The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-13

. good deal; but nazns me one whs
has refnsed over ,and over again to ex
ercise arbitrary power when he could
have done 90. A voice, None."l No
tinguished men, educated wholly in The
Republican party, giving advice Of The
most arbitrary character that can be con
ceived but where can you find the mar
who has had the chalice brought to his
lips that he might drink full Of control
over his fellow creatures, and who vou
have seen put it aside and say: "I am
q military man j am, an American sol.
der, but am citizen with respect to
the Law, which IL the Constitution / swore
to support 2" b ef a
We saw the Legislature of South Caro-
lima organized at the will of q corporal
without any guard. You all know what
was seen in Louisiana. ] do not propose
to 60 over these recollections In detail.
nor to recite the unlawful exercises of
military power, but desire to show what
was the character of the distinguished
man whom the Democrats have nominated
during the time Of the current of TYRANNY.
The great lesson to be devived from the
resistance made to the tyranny of King
George is the lesson would hold ND to
you now. One of the charges against
that potentate was that he attempted to
subordinate the civil to the military
power. ANY man who attempts that is
not fit to be ruler of men. The man of
our choice echoes the same spirit that
made onr people free in '76, and which
will only restore and consolidate that
freedom in 1890. Do you not remember
that his power was as ample, that he had
the same organization, administration. or
whatever you may choose to call it, that
other generals had? Compare him with
the New Orleans general who besought
the President to issue that proclamation
of outlawry-the proclamation declaring
that the white men of Louisiana, Alabama,
Mississippi, Texas and Georgia, shall be
outlaws" and leave the rest to me-"
Such was the dispatch, ! shame to say, of
Major General-aye, Lieutenant Gen
eral-of the Army of the United States,
And from the Cabinet at Washington
was sent the response We all approve
of your action" These names have
passed into history covered with a lasting
reproach, for Belknap, who wrote that
dispatch, proved base rogue, as treach-
erous to the money of America as to the
principles of liberty. This was the prin-
ciple-this is to-day the great underlying
principle of the two great parties. Dur
ing the struggle from '6l to '65 there was
little law and could be no law but force
but the difficulty has been that power
obtained by force has been sought to be
retained by force.
1t was attempted at Chicago to renom-
mate man who typifed nothing but
brute force and arbitrary powers-(ap
plause) but the attempt failed because
there were other machines machines of
the lobby, machines of railroad manage
ment-and between them they quarrelled
and finally dropped upon comparatively
unknown delegate in the convention.
Applause and laughter.)
l have been . representative in Con-
gress for the last twelve years and know
whereof / speak. But first wish to say
that ! do not impeach the patriotism Of
those men that differ with me and hold
tnat the saIety of %he country 10 best pre-
served by the Republics marty bnt 7
wish them and you to see where that par
ty would carry us should it remain in
power. By force the war was ended, and
when it was ended reign of peace should
have taken its place, but love of power
was there. and, unlike Washington and
Hancock, men were unwilling to give it
up, and so there has been q struggle be-
tween the kindness and love of union of
the American people-their disposition to
forget and forgive-on the one hand, and
the desire of the Republican party to
maintain control by any means on the
other hand.
See how they have centralized power
We are all citizens Of Delaware and the
United States. Why, after the experience
of one hundred years, should we not be
trusted to conduct our own elections? l
only mention this as one Of the steps the
Republicans took to maintain power.
In 1875 there were very nearly three
hundred thousand more votes cast for the
Democratic than for the Republican can
didate. Not only was there popular
majority at the polls, but majority of
some twenty electoral votes. What was
done? The Cabinet at Washington, con-
trolled by the military spirit Of . merely
military mana man who never laid down
power willingly-sent troops under q sng-
gestion of the Secretary of the Interior,
the late MIR. Chandler, Of Michigan, and
he had willing aid in Mr.. Cameron, of
Pennsylvania, Secretary of War. At their
bidding armed forces without q word of
protest from any quarter, among the Off
GERS in command, but with the ready alac-
rity of the General of the Army, were
sent to Columbia, Tallahassee and New
Orleans to protect three boards of can
vassing officers in deliberate perversion
of the results of popular elections.
What was the course Of the two great
parties at that time? Il is . fearful
thing to live under government that we
do not respect. The Democratic party
looked upon the shameful work of fraud
and force. What was to be donef Be
fore went to Washington sadder
man never went there-(cry of God bless
you " and applause)-I was anxious to
know how merciful God would enable
us to escape the overhanging cloud.
The tribunal to purge the election of
its frauds was decided upon. Pstriotic
Representatives did not ask whether that
act was popular or not, but determined
that confusion should not come upon the
land If their straightforwardness and te-
nacity Of purpose would prevent it.
I The whole country was relieved of the
4. - IA