The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-09

DIAN Of TusDday, lid that capital VII
"not come TO Florida ~ freely under Dem.
"ocratic rule ~ It will under . Repnbli-
acan administration" We have heard
this same uttersnce before, but have never
been able to perceive its force, except a.
bit Of political clap-trap employed for
the want Of better reason why the peo-
pie of the State should restore the Repub.
icans to power. But it il not true, for
reasons which win suggest themselves TO
every thinking mind.
In the first place, the "capital " which
it is desirable should flow into and be in.
vested in Florida, and which consists ~
well of brain and muscle a. of money, is
not in the possession of Republicans alone.
The statement goes upon the superstition
that it is, and that the immigrants who
who have already come, as well as those
intending to come, are sympathizers with
Florida Republicanism as it has been il
Illustrated in the past and earnestly desire
" a little more Of the same sort" Of
course this superstition is false. The per-
sons who seek Florida are Of mixed poll
tics, with feeling in behalf of the Dem
ocratic party largely preponderating.
Many Democrats come hither from the
Eastern and Western States, while nine
teen out of every twenty of those who
immigrate from the South were decided
Democrats in the States from whence
they came, and are no less decided, polit-
ically, in their new homes. Moreover, it
is fact not to be denied that not few
Of those who were Republicans elsewhere
soon discover that the best interests of
Florida will be subserved by committing
the government to the control of the in
telligence of the State, and hence in local
elections they generally act with the
Democrats This was demonstrated in
the election of 1875, and will be again
illustrated in the election this year.
But aside from all this, there are GER
tain considerations which naturally infu-
ence people in seeking new homes. These
relate primarily to the character of the
local government. Naturally, an immi-
grant, whether his "capital is made up
Of money or consists of muscle and will,
wants local government efficient in exc
cutting the laws on the one hand, so that
his person and property will be safe, and
on the other a government without ex-
travagance in its administration, other
wise his substance will be devoured by
the tax-gatherer. Will the ex-senator tell
us which of the two rules, Republican or
Democratic, as illustrated in the-past,
best comes up to the conditions supposed
to enter into the requirements of thought
full people ? Was there anything in Re
publican administration from 1868 up
to 1877 which recommended this State
to the consideration of "capital ?" Were
life and property safe :? We're the laws
executed with energy? Was the govern
ment administered with honesty and
economy? Did property escape confsca-
ton at the hands of the tax-collector ?
Why, the mere suggestion of such inqui-
ries is all that is necessary to expose the
falsehood of the assertion that "capital
"will not come to Florida as freely
"under Democratic rule as it will under a
Republican administration. 1t is noto-
rious that during the whole period of
Republican administration . there was
little else than plumber and extravaganza.
In the "black belt" personal property,
such as stock, was appropriated without
let or hindrance, and there was literally
no security for it, while the taxes eat up
what little was left by the lawless. The
ex-senator need not look beyond the linn.
its of his own county for the results OF
"Republican administration" Here, the
comparison between ,aoto and then will il.
lustrate the difference between the two
rules in way so striking as to leave no
doubt as to the manner of administration
best calculated to invite "capital" to
flow hither. We will not confuse and
confound him with statistics showing the
steady decline in the quantity and value
of personal property, such as hogs and
cattle, or call to mind the depression and
gloom which rested upon the industrial
interests of the county, but refer him and
all others like him, who delude themselves
with notions similar to his, to the lessen.
ing in. the burdens of the government
which has resulted in the change from
Republican to Democratic administra.
ton. A few words will suffice for this.
In Leon county, where the ex-senator re-
sides, the State taxes assessed in 1874,
rs and '7e-these being the last three
years of /" Republican administration p
were respectively as follows:
State taxes assessed In 1874. ....... &82,e01 "a
1876. .g..... 81, AZ AZ
:" 1875. ........ 2865A 80
Total for the three years. ....... $88000 O6