The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-10
THE GOVERNOR AND THE COVER
NOR,s HORSE GUARD


If it be true that the Governors
Horse Guard on their recent trip to
Sea Grit represented themselves, and
not Georgia, the matter may be dis
missed as no longer worthy of the Sc
rious concern of any self-respecting
Georgian. 1t is well within the legal
right of any citizen to pay his way to
any locality where the people of his
state have been insulted and swindled
and associate on any terms of init
macy he may elect with those who
have given the affront and been guilty
of the fraud 1t is a matter of taste
and morals, not of law. But it is well
that the situation be definitely under
stood. The latest reports from Gov.
Gambler are to the effect that Macon
having been conceded a shooting
match and Savannah having been gra-
ciously permitted to indulge in an in
terstate tournament, in justice and
fairness the Governors Horse Guard
should have been permitted as a part
of the military establishment of the
state, to take their guns upon their
shoulders and betake themselves to
Sea Girt as representatives of Georgia.
If this be true, it was and is a most
serious matter which concerns every
self respecting Georgian.
Although entirely representative of
the best elements of the states popula-
ton, the military are at last but
small portion numerically of her citi-
zens. If they are precluded by the
proper rules of military etiquette
from discussing and criticising any ac-
ton of the Governor. the people of
Georgia are under no such restriction.
1t is, therefore, submitted that the
Governors explanation does not ex-
plain. Did he give permission to the
Governors Horse Guard to visit Sea
Grit as representatives of the Geor-
gia military, as his interview leads
us to suppose? or did he not, as their
explanation suggests? If he did, then
he has authorized a part of the mill
tary establishment, over the unam-
biguous protest of his military advis-
ers and with a full knowledge of the
facts, to contest under the auspices
of an ASSOCIATE ton which has designed
ly treated Georgia with the utm ost
indignity. If he did not, then in JUS
tice to himself and as a matter of
right to the military and to the peo-
pie of Georgia, he should declare he
signed no order and gave no permits
sion which authorized this company TO
do the thing it has done. AS simple
travellers they did not need his per-
mission to leave the state, armed or
unarmed. If he has given permission
the people are entitled to know why
it was asked and why it was given.
Otherwise, the Governor is trifing with
the honor of the state, and the situa-
ton is sufficiently individual and dis
tinct not to be obscured by vague sug-
gestions of concessions to other locali-
ties.
1t is no great concern to the people
of Georgia whether it's military con-
tingent shoot at Macon or Savannah
or practise in their backyards. 1t is
of the greatest and most serious con-
Germ to every man and woman and
child that neither Governor nor Gov
ernor's Horse Guard put Georgia in
the attitude of cringing and fawning
about people who have treated its
representatives with the contempt in
volved in fraud and lying charges. AS
the Governor is about to retire to pri-
vate life with only the pleasing obli-
cation to reward his friends and pun
ish his enemies, it is pertinent to re-
mind him that so far at he is con-
cerned Georgia has done nothing to
bring her in the latter class.