Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-04
ve are living in a new world"

we are living IN n new WOriu.
But principles are eternal"
principles? I'm not talking about prin-
ciples. I'm talking about the practical
politics. The people down here haven't
voted on a principle in years They've
been voting on old Simon Legree. He left
the state nearly quarter of century
ago."
"Yes, Mcleod, but his soul has gone
marching on. The Republican party
fought the south because such men as Lee
gree lived in 1t, and abused the negroes,
and the moment they won, turn and make
Legree and his breed their pets. Simon
Legree is more than a mere man who stole
five million of dollars, alienated the races.
and covered the south with the desolation
Of monarchy. He is an idea. He repre-
sents everything that the soul of the
south loathes and that the Republican
party has tried to ram down our threats.
Negro supremacy in politics, and negro
equality in society"
''You are talking about the dead past,
CASTOR. I'm surprised at a man Of your
brain living under such a delusion. How
can there be negro supremacy when they
are In a minority?"
Supremacy under a party system is
always held by a minority. The dominant
faction of party rules the party, and
the successful party rules the state If
the negro only outnumbered one-fifth the
population and they all belonged to one
party. they could dictate the policy Of that
party"
you know that few white brains re-
ally rule that black mob
Eyes but the black mob defines the linn
its within which you live and have your
being"
''Gaston, the time has come to shake of
this nightmare, and face the issues Of our
day and generation. We are going to win
in this campaign, but u want you. 1 like
you. You are the kind of man we need
now take the field and lead in this cam
paign."
How are you going to win?'
1--WE are going to form contract with
the Farmers Alliance and break the back
bone of the Bourbon Democracy of the
south. The farmers have now a compact
body of $4,000 voters, thoroughly organic
ed, and combined with the negro vote we
can hold this state until Gabriel blows his
trumpet"
That's a pretty scheme. Our farmers
are crazy now with all sorts OF fool IDEAS"
said CASTOR thoughfully.
Exactly, my boy, and we've got them
by the nose"
eff you can carry through that program
you've got us in a hole"
I'm hole? should say we've got you in
the bottomless pit with the lid bolted
down. You'll not even rise at the day of
judgment. 1t won't be necessary" laugh
ed Mcleod, and as he laughed he chang
ed his time in the midst of his laughter.
"And what is the proposition you have
to make to me?" asked CASTOR.
"Join with us in this new coalition, and
stump the state for us. Your fortune will
be made, win or lose. I'll see that the
national Republican committee pays you
thousand dollars a week for your speeches,
at least five a week, two hundred apiece.
II we lose you will make ten thousand
dollars in the canvass. and stand in line
for a good Office under the national ad-
ministration. If we win, I'll put you In
the governors palace for four years.
There's a tide in the affairs Of man, you
know. It's at the flood at this moment for
you"
CASTOR was silent moment and looked
thoughtfully out of the window. The Of
fer was a tremendous temptation. A group
of old fogies had dominated the Demo-
cratic party for ten years, and had kept
the younger men down with their. war
cries and old soldier candidates, until he
had been more than once disguised. He
felt as sure of McLeod's success as II he
already saw it, 1t was precisely set
against in the preceding campaign in
which they had deliberately alienated the
Farmers Alliance. They had pooh poohed
his warning and blundered on to their
ruin.
1t was the dream of his life to have
money enough to buy back his mothers
old home beautify 1t, and live there in
comfort with a great library of books he
would gather. The possibility of a career
at the state capitol and then at Washing
ton for so young a man was one of daz-
cling splendor to his youthful mind For
the moment it seemed almost impossible
to say no.
Mcleod saw his hesitation and already
smiled with the certainty of triumph. A
cloud overspread his face when CASTOR at
length said:
"I'n give you my answer tomorrow"
(To Be Continued)