The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-06-01

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: certaln nominaGipa fors aovtraos VIII essablisA
iksix heaaquasters 3 0slnesville d isw eAys be
sSose III esaie Ccavention meseA TAasa Of
the deasstahle methods Of /" the machine" and
am mot prepared 10 believe that We are now, for
The frat time In the history Of Democratic politics
Ia Florida. to see Republican methods fessrted
TO and relied on or influencing representatives
70 whom the people have delegated power. We
want none Of such sssthsds, either b cur primary
meetings or State OoAventioss. HendQuarten :,
on such occasions meAas sffse whiskey and the
corrupt use of money. Candidates who are mot
the choice Of the people are not unffcquentiv
thrust upon them In this way, causing the subse-
quent campaign TO drag On without enthusiasm
and little hope What b wanted and demanded
of the convention b The selection Of candidate
as the FLoRIDIAN wisely said recently, arons
sssA he people, who win unite all the ConseTva-
challenge the respect Of the opposition and in
fuse enthusiasm into the great body Of his sup
"porters." Is 1t the purpose Of the machine
to secure the nomination Of such candidate
doubt it, and % doubling warn the people to
be prepared for trickery.
Not long ago you said that the FLoRIDHAN
made IL rule to advocate no man for Governor
until after the nomination" At the time Of
this utterance thought II wise and prudent but
recent developments have led me 10 question
whether it has not been the duty Of the Conser-
vative press of the State TO do something definite
towards shaping the nomination. The Sun d
Press echoing the desire Of the Republican lead
ers, insists that Governor Drew should be renomi-
mated, and the Jacksonville Union evidently leans
in the same direction. With respect to the first,
we shall not, hope, commit the folly Of taking
counsel from our enemies, and with regard 10 the
Union, it stands, 30 far as my observation goes,
almost solitary and alone. The other newspa-
pers, with here and there an exception have in
the main followed the course Of the FLoRIDIAN,
each, however, insisting with you that the emer-
gency demands man !" strong with the people,
but hesitating. after sketching the character of
the man needed, to name him. And yet, sir, few
among the press-gaDg can fail To note the popular
preference, and incline now TO think that the
press should have given voice 10 the popular de-
reason for believing that the folbearance of our
newspapers has been covertly taken advantage
of by rings and cliques to misrepresent the wishes
of the people and manufacture for their favorite
strength which any one acquainted with public
sentiment knows does not exist. Why should
I mince matters. THE strongest man with
the masses Of the people to-day is Bloxham. You
know it, Mr.. Editor, and all your brother editions
know il. Go into whatever county you please
and ask the people as you meet them who is their
first choice Tor Governor, and nine out of ten will
answer BLoxhdm." This preference is confined
TO no locality but is as common to the East as
the Middle the West as the South and becduse
il is SO common and points 30 enthusiastically to the
man who ought To be nominated at Gainesville
think the press should have echoed il and made
c'rtain that which ought TO be done. Ordinarily
the press forms and leads public sentiment, but
in this instance il has been back ward, from mis-
taken motives of policy in even following it, and
seems willing instead TO leave to a convention
lobbed by the machine" TO pick out " the
strongest man. Fatal folly, or what may prove
such If the peoples representatives shall be faith
less TO their trust
Sir, with Boxham as our nominee, the cam
paign will open with an enthusiasm and assurance
Of triumph that will be equivalent to battle
won before it is fought Can the man be named
whose nomination will inspire like enthusiasm
and confidence? II so, nominate him: but if
not, in the name of our State do not let Us be
guilty Of the insanity Of disregarding the dictates
of wisdom. Let no one say he will not accept
This is the argument of the machine" Blox-
ham is not q candidate seeking the nomination.
tie nomination seeks him and if the convention
respects the popular demand and dominates him :,
who will say that under such circumstances he
will decline? Nay Governor Drew will himself
demand that he shall accept, and 80 will all 9TH
ers who, in the language of the Leon county
resolutions, want government honestly admin
istered, and who, taught by the past look with
apprehension to the return Of lawless extrava-
gance as illustrated in former administrations. +"
| Let rs then dismiss all fears that he will dsap-
point the expectations of the people by refusing
| to respond TO their call. He has never failed
heretofore, and soiU not do 90 tn this emergency
| To doubt him now is to question his patriotism,
and would as soon accuse him of treachery TO
his native State as to suspect that he will shirk
duty when it is made plain to him that 1t is a
| duty. Vox VoPULI.