The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-11-21
A Grand Opportunity fer the De-
mocracy.

GUS to Republicans, furnishes an mex
haustible theme for political moralists.
In all its bearings upon the past or the
future it deserves to be treated with can
dor and frankness. and in that spirit we
propose to briefly allude to the present
all-absorbing theme in American politics.
While the general result is an emphatic
and deserved rebuke of Radical misrule,
fraud, corruption, thievery, and unconsti-
tutional and disgraceful interference in
State matters, elections, DC, it also fur
nishes indisputable evidence that the SOW
ereign power, in this great countryside
people-are willing to entrust its fu-
ture welfare and their well-being to the
Grand Old Democratic Party-that they
have an abiding faith in the statesman
ship, wisdom and patriotism of Democ-
racy.
The Democratic party has had other
opportunities, but this opportunity is the
grandest ever given it to atone for short
comings in past political crises. The
party energies from the contest of 1882
with victory everywhere emblazoned
upon its banners-with gain of ninety
four Congressman and nearly two-thirds
of the Forty-eighth Congress Democrats
with majorities in twenty-five State
Congressional delegations-with Demo
cratic Governors in twenty-five States
probability of soon gaining the ascen-
dency in the United States Senate, and
the chances for elccting a Democratic Pres
ident in 1884 as good as could be de-
sired. Was there ever grander oppor-
tunity given to party to relieve itself of
all past aspersions, to firmly establish it.
self upon broad, liberal and honest
platform, with wise and progressive prin-
ciples, pledged to just and faithful exc
cution of the laws, to needed reforms,
and to an economical national policy?
In dealing with this opportunity our
statesmen must not forget that there are
sins of omission as well as commission.
To do certain things will be to abuse and
betray the confidence reposed in the
party, while to do others will strengthen
and confirm the confidence of the peo-
pie in its ability and purpose to steer
the grand old ship of state rapidly
out of the muddy sea of Radical cor
ruption and disgrace-where she has
been anchored and manned by Radical
pirates and thieves for twenty-five long
years-and once more safely moor her in
the calm, clear, deep harbor of national
pride and greatness, prosperity and hon
e
PARTISAN Legislation in the
interest of monopolies and rich corpora
tons would be in direct conflict with the
best interests Of the country, detrimental
to the prosperity of the people, and an
objectionable neglect of the great and
good work now entrusted to the Demo
cratic party. 1t would be an insult to
their confidence and judgment, which
they would as surely and emphatically
resent at the polls as they did the mani
fold and disgraceful sins of the corrupt
and dishonest Radicals on the 7th inst.
To accomplish the great work entrusted
; to the Democratic party, its Statesmen in
the Forty-eighth Congress must rise
above the low plane Of partisan Iegisla-
ton, the great bane of our country dur
ing the past fifteen years-the foundation
for all the villaines perpetrated upon the
government and the people by the Radi,
calls, who have at last received terrible
} but just rebuke from an indignant and
. long outraged people for all their sins Of
omission and commission.
! Democratic statesmen must fully com.
) prehend the situation, understand the de-
mands of the times, what the people ex
2 pect of them, meet the issues fairly and
e squarely, move cautiously but deter
f minedly forward in the performance Of
e their patriotic duty, and in November,
e 1884, the people will heartily approve
8 their good work by the triumphant cleo
ton of a Democratic President.
4 Perhaps the most intricate subject de
e serving the early and earnest attention o.
: statesmen is the tariff, and it will require
: time, mature deliberation and great wis
1 dom to accomplish its revision and read
t justment upon fair and equitable basis
b Our national pride and honor must be re
9 established ). our merchant-niarine inter.
= ests should be fostered and encouraged
t sweeping reforms are urgently demanded
a in most of the departments of the genera
n government; legislation calculated to ad
:. vance the best interests of the country
t and the people is imperatively needed
;. All these will win greater confidence from
= and inspire new hope in the people, giv'
:. new impetus to the business Interest,"
t Of the country, and ensure future successes
r for the party. An honest administration
i. Of government and proper legislation al
!: ways rebounds to the general good of thu
Q country, the best interests Of the peoph
:, and the welfare Of the party in power
l. while corrupt administration and parti
). san legislation is detrimental TO every in
O terest of the country and the people, ant