The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-04-13
Address o. the state Executive
Committee. ~ ca
-HKKDQCARrERs, STATE aExEcurIvnN
C0MMFfTKE or COxszmYA1fN8 DE19DcRAfc
Pauww omATT nwDA -

the Conservative Democracy Of Florida, TO sound
the note of preparation for the contest before us
-Four years ago we entered upon the ever
memorable campaign of 1919. The odds were
largely against us. The Republicans we're
strongly entrenched in authority and REGARDED
our cause as hopeless. They had an election
law ingeniously framed fus the peEpetuation OF
their power The election machinery was In
their hands The ofice-holdeFs, state and Ma
tional. were Oh their side Money aud Troops
without limit were ut their disposal They had
an army Of flexible voters easily organized and
obedient TO their leaders, and the result showed
that they had no scruples oi conscience to deter
them from pursuing any course that would win.
Political necessity was their guide and il
excused all wrongful acts, pardoned all crimes.
And had we known at the Outset that the Presi-
dency depended upon the vote OF FLORIDA, the
contest would have looked altogether hopeless.
But we had suffered long from the misgov-
eminent Of the Radical party in our State and
we showed ourselves worthy of success by siriv-
ing for it Zealously and earnestly, and when our
opponents saw that we had compact organiza-
ton, reaching 10 the remOest corners OF the
State and that We were moving with resistiess
force on 10 victory, fraud was called in as their
auxiliary. Its course was traced in many Of the
Republican counties where The number Of reg
stered names exceeded the number Of actual vO-
tiers and eitizeDs by hundreds. II Was manifest
in Manatee, where we lost half our vote because
of the wrongful acceptance of The resignation of
the clerk and the wilfnl delay in appointing his
successor so as to prevent The registration Of Con-
servaiive voters.
1t was manifest in Duyal on the day of the
election. when deputy sheriff led the prisoners
from the county Jail 10 the polls armed with Re
publican ballots.
II was exposed AFTER The election, in Leon,
where q Of the " little jokers were counted out
OF the ballot-bOX on the Republican side that had
never been voted and where false sheets had
been added IN he clerks book 10 cover the crime
1t was confessed in Alachua where 219 Re-
publican votes were added 10 the returns from
Archer precinct No 2, after The public canvass
there on the night of the election And the Re-
publican candidates from President down re-
ceived and enjoyed the benefit of these crimes,
though they were proved and established beyond
all controversy, and vet when the returns
reached he capitol, our candidates had clear
majority 1t is not our purpose Ia go over the
dark story and show how, under the advice and
tutelage Of corrupt political leaders from abroad,
a pliabe returning board attempted 10 reverse
the peoples verdict, nor how their efforts were
made successful so far as The electoral vote was
concerned. These matters are part of the coun.
try's history. Suffice il 10 say that by the aid of
4
effective by the Inauguration of our candidates
upon the State ticket, 10 the positions TO which
they were elected by our votes We shall not
have these frauds to fight against in the coming
campaign The election laws have been modi-
fed and amended so us 10 render their repetition
impossible, and wholesome public sentiment
will sweep away all these foul methods which
were frs introduced into the State by the party
which the Conservative Democracy drove from
power.
Could our majority have been accurately as
certained in 1879, it would doubtless have ex-
ceeded one thousand, and our strength has ever
been on the increase Our enemies are now pow.
erless against honest majorities Only dissension
or apathy can defeat u.s. and we have too much
at stake TO allow ourselves 10 be overcome by
such influences.
We have reason also to congratulate ourselves
that the National election laws, which have
heretofore been administered by the lower off,
GERS Of the courts and the Republican leaders in
a partisan manner and for the purpose of intim-
idating our voters and keeping them from active
participation in elections have been or are about
TO be stripped OF their most Objectionable features
Not a single prosecution was carried on against
the viOlaiors Of lhe National election laws in
Florida afterNlre campaign Of 1875, and the ju-
rics were 20 Organized That The large bulk of The
members Of the majority political party were
practically excluded from the jury box II The
impending amendments prevail, both political
parties will be represented on the police force ut
the polls and the jury WILL as far as practicable,
he non partisan under the amended law. These
wise measures have been fought bitterly by Re-
publican partisans in Congress who desire the
continuance OF the system ~ ich has given them
so large political advantage in suppressing
Democratic votes and covering up Republican
frauds But in the coming campaign, if We are
vigilant the laws will be so administered as TO
bear equally upon both political parties and they
can no longer be used engine Of oppression
and persecution against members of the Demo.
cratic party.
The people OF Florida have tasted the fruits of
good government for three years Taxes have
been reduced at The average rate Of more than
$4,000 per annum as compared with the last
three years OF Republican rule schools have
been increased the school system has been made
more effective; crime has been punished and
checked property has been made safer; the
credit Of the Stale has been improved and It's
obligations have been honored; the claims against
the General Government for titles TO public
lands have been in part recognized; immigration
has steadily increased purchasers in larger num-
beers than ever before have sought after State
lands the labOrcr has received the fruits
OF his industry: agriculture has revived
and prosperity smiles upon our people
We cannot afford 10 take u backward step
and live again under the dark shadow Of Repub-
lean rule which, In eight years, brought Florida
well nigh to the verge Of universal bankruptcy
But The work of reform is not completed, and its
further development must be left to the great
party under whose banner II was inaugurated
But IL IL not in the Stale alone that the good
effects OF Democratic rule are manifest In 1874
the Conservative voters OF the country rose in
their might and drove the Republican majority
from the House of Representatives at Washing
ton, and in two successive elections they have