The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-06-13

No Such PrOmIse'' Made.
1t has been charged, not by MIR. Camp
bell only, but by Others, that the Demo
cratic party has been committed to Con-
vention for framing new Constitution.
Mr.. Campbell says:
1.-THE non-fulfllment for six long years by the
Democratic party, of its promise and obligation
TO give the State New Constitution, is the cause
of the revolt and dissatisfaction which exists to-
day IN its ranks"
When was this alleged "promise
made and this alleged obligation as
sumed? Certainly not by the Gainesville
Convention in 1880, and nothing short of
State Convention authorized to speak
for a party can commit it to any specific
action for or against any measure. Mr..
Campbell berates the Gainesville Conven-
ton for its non-action on this very ques-
ton. We must go back then to the
Quincy Convention of $40, to see whether
that representative body gave any such
"promise or assumed for the Democratic
party any such obligation" The fol-
lowing is the "Platform of Principles :"
adopted by that Convention:
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
The Conservative and Democratic party of
the State of Florida, in Convention assembled
arraign the Radical party, which has had
uninterrupted control of the General Govern
ment for the last ten years for having brought
the government, as well as the individual citizen,
To the verge Of bankruptcy, destroyed our com
merce, iettcred the industries of the people,
squandered the public money and the public
lands, multiplied public offices for party ends,
demOraliZed and debauched the government SER
vice to an unprecedented extent, eliminating in
the present administration, the most disgraceful
| to American history. They arraign the State
| government for the corruption oppression and
extravaganza, for its reckless disregard of the
| rights of the people, for administering the gov
eminent if created Tor the benefit of the rulers
| and not of the people For these and other con-
sideraiions we pledge ourselves TO work unceas-
| ingly and earnestly for the overthrow of this
| party in power, and we cordially invite the CO.
operation of honest men of all shades of pOliti-
cal opinion to unite with us equally in sustaining
and enforcing the following principles:
| l. Fidelity to the Constitution and its amend
ments.
2. Retrenchment and economy in Federal and
| State administration
3. Lessening the burdens of labor by reduc-
| ton of taxes and offices.
A. Free schools, exempt from all sectaran
control
5. Opposition to Capitalization as well as Fed
eral interference with local government.
6. Exposure and punishment of corruption in
officials
Z. Equal rights, justice TO all, without dstinc-
ton of race or sectional residence and hearty
aud cordial welcome 10 immigrants from all sec
| lions.
Other resolutions were adopted offered
by individual delegates, but not one of
them referred to the question of 81 New
Constitution or squinted in that direc-
ton. 1t will be seen, too, that the " Plat
form of Principles" laid down by the
Convention, contains no pledge, no "prom-
ise," no anything, committing the party
in any shape or manner "to give the
State New Constitution" and it follows
that Mr.. Campbell, in his positive state
ment that it did so "promise " and that
4" for six long years " it has failed to re-
deem the g obligation" has been as usual
relying on the vagaries Of brain full
of fancies, sometimes pretty but not I'M
frequently ridiculous" 1t is doubtful, in
deed, whether this gentleman, who never
probably opened his lips in the campaign
of 1876, or for that matter in any other
political campaign that anybody outside
of Pensacola ever heard of, really knew
what "promises were contained in the
platform of that year, otherwise he would
have been less positive perhaps in making
statements which the platform itself con-
tradicts. Equally absurd is his assertion
that the non-fulfllment of promise
never given and an " obligation never
assumed 1" is the cause of the revolt and
dissatisfaction which he alleges exists
in the Democratic ranks, seeing that the
leaders of the so-called Independents :"
do not give any such reason for their " re-
volt" Mr.. McKinnon gives as the cause
of his dissatisfaction the rottenness of
both parties generally and out of this
mass of corruption he hopes for rotten "
votes enough to recommend him to Fed
eral Office at least, for which it is said he
applied not many moons ago, while Mr..
Walker, the other leader, is understood
to be opposed to Constitutional Con-
vention called by any revolutionary pro-
ceeding such as Mr.. Campbell advo-
cates-that is, outside of the forms pre-
scribed by the Constitution-and to any
Convention unless guarantees are given
in advance that no change in the right of
suffrage shall be made or attempts en-
gagged in which would injure the credit
of the State" and further, that all the
reforms promised in 1876 would have been
secured before this had not the Constitu-
tional Conventionists defeated them," and
therefore he wants "new party" with
out saying what the reforms are out
side of free ballot and fair count. -
From this it is quite evident that Mr.
! Campbell has entirely failed, not only to