AN ADDRESS.
To the Republicans of Georgia: —

The undersigned, Republicans of the State, believing that a most favorable opportunity presents itself for strengthening the Republican party in this State, submit the following views for your consideration:
It is important that we have in mind the origin of the Republican party, its achievements, and the important results yet to be accomplished, that we may labor intelligently to bring about the desired end.

The Republican party has been from the first a progressive party. Organized to prevent the extension
of slavery, it was soon required to fight for the existence of the Nation. The close of the late war
presented new questions for solution, and the Republican party elevated emancipated slaves
to the dignity of American citizens. “We do not not now differ in our judgment concerning the
controversies of past generations; and fifty years hence our children will not be divided in their
opinions concerning our controversies. They will surely bless their fathers and their fathers' God,
that the Union was preserved, that slavery was overthrown, and that both races were made equal
before the law. We may hasten, or we may retard, but we cannot prevent the final reconciliation.
It is not possible for us now to make a truce with time by anticipating and accepting its inevitable
verdict.”—[ President Garfield's Inaugural Address .

The Republican party should now hasten to the discussion and settlement of other questions not
less difficult.

The South undoubtedly presents the most important field for Republican effort. The instruction
in political affairs which our people have heretofore received from the men who have controlled
this section has not only been erroneous, but it has placed the South far behind other sections of
the country in intelligence, wealth and power. The men who taught the heresy of State sovereignty are responsible for the civil war, with all its woes; and the men who have controlled the South are
responsible for the illiteracy of its people, because they have opposed free education.
2
The Republican party is a national party. It holds that the Republic is a Nation, and not a confederacy
of petty nationalities. That question was submitted to the “high court of war,” and settled by a decree
from which there should be no appeal. It is to be regretted that the question has been reopened by
the Bourbon politicians, and that it therefore becomes our duty to join issue with them and show
to the people the fallacy of their arguments and strengthen the national feeling and the love of the
Union in our section.

The importance of the educational question can hardly be over-estimated. The Republican party
has always been the advocate of the public school system. This matter now demands the special
attention of the Republicans of Georgia. The illiteracy of our people is truly alarming. In 1870 fifty-six
per cent, above ten years of age were unable to read and write! And yet our legislators have refused
to raise a sufficient amount of money to make the schools efficient. Not more than $300,000 have
been raised annually for public schools, and outside of the cities they have been maintained only
three months in the year. Some States with populations about the same as that of Georgia raise
annually for public schools more than five millions of dollars; while in these States only from eight to
ten per cent. of their people above ten years of age are illiterate.
It is not claimed that our State can raise as much money for public schools as wealthier States; but it
is claimed that we can raise much more than we do. No Northern State, the wealth of which is equal
to ours, raises less than one million of dollars annually for public schools, and some raise much
more than that amount, although the percentage of illiteracy is not more than eight per cent. We
can and we should raise at least one million dollars annually for public schools; and the Republicans
of Georgia should make this matter an issue in the next campaign, and continue to discuss the
question until they are sustained by the people.

The percentage of illiteracy at the South is so much greater than it is at the North, and our wealth is
so much less, that we need national aid in the education of our people; but we cannot becomingly
ask for nor expect such aid until our own people raise for public schools as much money in
proportion to our wealth as the people of the North raise in proportion to theirs. “The voters of
the Union who make and unmake constitutions, and upon whose will hangs the destiny of our
Government, can transmit their supreme

3 authority to no successors save the coming generation of voters, who are the sole heirs of
sovereign power. If that generation comes to its inheritance blinded by ignorance and corrupted by
vice, the fall of the Republic will be certain and remediless.”
—[ President Garfield's Inaugural Address .

The Republicans of Georgia have never enjoyed the privilege of voting freely for the candidates of
their choice, nor of having their ballots honestly counted. “A full, free vote and an honest count” are
unknown to them. This matter is of supreme importance, for honest free government is impossible
so long as the “free enjoyment of equal suffrage” is denied. We must use every proper effort to
secure our rights, and we must not cease to denounce the crime, and protest against the wrong until
our liberties are secure.

The system of punishment in our State known as the “chain-gang system” is a relic of barbarism!
Criminals should receive the punishment due to their crimes, but they should be treated with
humanity. The Republicans of Georgia should not cease to protest against the brutality of the
chaingang until that system is abolished.

It is well known that many citizens in our State are not protected in the enjoyment of their rights;
that in some localities freedom of speech is unknown, and freedom of political action is not
permitted to those citizens who differ in their opinions from the dominant class. The Republicans of
Georgia should not cease to denounce such wrongs, but labor to redress them until all persons in
our State are fully protected in all their rights.

The people must look to the Republican party to accomplish the work of reform that we have
outlined. The party of liberal, progressive ideas which has done so much for humanity, civilization
and good government, may be trusted to continue the work yet remaining to be done.
We should labor to strengthen the Republican party of Georgia, by convincing the people that the
principles we advocate are right, and that their adoption is necessary to promote the happiness and
intelligence of all classes and the wealth and power of the State.
We urge you to perfect your organizations in each militia district, county and Congressional district,
preparatory to the next elections.

Fuller & Holcomb, Pts , Atlanta.