The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-09-19


The purile and useless CRY of some Democrats
for a change of leaders in the Democratic party
is of piece with their other objections 10 that
organization. Let's see what their objection
amounts to. The Democratic party dates its
power and control of the State government on
the day that Geo. F. Drew became Governor
upon the Quincy nomination of 1876. The men
appointed to Cabinet positions were not put
there solely through the favor of the Governor,
but they were recommended to those positions
by large body of respectable citizens of Florida
These officers served the people faithfully and
well-they came directly from the people, as did
all other officers, State and county. -Four years
of political quietude to the State of Florida I'M
der Drew's administration put her on the upward
grade; blessing that she had enjoyed at no
time under Republican rule. This was admitted
by the better thinking class of Republicans when
that administration was going out of office
Towards the close of Governor Drew's admin
stration another convention of the people was
called at Gainesville to nominate State ticket.
We suppose the men that composed that con-
vention were leaders" and yet we doubt if one
fourth of them were the same men who attended
the preceding State Convention at Quincy We
should suppose that if leaders OF party are to
be found anywhere they will be found in
Gubernatorial Convention. 1t is evident then
that there was change of " leaders" in the
party when the Gainesville Convention was held.
That body, we personally know, was one of q
very fine order Its personnel throughout was
the subject of congratulation by the prominent
and intelligent Republicans who witnessed their
proceedings. No man who was present al that
convention will say that it did not express the
true wishes and desires of large majority Of the
people of this State when il nominated Governor
Bloxham. His nomination was the direct and
absolute demand of the people in the Democratic
--~sSs Su~IE, EU1IOw cnange Of
leader" from Drew to BIoxham, from officers
and leaders appointed by Drew 10 those ap-
pointed by Bloxham-two different and distinct
men, and two different and distinct Cabinets and
other State and county officers The change
was complete. One set of men or leaders"
went out of official power and another went in.
1t was the wish of the Democratic party, of a
majority of the people of the State of Florida
In the late convention AT Jacksonville in
which General Finley was nominated, we have
no doubt the membership was nOticeably diff
ferent from that of preceding Congressional
Conventions in the Second District In fact,
we know il was. That that convention Obeyed
the will of large majority of the people
of this district in its nomination, no reasonable
and well informed man can doubt Yet here
was change in The leaders" in this conven-
ton from all others. That no change made
in the Congressional nomi lalion is sufficient If
itself to show that change was wanted by the
people, whom the Independents and their ma
content Democratic brethren have such a vir4u-
GUS regard for.
Even in the matter of its Executive Commit
tees the Democrats have applied the memorable
law of change
From all our observations we are yet Co see
wherein the Democratic party has failed 20 make
such constant changes in lis leadership rs naiu-
rally purifes the stream Of its political life and
keeps in fresh pursuit the wishes af the people.
and in looking over The crOakers and Indeps-nd-
enis We fail 10 how the Democratic p4rfr. or I
the people of Florida, could br benefited bv
changing IT'S present lca'iers and putting IN
charge these very men who assert So much
against the leaders of the party and claim 50 I
much for themselves.
Very few men ia the Democratic party have I
kept an Office for two successive terms An ths
political organizations of the party have new i
officers as general thing in each cnmpnixn- 4
With this constant rotation in The political as
well as the official life of the party, under The 4
sanction and supervision Of the people Of the i
party, we should think that they would be allie
to obtain honest and capable officers to carry On 4
the nd a.
have done So and hat they are content