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


increased production of gold and 9th
er causes which cannot be discussed
in an interview like this, is not a prac
teal issue at present, and was not in
the campaign just closed.
What, therefore, is there. prac
tically, in Mr.. Watson's crusade or
revolution so farAs we Georglans ara
concerned?
What is there we Georgia Demo
Gratis, composed now of former popu.
lists and Democrats alike, and prac.
tically OF one mind on public cues.
/ lions, cannot do better inside a great
and virile organization polling nearly
half the popular vote of the nation,
than in party that has not a hand.
ful of voters in the whole country
and whose only leader is a man out
OF sympathy with a vast majority OF
the people, and whose mission for
the past few months has been ia
abuse, decry and discredit the party
and every leader thereof in the state
of Georgia and in the Union, from
whom his recruits would have to be
drawn to build UP his own party.
AS a practical question, here in
Georgia is not Mr.. Watson's proposed
mission to destroy the Democratic
party, to divide the white people OF
the state, and to build upon the ruins
a new party wholly impracticable-ab
solutely pipe dream?
AS before stated, the great mass
of the Populists in Georgia, thank
God, are back in the Democratic par.
ty and my mission shall be to per
suade them to remain there. 1t was
my proud privilege when the war be-
tween the Democrats and Populists
was over to advocate universal party
amnesty and to receive back into the
party all our former brethren without
question. demanded that these
proud and self-respecting Democrats
who had left the party for real griev
ance should be permitted to return
without apology and without lower
ing the colors of their honest cenvic
tons, and that the only qualification
should be in the future to support all
the nominees of the party.
II WAS tainted on the floor by those
who opposed me with the prophecy
that I would be the first man in
the Tenth district sacrificed by the
restored Popuhsts, If permitted to re.
Mwr
then, and | repeat 1t now: Let 1t
be so: It were small price, in.
deed, to pay for the elimination OF
the venal vote of the negro, and the
restoration of peace and harmony
among the white people of the state
stand ready for the sacrifice. Let
It comet
Under this invitation our former
brethren have come back-nine-tenth
Of all thee former Populists OF the
state.
HAS the party not lived up to It's
invitation and to its pledges? Is there
any complaint from the former Popu.
lists. in Georgia, that they are not
nqw being fairly treated? Is there
any charge that their votes are not
counted as cast? Is not their voice
and are not their convictions given
expression in Democratic primaries
as fully and freely as that of any
other Democrat? So what can they
do in new party they have not the
power to do now in the white pri.
maries Of the state?
Many OF them are enjoying the
fruits OF Office as the regular Demo.
cratic nominees. Peace, amity and
prosperity reign again among the PEG.
pie. Is he friend Of the people who
would change all this and renew the
horrible experiences Of ten years ago,
when the white people of this district
and this state were divided and the
negro vote held the balance OF power,
with both factions resorting to the
most deplorable expedients for con.
trolling that venal and purchasabls
vote?
"Mr. Watson says to his former
ITl6HOS anu IOllOWerS. Leave again
the Democratic party, follow me, and
let us again revive the Populist
party
Mr. Watson's mission and counsel
to the white voters of the state is di-
vision, separation and war to the
knife with the Democrats. On the
contrary, my counsel to the Demo.
Gratis and to the Populists Of the state
alike is to remain steadfast, united
and true to the reunited Democracy
of the state
"The most remarkable part of Mr..
Watson's speech is the following:
At the very opening of this campaign
1 threw at their feet (the Democrats)
the gage Of battle when | said. II you
mean what you say, II you are afraid
of the negro'-you miserable coward
and you really mean it, then we are
ready to help you out of your politi-
cal scrape-you pusillanimous politi-
cal coward We will help you pass
81 u fc