The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-25
COUNTRY FOLKS
WILL KNOW TRUTH"
WANT ARGUMENT-N0T ABUSE
MIR. OSBORNE ANSWERS MR. NOR
RIS' RECENT LETTER.


Now"
In answer TO the recent open letter
of Hon. Newton Morris and contin-
uing to discuss the present political
conditions in Georgia, Hon. W. W. Os-
borne gave out the following inter
view yesterday:
Continuing the discussion. The
cold steel seems to have penetrated
the flesh. The more the mercenaries
wriggle the deeper will it go, I shall
hold the handle relentless. I am deep
ly gratifed to observe that my in
in the popular heart.
There is nothing novel in the tao
tics of the mercenaries up to this
time. I called at their gate and in
vited them out for a controversy
They remain silent and unseen. They
set the dog on me instead. OF course
/ did not expect them to come out at
the first call. So 1 am neither sur
prised nor perturbed.
4 was reasonably certain the reply
would come in the form Of abuse l
knew the first defense would be along
the line Of that aquatic denizen that
exudes an inky vomit unto which he
retires for concealment.
"His Masters Voice"
They would like this controversy
to degenerate into one of abuse, mud
singing and blackguardism. They
would sit off to one side watch it,
and grin. The public, not being in
terested, would soon become dis
gusted and the whole matter blow
over and be forgotten. 1 think
caught indirectly over the phone yes
terday a governmental chuckle at the
possibility of steering the discussion
this way.
But it won't happen that way. No
amount of personal abuse will swerve
me a hairs breadth from the digni-
fed, plain-spoken attack l have
planned. Nor is this designed to be an
academic discussion. l aim at prac-
teal results for good. I am the sower.
do not expect the crop over night. In
due time the spears will show them
selves all over the ground. A little
turning of the soil occasionally will
insure the harvest.
Il confess I was impressed by the
ring in the Morris letter. Between
the Introductory and the bombast
with which he concludes, and above
MS OpIuTBdliOHSs L COulu
distinguish his masters voice
"Want Argument-NOt Abuse"
81 regard Morris as a doughty little
substitute thrown out as a skirmisher.
He is not effective because abusive,
bombastic and possibly still showing
traces of the mud of his last campaign.
But 1 suppose it was the best they
could do. 1 must say it was poor
move.
THE little fellow courageously upon
a pretext that does not exist, rushed in
where wiser people feared to tread.
He will never get back TO the ranks
from which he came After careful
study of the Morris letter, / am salts
fled l can capture their skirTnisher and
force him to be an ally, though per-
haps, an unwilling one. If l do
should say, 1t is to laugh See later.
Now, Messrs. Enemies of Democ-
racy, take my advice and learn quick
~ that the people want argument, not
abuse.
In view of the ability and power
of those l attack. may be pardoned,
perhaps, for not following in the trail
which their little spokesman blazed out
for me. 1t is true / am on known
ground, but 1 cannot afford to under
rate the tactical skill of my enemies.
] must be allowed TO proceed with due
caution, though you may be sure /
shall make progress with the precision
of a lap.
enemy in Three Camps"
You see the public must understand
that at present we are simply maneu-
yering for position. The enemy is real
~ divided into three camps. They are
hostile 10 each other whenever they
can WELD the knife surreptitiously, but
never fail 10 present a united front to
a common enemy. 1 am undecided
whether Morris is seeking to crafty
some personal spite against individuals
or whether there is a shrewd charac-
teristic move afoot 10 use me in an
operation by the right wing of the enc
my against their own left and center
AT any rate, may be pardoned If
apprehend an ambuscade, pitfalls and
flank firing. An ordinary sailor man.
like | am, must keep them all in front
of him
Morris letter consists of % forid,
sophomore defense of the General AS
sembly; ~ personal abuse: go a cali
for information as to a conference. I
take them up seriatim.
The sole pretext for the letter was
the defense Of the members of the
General Assembly from an alleged in
suit. / have heretofore been of the
opinion That all the members of both
branches of the General Assembly were
grown up men. / assumed each could
take care of himself. l certainly have
not heard any member cry out that
he wanted a champion. And yet we
have the little fellow. armed and piano.
piled, jumping into the arena.
"Reuben Against She'll Came,
But the funniest thing OF all and
what makes me doubt the genuineness
or the pretext is the fact that l did
not attack the General Assembly al
al. Nor is there anything in my in
terVlew that can be fairly construed
es being offensive TO members Of the
General Assembly.
II there IS ] disclaim Il. so as IN
eliminate the issue between Morris ana
], and thus III him for the work | shall
hereafter assign him.
The fact Is ! don't condemn the
members OF the General Assembly. NV
feeling Is one OF pity. They deserve
sympathy. They have been wronged
They have been victimized. They re-
enacted the old story of Reuben m
against the shell game with the usual
result
4 note with genuine pleasure the
list Of good things done by the Last
General Assembly. ! observe also the
large share OF credit Morris claims
Tor himself II all this keeps up see.
~ que time, ] shall have 10 reconcile
myself 70 me idea that tie Republican
party q entitled 10 the credit FOR me
lnpnuful harvest which God Almighty
dccreed despite them.
Keep 90 ths Issue.