Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-15
AN OPEN LETTER TO
GOVERNOR HOKE SMITH
BY Geo. G. Smith, Vineville, Macon, Ga.

I shame to the cheek of every true Geor-
gian. That a few leading families
rolling in luxury because it existed;
that the fact that there was money in
it for the state itself made it all the
more obnoxious. All men know by
what a struggle the battle was won.
Perhaps the bitterest part of it to you
was that there were good men who.
were involved in the shame. who as
lessees had done what they could 10
obey the really humane laws on the
statute book, and they had to share
the odium that fell upon others who.
hiding behind the names of corpora
lions, escaped censure as particeps GRIM
! inis. The abominable hateful thing. Il
1 disgrace to Georgia and to civilization,
is gone, and largely through your per-
sistence. Some day Georgia may fail
( in with other sections in trying to re-
form, instead of merely Furnishing the
criminal. Had you had what all prece-
4 dent demanded second term-perhaps
something in that direction might have
been done. The people of Georgia, led
by a great Baptist preacher. one of the
greatest men Georgia ever had in II,
Dr. Henry Halcombe, a hundred years
ago did establish a state prison. or
lpenitentiary. instead of a prison.
The sad story of how that system
I
! leasing Of criminals to work in mines
begun, has not been fully told and of how
to prevent any possibility of return to the
remormatory plan, the buildings which
had been partially destroyed by the fad
erals were swept from the earth, Is Yet
unwritten and one would hope will never
be told, but you have after the fiercest
| fight have ever known in Georgia, swept
ffom the field those who made great pain
by making the criminal a revenue gang
| of slaves.
| Perhaps the bravest and the best work
after all, you ever did was in boldly adj
vocating and insisting on the restriction
of the franchises, large and purchasable
rate Of ignorance is a standing menace
to any good government in which suf-
frage is allowed. We had by, am sorry
! to say, extra legal methods, for years to
save the state from anarcy or blood
shed. BY ways that were dark ana
tricks that were vain, nullified the negro
vote. No one will dare deny who aims
! to speak truly, as well the north deny,
the underground soil send to Canada and
the illegal way she used to prevent the
carrying out of the fugitive slave law,
but to the mass of honest Georgians the
whole thing was odious. When an cleo
ton on whisky selling was in progress.
then the black man was voted, and vo-
ted often, but otherwise his vote never
counted. Your course in boldly indorsing
the brave stand Of Mississippi, South Car
DINA, and Virginia in calling for a limi-
tation of the franchise reflects lasting
credit on your courage and your wisdom.
1t is time now and the whole people,
white and black, are better for It.
I am glad, Governor Smith. as en- old
Georgian, an old preacher, and an old sol
der and as a Smith, to say you are an
honor to a great family, numerous, II
notillustrious If public Office was not q
duty not to be shirked, could not wish
for one I esteem to occupy such trying
place, but it is, and your country needs
you and your countrymen will doubtless
care.
"Cincinnattus from his plow again."
/ am truly yours.
GEORGE G. SMITH