National Republican., 1880-11-24
ANOTHER or THE ROOFS.
Rxporieuoes in Florida Social Life.
BANKS oF THE ST. JouN, FLORIDA,
November II, 1880.
. Me Eliior Of TIE NahOnal Repnblican

BANKS oF THE ST. JoHN, FLORIDA,
November il, 1880.
| TO The Editor of The National Republican,
SIR: Now that the heat of political strife
has passed away, leaving me stranded upon
the rugged shores of defeat, feel like caro-.
fully examining into the motives which ac'
tuatod both sides during the late campaign
here In Florida, with the view of gaining
what instruction Is possible, for future opera.
tions. II is difficult, indeed, for you of the
north residing quietly in a section Of the
country where certain well known rules of
political conduct are adhered TO and respected,
to comprehend the condition of affairs here
when any unusual political excitement
arouses the latent prciudices which the lapse
| Of time does not eradicate. Their prcscnta-
tion In the manner / have recently behcld
them has absolutely appallo me, and I f,ol
sad TO think what must be- uniformed by these
southern people before they arc In fit con-
| dition to even nccept the great groundwork OF
our country's true progress--a respect for in.
dividual rights.
In my opinion there arc only two courses
open by which good results can be accom-.
| plished here. One Is 20 enter upon mission
ary work Of enighteniug n people who arc
the most pharisaical in tho world, believing
themselves TO he superior 10 all the rest of the
| world, by virtue Of dead institution which
educated them TO he masters, physically rs
we'll rs politically. They revere the dead in.
stitution as1, martyrcd birthrght, and they
cling TO its dying twin sister, state rights, ~
the only remaining ject worth living for.
Blinded with their tears Of mourning, they
can see no good in tho reborn nation; they
live IN tho past Of hate aud desire no part Ia
the future bro,hcrhood they exist in memory,
and the last quarter Of the nineteenth ccn-
tury is not in any form FOR them.
What labor 10 attempt to rcvivify such a
skeleton of socctyl The alternative consists
in adopting tho course which proved 50 sue
cessiul in Washington; importing II sufficient
number of northern people hero TO assume
control and benefiting them IN spite of them.
| selves A dissection of the southern charac-
ter presents u curious conglomeratiou; i'm.
petuous aud imperious, unargumcntativo and
prejudiced it claims to be hospitable aud
chivalrous.
1t processes to welcome immigrat!on hut
those who immigrate must first acknowledge
fcalty TO the local opinions, Like a petted
child that desires companions provided those
| companions touch none of its playthings, IL
welcomes tho settler If tie settler admits the
fact that he is here only on suiIcraneo and
| solely for the benefit Of the original propric.
tor of the soil. Let them have their way en-
tircly, smother your opinions, and you get
along magnifccntly.
Unior unately for their peace of mind, and
for the continuance of this happy state of af-
| fairs, the northern men who come down here
are generally thinking men, who have been
brought up in condition of society where
thought is free and opinions clash; where
oue's own rights are modified by regard for
the rights OF others, all under the jealous
guardianship of wcll.tescd civil laws, rigidly
enforced. Foolislly ignoring the penalties of
violating this southern tyranny, they cause
| untold trouble in this peaceful community.
Herein lies tho secret of the trining differ.
ences of which you hear so much, yet know
so little. believed was quite popular in
our little community. / was allowed to head
| every subscription paper with the largest
amount of money, every enterprise for the
public good honored me with Il call for uid,
even my advice was frequently asked; my
light was not allowed to be hid under a
bushcl, aud became somewhat proud that
could be of so much consequences even to so
small place. | did not seek popularity, aud
yet really faucicd | was popular and re.
spectcd by all my neighbors. Alas! upon what
slight tenure do our ideas sometimes de.
pend. No sooner had l assumed prominent
position rs a republican than my virtues
| wancd, doubtful glanccs were cast upon me,
the hand of friendship relaxed its grasp my
character became to all appearance slightly
warped; whereas | was heretofore gentle.
man from the north, now became yankee;
southern sUCltNN UttHUlc hOUleWUUI uOuUtlul
of my standing, and consulted seriously about
what should bn done.
| Understand, this was before received any
nomination aud before had announced any
political opinions, excepting that was ro'
publican; ! had made no speeches, advanced
no policy. ! had been II republican in the
north, and had not yet understood the absolute
necessity of changing my convictions 10 suit
my new home, aud believing that principles
were good all the world over, | concluded to
cling to them even here. Fatal mistake-I
was ruined thereby. But when, added to
this laundering came the absolute villainy of
accepting nomination for the legislative
honors, / was finally and fatally cursed 1t
WAS whole bundle of straw, sufficient to
break any camc's back. became not only u
yankee-that did not convey a sufficient
measure Of contempt-I became carpet
baggcr, a "nigger worshiper;' l was hereto
fore to be avoided, now became an object of
attack. As q candidate, what had l done
Carefully avoiding sectional issues aud every
thing like pcrs al abuse, l Idiscussed the gem
eral principles of our government, the rights
of man, the beuefits of education to the
masses, the financial policy of the country,
the tariff etc Not single speech did make
that was not misreprescntcd; n studied sys-
tom was adopted by my political opponents,
By which at least one democrat would be
present ut my speeches, whose duty it was to
catch at some points and pervert them,
and tho contorted version was always ac.
ceptcd by his party friends, because was he
not present and heard me- say those things
For instance, l was reported us saying that "a
negro was superior to any southern woman In
intelligence" that 81 was going to the logis'
laiure if / had to go with u musket on my
shoulder" etc. If you will notice, they used
ideas which were particularly calculated to
inaame tho prcjudices of southern people
This system of Misrepresentation was care.
) fully and persistonty adhered to; false state
ments were attributed to me by democratic
stump orators, and were set up by them like
straw men, to be knocked down, and va.
liantly they did IL; they devoted their entire
attention TO them, and thus avoided the real
issues which ] advocated. The ordinary po-
litical abuse used by democrats in their cam.
paigns was ineffective here. Numbering my
grandmother would have rather raised mo in
their cstmatiou; any Of the ordinary crimes
would have given them a brothery interest
in me, aud might have aided In cecting me.
Their tactics scared far above those things.
To braud me us carpet'bagger yankee and
n radical was far more etlective-that touched
tho innermost recess of hatred and disgust II
was the ne plus ultra Of abuse. In all this,
however, my self.osiecm was highly 1atterod;
the extremity to which they carried their
dirty work convinced mo of my strength aud
the fear they had Of me. Some of my OK.
tremely disnterested democratic friends urged
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