The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1904-12-08

In what forum, pray, and before
what legislative body is Mr.. Watson
or Mr.. Watson's party so strong that
he can boastfully promise to enact
this or any other pledge OF his into
legislation? Only the Georgia legisla,
ture could enact such a law. That
body is unanimously DeUoctatic, or
practically so Mr. Walton and his
party could not contribute, therefore,
a single mite towards the fulfllmont
Of this empty boastful and ridiculous
promise
Mr.. Watson knows, as every intel
ligent citizen OF the state knows, that
Mr.. Hardwick's bill for disfranchising
the negro was not passed at the time
1t was presented, because the negroes
had already been eliminated from our
elections and completely deprived of
the white Democratic primary, and
that there was no practical need.
therefore, at that time TO agitate a
racial controversy and jeopardixe the
reduction of the states representation
in congress and in the electoral col.
lege.
Most OF our wisest public men and
statesmen, both Democrats and for.
mer Populists, believed that this wasi
the wisest and most effectual way da
dealing with the negro vote in Gecr.
gia. The solution has worked well
and has been more than satisfactory
to former Populists as we'll as to Dem.
ocrats, because 1t has resulted In 70.
storing unity and good feeling
amongst the white people and inaur
ing white supremacy at the least cost
Of friction.
II believe that the sentiment Is,
unanimous in Georgia today amenx
the white people Of the state Of every
political phase, never again to permIt
the negro to participate in our cleo
lions So far as I am personally ecN,
cerned I regard the threatened radas,l
ton of OUT representation In congress
and the electoral college MS of little
Importance in comparison with maAu.
tenance of white supremacy In Ce6rn
gia.
II will not say much concerning
the personal issues injected By My.
Watson. was perfectly sincere In
what l said in my campaign of ~.
Watson as an author. I think It 1sila,
and here repeat 1t.
Il said nothing in my ssgsnaAsT's'
Ia6 Ii
not proclaimed at every meeting dtlF.
ing my campaign. and much less did
l abuse or speak disrespectfuiiy then
or during the campaign of the PcDW-
lists or single leader. declared
everywhere that I had openly fought
for Democracy with all my might anat
strength, and had no apologies to-
make for having done So and woalidl
have a contempt for a Populist VINO
had done likewise for his party II he
wanted to apologize for his loyalty
and zeal in the service OF Populism.
II frankly admitted in all my
speeches, but with sorrow and regret,
and never with pride, tho 6eploTabLs
excuses into which both kmoerGks
and Populists were driven IN their e.
forts each to control the negro vote
l implored them as they recalled the
horrible evils of this campaign not
to degrade the white votes to tAs
level Of the purchasable negro vote,
but to join with me and all patriotic
men in securing a pure ballot, eltmi'
mating the negro and unifying tfIm
white votes of the state in the in.
terest OF white supremacy.
so much for ,Mr Watson's refer.
ence to my praisfng him to secure the
Populist vote OF Richmond county.
did secure 90 per cent of the Populiss
vote of this county, but it was be-
cause they and | now belonged TO the
same party and were standing upon
the same side of important living is
sues, and did not think 1t wise to sep
arate on the dead issues of decade
ago.
Il did not inspire tho editorials in
The Chronicle, and was not aware
until read them in the paper GhAk
the editor even contemplated writIAR
the same. When Mr.. Watson attack
ed me in his Atlanta speech, and The
papers called upon me for an inter.
view in reply, declined, and whom
the Augusta Herald over the tele-
phone insisted, replied, in substance,
that had determined upon a mission
OF peace and TO reunIte the white
people Of Georgia, and would not be
swerved from this purpose by joining
with any one in the revival Of The
asperities and unhappy differences
which tore asundcr our people ten
years ago--that we were all one PED
pie again, and that would do moth.
ing to reopen those old sores. TAis
is my position today.
Il have no apology to make for op.
posing Mr.. Watson before when ne
assadled Democracy. shall do 30
now whenever and wherever he at.
tacks that party and its leaders but