Generai
Grant he said that If the blacks continues
to progress as rapidly as they mad done
they would In five years be superior 10 the
southern whites in intelligence and edu-
cation.
rr,do- Tho iron rule OF such a tyrant
the democrats of Atlanta made the nrsl
open revolt against the RECONSTRUCTION
measures. 49,
One warm July morning Mr.. Henry
HiIlyer and the writer of this sketch car
ed on Mr.. Hill at the old National hoteI
and invited him. under the auspices OF the
Young Mems Democratic CUB, To SPEAK
at Davis hail.
The great confederate senator was then
In his prime. He was plainly dressed anu
wore a broad-brimmed straw hat
7 shall never forget how he received US.
After we had stated the object of our mis-
sion he inclined his head on one side ana
looked downward. evidently in deep
thought Then. facing US, he sald;
II accept your invitation. gentlemen:
There are many ideas and facts WhIcn
wish TO bring before the people OF Geor-
gia.'
the speech.
Mr.. Hill was in favor of that very
afternoon. and in an Incredibly short time
we had the hall secured and handoills
distributed all over the city.
The handbills were models OF brevity-
They read as follows IN large type:
Ben Hill will address the people OF At
lanta at o'clock this afternoon In Davis
hall on the public questions of the day
Manager Grau had the hall for his big
opera company. but he gracefully yielded
to our request and at the appointed hour
5000 people packed the place.
on the stage sat DR.. j. f. Alexander
chairman of the Fulton county demo-
cratic executive committee: Colonel E. F.
Hoge president of the Young Men
Democratic Cub: Hon. Luther j. Glenn,
Mr.. Eli Hulsey and other prominent cll-
zcns. The Rev John =. Duncan opened
the meeting with prayer afte: DR.. Alex
ander had stated the object of the as
semblaGe.
In the audience I saw the beauty and
chivalry and the solid business men of the
Gate City.
Seated or standing in the rear OF the
hall might have been seen many local re-
publican leaders and members of the
Union League.
Near the front were several federal off,