Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-30


lIcan Love Feast-The Mob Rules
as UsuaI-A Strange Sight for the
Visitors They URdersaand why
the south is Solid Democratic
COnVenIfOn-The Peoples Ticker
-Bisbee's Work.
JACKSONVILLE, March 2s-Here we are
verging upon the month Of April. and yet the
attractions Of our favored State continue to
draw undiminished throngs Of visitors. Mum
bers are leaving it is true, but their places are
filed at once, while numerous parties are wait
ing in Savannah, Charleston, and elsewhere
until assured Of suitable accommodations.
Our Bonifaces have been able to pick and
choose their guests this winter, and to demand
their prices, to which they have adhered with
grim tenacity. Few charge less than four
| dollars per diem by the week or month, while
choice rooms readily bring five dollars.
Foreign mobiles have been frequent. Only
last week three Austrian Counts arrived in a
bunch, and scarcely anybody knew that the
proud patricians were in the city. English
baronetS, Italian dukes, and European mag
mates or all grades have left the delicate
essence OF ariStocraCy in our democratic at
gratidcat ion at the thought that our soil has
been pressed by the feet Of such distinguished
personagas.
The piutocracy of the country have been
fully and largely represented, and 1t would
seem that the mines of Golconda, Brazil and
Australia had been thoroughly ransacked to
furnish the unwonted exhibition of diamonds.
These sparkling gems glitter in all directions
and indicate the wealth and vanity of their
wearers.
The combined capital represented by the
visitors to Florida this season would form a
WONDERFUL aggregate, and would go far to-
wards cancelling the nstional liabilities
Florida has had a tremendous boom this win
ter, and TO all appearance her future prosperi-
" is no longer matter OF uncertainty. She is
probably making more decided and positive
steps towards substantial growth and progress
than any of the Southern States, except Texas.
The various internal improvements now I'M
der way, and those projected at an early day,
will very greatly enlarge the present facilities
of transportation, and will open huge areas of
fertile and desirable lands to enterprising i'm
migrants
Thousands of intelligent strangers have Wis
tied the head waters of the St. Johns river, as
well as many OF the int erior counties, and have
fully posted themselves as to the advantages
ami the capabilities of the State. Their opin-
ions and observations have very generally been
given to the communities in which they reside
through the medium of their local papers and
IN the main have been of a favorable charac-
ter
Besides this, it is becoming more and more
the practice for the members Of the press
gang to make winter pilgrimageS to Florida,
and these gentlemen have been here in force.
Perhaps no State in the Union has had q larger
gratIlitous advertising than Florida for the
past four months, and this source of notoriety
has been of signal benefit.
Cool heads already predict large increase
of travel for the next season, and adequate
preparations will be made to meet the expect
ed influx.
Last week the Republicans OF the city met
in solemn council to present their ticket for
municipal offices. According to their usual
custom, the Zulus captured the primary meet
ings, but magnanimously allowed flve OF the
forty delegates to be selected from the ranks
or the Anglo SaXonS.
According to the Florida Union, the taxes
paid by these delegates amount to 1888 "a in
the aggregate, nineteen of the members not
paying cent towards the expense of the city.
Many OF the largest tax payers of jackson
vile belong to the Republican party. Among
them can be found men of thorough education,
financial ability, sound Judgment and stainless
private character. There are many such men
would willingly confide the administration of
municipal affairs without single doubt as TO
their honesty and capacity. Yet such
and are practically without infiu,
ence. ImpecuHious. ignorant and venal
negroes take the control into their hands and
farm out positions on the slate to the highest
bidders. This Is q matter of common nOtorietY
and a subject of street conversation. A dele
gates position in such convention is worth so
much money, according to his personal infiTl-
ence, and has regular market value. Hence
the eagerness shown by many of the freedmen
to grasp these coveted distinctions OF course
there are some honorable exceptions to such
charge, but it holds good in a majority Of In
stances.
On the night when the convention was
called it was openly asserted by several of the
delegates that the reason for ordering an ad
journment was that the aspirants FOR civil
H..vzs Aa1v v,<N% l11I
cordiug to their elegant phraseology, the dele
gates had not had enough sugar -
very large number of Northern visitors
witnessed the proceedings held the next night
and manifested considerable interest. Several
of these gentlemen in my vicinity-men Of
wealth and infiuence-declared that they were
fully able to realize and understand why the
South was solid In its opposition to the Re-
publican party. The spectacle was a revela-
tion, and threw great deal Of light upon
subject heretofore not clearly understood
1t was novel sight to these strangers to look
at convention composed almost exclusively
of negroes, and those by no means representa-
tives of the better element of their race as
suming the right to control the affairs Of a
progressive and thrifty city, Such an assem-
in their own localities.
It is but just to say, however, that the con-
vention was, comparatively, one of the most
orderly ever held in Jacksonville. This was
due t. the number OF strangers present, and
to an urgent appeal made by the Chairman.
that the body would endeavor to show that II
had some idea of decency and propriety
There was no fighting. and less than the usual
amount of profanity and vulgaTity. One of
the delegates, and big chief, did vote, on the
informal ballot, for the proprietress of a
bagnio as his candidate for Mayor.
Another. in answer to a charge that bribery
had been employed, very naively declared that
he saw no impropriety in taking money when
it was given to him. This was said with the
utmost innocence and sincerity. These speci-
rn0v hrSn be acc1 -
morality Of the conclave.
General Horatio Jenkins, Jr.. Chairman of
the state Republican Executive Committee, re-
ceived the nomination for Mayor. In his
speech, accepting the nomination, he is report
ed to have used the following language:
u understand by this nomination that if
elected, the duties of the executive department
of the city, in all its branches so far as it lay
in my power, are to be performed by Republi-
can servants of the people,"
This is sufficiently explicit to meet the ap-
probation OF even such stalwart as Colonel
Bisbee, of whom the General is warm friend
credit for his boldness in the enunciation of the
disposition he intends to make Of the official
loaves and fishes in the event of his success.
Three of the Aldermen nominated by the
Republicans have already declined to serve,
thereby greatly weakening their general ticket.
These gentlemen would have been entirely ac-
ceptable to the entire community, and would
have made excellent officials.
The Democrats held their convention to-day
and very wisely selected mixed ticket, com.
posed Of both parties. 1t was thoroughly
agreed upon that the ticket should be known
as the peoples ticket, - and that it should be
of character that would commend itself to
all conservative voters.
Partisan feeling was ignored in the conven-
tion, and the names adopted in the preliminary
caucus were nominated by aeelarnation, All
OF the proceedings ere of an harmonious
character, and the work was completed IL
very brief period,
oIo% ca
ylsWs OF all good citizens and it can be elected
If the proper effort is made. A hopeful feeling
prevails, and general satisfaction is expressed
over the nominations,
The withdrawal of the name of Mr. Hamil-
ton Jay as Postmaster for Jacksonville
createo general regret. He has made
Iaost faithful, competent and efficient officer
and II was generally hoped that he would be
retained. His oppositlon Is attributed to Col