The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-01
THE CONTEST OF 1902.
PEN Pictures of Candidates for Geor-
gia,s GOvernorship.

Herald.
Georgia has witnessed a great many
very interesting and not a few in
tensely exciting contests for her chief
migistracy. While the office of Gov
ernor is largely clerical, there attaches
to it a degree of dignity that makes
it worthy the ambition of the states
most distinguished citizens.
In Georgia, the governorship does
not as in many of the states, stand
for promotion to the American Sen
ate. the most august and the greatest
parliamentary body in the world, but
if a man. called to be governor. per-
forms the duties of his office with an
eye single to the public good, he re-
ceives the generous plaudits of the
people, and may reasonably expect
their support whenever his ambition
spurs him to activity in another and
higher department of the public ser
vice.
1t may not be undressing to the
readers of the Herald to recall few
of the notable contests which occurred
i'll ante bellum Years-the years in
which, after a thorough e5tffvas,5 of tire
state with learned and instructive
Joint debates for the office of governor,
the question was decided-the choice
made at the ballot box with ballots
that came
down as still
As snow flakes fall upon the sod;
But execute a freemans will.
As lightning does the will of God"
A Battle Royal.
A battle royal was fought, in 1851,
by Howell Cobb, representing the I'm
hn sfafa md ri
]. Mcdonald, who stood for states
Rights.
1t was the delight of the observant
voters of that period to tell of the
wondrous meetings and the more won
drous speeches made by Cobb and by
Mcdonald The boy of ten years and
the man of seventy went from those
meetings brinful of the spirit of this
government of the people, by the perp'e
and for the people. The issues of the
day, not personalisms, engaged the
thoughts of the eloquent and MASTER
full debataEts.
Howell Cobb, a genius on the lus-
interchangeable sincere and learned
sowel broadcast during that ever
memorable campaign seeds of love
for The Union" which took deep root
in thu hearts of the people, SO that i'm
80 il was no wonder that Charles ].
Jenkins. Henry Ii. Cumming. 1cEn =.
* ng. Bar iamin FL. Hill ana hundreds
by Fui q eds of others, did all they
coulG 10 stem the tide of secession and
lItei plead eloquently for ro-o2erat on
as aGairst action by Individual states.
In S55, Uerschel V. JGhnson, states
Rights StroVe for the s,OVernCJ ship
With Cl a'ies J. Jenkins, who spcke-
for the Union
II need scarcely be said that when
these illustrious men appeared on the
. 49, ~,1 ..~tx
alike, were reused to the highest en-
thusiasm, and made clear to them,
educated or uneducated. the genius OF
republican institutions.
The KuOw-NOthings.
In '55. Gov. johnson locked horns
with The accomplished and daring
Garnett Andrews. who represented the
American or Know Nothing party
AS a side light, and very enter
tanning and interesting one at that,
appeared big big-hearted r. II. over
by, who spoke for the temperance ele-
nent of the state.
In the change of scenes, parties and
candidates. the hustings lost nothing
in attractiveness; for Johnson sus-
tanned his well-earned reputation of
orator and debatant. while Andrews,
bright as a gold dollar fresh from the
mint and full-panoplied, bore aloft
with ability and energy the standard
of his party.
In 81 Joseph f. Brown. fresh from
cleaning golden grain on his farm
among the mountains of North Geor-
sia and Benjamin Fl. Hill, very
Boanerges from the cultured county of
Troup, crossed swords.
1t was during the joint debates be-
tween these young intellectual giants,
that Brown formed the habit of wash
ing his hands with invisible soap" ana
Hin assumed that thoughtful pose of
head which ever afterwards was part
and parcel of the man.
Need it be declared that, in the dis
cussions between these two most emil
ncnt Georgians, that the underlying
principles of popular government were
laid bare; that the rights of the South
in the territories We're made plain; that
the people were instructed in detail on
every topic that related to their well
fare?
In 50. Gov. Brown and Warren
Aiken made the race for Governor
Gov. Brown was, of course, at himself;
for he had two years in the executive
office and was ever alert To follow in
the footsteps of Benjamin Fl. Hill was
surely enough 10 put Warren Aiken 10
the test. He proved himself equal to
the emergency, and his party. though
defeated. lost none of their love or en-
lHuSidSnl LOT lneH leader Aiken Kept
their standard at the front during the
fierce conflict and returned it to party
headquarters free from stain or tar
nish.
All, it is something to have lived i'm
those glorious years The writer knows
most of the events by history; some
of them by personal knowledge: for
from the time he was tall enough to
stand at barbecue table, he attended
every political meeting, within twenty
miles of Augusta, and to-day he re-
calls, as though IL were yesterday. the
outpouring of the people. the elouuence
of the speakers and the thunderous and
lcEg continued applause of the multi
tude that greeted every burst of elo-
quence from the lips of their respect
i've champions.
Changed Conditions.
Conditions have changed. 1t is more
difficult for a man to catch and en-
thuse his audience: people seem TO want
facts in a purely matter of fact speech
And the people are "un- enthusable.' -
they clap their hands in a timid sort
OF manner; they are afraid to let 20
and yell when they hear a sentence
that thrills them to the heart. This lack
in the audience, everywhere mani
tested, begets a lack on the stump. We
have voluntarily, carelessly. almost in
excnsably, gone into decadence In the
matter Of oratory. / believe that public
sneakers. Cdetarig Daribue fat, ~ 10