Year: 1875

about the political condition Of the State


In the first place there no republican party worthy
Of the name in the State There is but one republican
newspaper, and that is weekly. One Of the most
jealous republicans in the State said to me- The re-
publican party far as it's white members are con-
cerned consists mainly Of federal Office holders and men
seeking ofice-mosty natives of the State" He added,
'"rhere are not more than hundred active white
republicans in Georgia who honest and out
of Office" Another jealous republican said TO
me- "The white republicans of Georgia are
made up almost entirely Of federal Office holders
whose aim is to keep their places and of men who
trying to get these places There is substantially
body else, white, in the party" Another said "White
men put themselves forward for Congress on the repub


can ticket, knowing they will be beaten, with the sole
object of rushing to Washington the election
is TO set up claim for a federal Office the
ground of their defeat" The Civil Rights bill killed
the republican party in this State said federal officer
to me-'it put us back to 1861" Less than 5000
whites voted the republican ticket at the election
of 1874 In 1872, republican told me. at least
0,000 blacks voted the Greeley ticket, and
''more and negroes vote democratic all the
time" 1 notice that among the grievances OF the
blacks mentioned in discussions of the so-caled insur-
rection is that they DISTINGUISHED If they do
not pay their poll and road taxes This is perfectly
true, and, think perfectly just Poll and road tax is
all that the greater part of them pay toward the sup
port of the government and if they ovade this they
do not deserve to vote. The law applies to The
whites


In the Georgia Congressional delegation there is not
single republican. One for this is that
in some cases, the party nominates mon who cannot
get the support OF honest republicans. One such man
1 told Of who sooner beaten than
he proceeded TO Washington and set up
claim to all the federal patronage
of the district in which he had been cut by every
honorable republican. Nor are claims Of this kind
always dsalowed at Washington. For instance, not
long ago, appointed Collector Of Internal
Revenue in Georgia district who, according TO
general republican testimony, had been Ku Kux in
Ku Klux times and who actually could not take the
Office because he then stood charged with Offering
bribe


One Of the most prominent federal officers In the
State, native and Jealous republican and bitter OPP
ponent of the democratic party, said TO me- 81 don't
know that there is any republican party in the State,
The negroes will not in general because they
have no white back Of them The blacks
are almost totally dsiranchised by their neglect pay
their taxes At least twothirds of the coored
are thus dsfranchised Then, again, in counties
where there large negro majorities half dozen
black demagogues insist on running for the same Of
fee and then democrats in between them
Wherever Independent tickets have been put up in
counties the supporters Of these srove for the negro
vote and in such the election always peace
able and full because there two parties anxious
for this vote. do not think that for year two
past there has been much cheating in wages the peo
pie have learned to do better"


DEMOCRATIC


Georgia has been longer and continuously than
any other State since the under the rule Of
R,iio tba Cav
ernor chosen the adoption of the constitution in
1865 for a of four years, abandoned his Office and
the State in October 1871 Smith, democrat elected
to fill his unexpired term was reelected in 1872 and is
still Governor. The Legislature which is elected every
two years, was republican by small majority in 1865;
but the body which assembled in November, 1871,
strongly democratic, and both houses and all the
executive officers have been democratic since 1t
follows that the winter Of 1871 the State govern
ment has been entirely in democratic hands, and the
county governments have also, with but few excep-
tions fallen under the control The Legislature
has been overwhelmingly democratic in both branches
would be strange considering the circumstances and
the party strength the ruling party had been always
WISE but 1t must be said that they have done very few
wicked or very foolish things. They have been for
the possession Of few wise and conservative
men, with courage enough to make their sentiments
known. For instance the last Legislature stupid
old Bourbon introduced bill make a breach of con-
tract by q negro a penal offence But Mr.. Furlow,
strong democrat but a sensible man, at
once and declared that he would oppose such


long he lived that in his experience if
you pay a negro and treat him honestly he will work
fairly and stick to his contract Furlow is popular
man and has the courage of his opinions, and the
result was that in House OF 130 members only twelve
votes cast for the bill In like the
Toombs men, who the Bourbons in Georgia have
tried different occasions to get constitutional con-
vention but have always failed the constitution being
a sufficiently good instrument So too, in his last
Message Governor Smith, who has conducted himself
so well in this ''insurrecton" business,
urged the Legislature TO stop the ap-
preparation of $4,000 per annum for the colorcd
university and the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton supported him. believing he told me- that nor
NAL school for coored teachers more necessary
than university. But, in spite of foolish prejudice
against tho teachers in the university, the Legislature
refused do the Governors bidding 1t is but just to
add that If the dread of 'socia equality" likely to
die out this would be skilfuy prevented by lead
ing republicans chief of whom is the Northern Metho
dist Bishop Haven, who has several occasions openly
declared himself in favor Of "socia equality" and who
appears to to have quite genius for keeping alive
subject which naturally strs up feelings, and
which is best left to settle itself


DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.


The prostraton ofthe republican party has given the
democrats such great power that they the
verge OF quarrel among themselves In two Congress
sional districts, in 1874 democrats against demo-
Gratis; in many counties independent candidates
put forward and where tho republicans wise
enough 70 support them elected There at
this time eight ten candidates for Governor and
hear that Mr. stephens is not unlikely TO an in
dependent BY the way, Governor Smith is a candi-
date for reelection and in OF this fact his rn
and Just course during the 'insurroctonp excitement
shows that he at least believes that the white people
whose votes he would like to get in favor Of justice
to the negroes.


Georgia has some able and many influential public
men Unfortunately for the republicans they are all
in the democratic party Governor Brown, who is re-


r,an in tl,o