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

To lie CdAAsroastss- Danssnsts of tie First Con
9ressiOAaI Distri4 Of Nerida:
For the first time In the history of this Dis,r;c
have the Republicans virtually acknowledged
their inability to cope with the virtue, honesty
and intelligence Of the country, and sought tC
form coalition with the few disappointed and
disafected Democrats, styling themselves Inde-
pendents, with the hope Of infusing suficient life
into their expiring party TO defeat the regular
nominee of the Conservasiye=De This
peculiar and anomalous movement was in
augurated by the Republican party and the So
called Independents not from any congenIality
of thought or principle existing between them
but to serve common purpose. TO defeat and
demoralize at any cost the Conservative Demo
cratic party, and thereby prepare the way to
elect Radical Governor In 1884. Some of the
less reticent but influential Radical leaders pro-
claim publicly that their object 10 encouraging
the Independents Is 70 secure power, that their
own party is not sufficiently strong togive them
the coveted power, but with the cid of disaf-
fected Democrats they may be able to break the
solid phalanx that has heretofore confronted
them, and thus demoralize the Conservative
Democrats of the First Congressional District.
Ii successful, in their opinion, there will be little
If any trouble in restoring their party to the
halcyon days of Reed and stearns.
We would be, indeed, sorry to believe that
there are any considerable number of those who
have heretofore acted with US, so lost to duty
and patriotism, that they will, for the sake of a
brief term of Office, or to crafty personal re-
arlo ha 4.
beautiful State, with its magnificent and grow
ing public interests its grand and brilliant pros
poets, fail into the hands OF the horde of vam-
pires and vandals from whom il was, at such
great labor and cost, rescued six years ago
Neither are we prepared TO believe that those of
us who know what difficulties the Conservative
Democratic party had to contend with in rescu-
ing the State from Radical rule, what disadvan-
tages it has since labored under, and at the same
time seen with so much pride and qualification
the mighty strides our State has made in the
last five years in the direction of prosperity and
wealth, withstand idly by with folded hands and
see all that has been so dearly won, lost and
ruined for the want Of little energy and atten-
ton. You who now stand Indifferent spectators
OF the political conflict now being waged for the
supremacy of virtue and intelligence, economy
and prosperity, over ignorance and vice, robbery
and lawlessness you who grumble and COM
plain at fancied wrongs, and say the Conserva-
tive-Democratic party has violated its plighted
faith, and done nothing for the good of the
State or the relief of the people; let your minds
run back six years and for q moment contem-
plate the state of things that then existed. Be-
hold your State and counties, cities and towns,
overwhelmed with debt and sinking deeper
every day, with nothing to show for the vast ex-
penditure except the growing wealth of office
holders and plunderers; the obligations of your
State hawked about from city to city without a
purchaser; your credit gone, confidence in the
integrity of your government at home and
abroad all destroyed; ruin written on the face of
every pBblic iRlsEesf aud anxiety and despair on
the condition of public affairs then with those
of to-day, and say if you can that the ConserVa-
tive Democratic party has been false to its
pledges and done nothing to relieve the people
of their burdens.
We do not claim that the Conservative Dem
ocratic party is perfect. 1t is composed of men
only. We do not say that our leaders, law max
ers and rulers have made no mistakes To err
is human. But we do say, most emphatcally,
that no State in this broad Union, none in this
bright galaxy of States, has, In the last five
years, made as long and rapid strides onward
and upward as has our own beloved State of
Florida. Honesty, like the magicians wand,
has touched all our public interests, and behold
the result State taxes reduced from 12i TO z
mills. Two of the mills to pay the interest on
the public debt accumulated by the Radicals
while in power, and one applied to the educa-
ton of the children leaving only TO defrsy the
ordinary expenses of the State. The large float
ing debt paid, and the State on cash basis.
State bonds have gone up from fifty cents on the
dollar far above par, and are now considered as
the safest and best paying investment in the
country. Confidence in the honesty and stabil-
ity of the government is fully established, al
home and abroad immigration and wealth are
pouring into the State; capital is being invested
in the State by the million; cities and towns are
springing up as if by magic, on every hand.
Railroads and canals permeating every section
of the State. New industries being opened up
to our people and our State, and its varied in
terests growing and prospering 10 an extent
almost unparalleled in the history of the South.
Our hopes are now bright, and our prospects
truly brilliant. If we would confirm these
hopes and realize these prospects; if we would
see our State continue to grow and prosper, and
the burden of taxation grow annually less as is
now the prospect, we must stand by the banner
of Conservative-D Democracy. 1t was this party
that brought about these happy results, and it is
the only one to which we can look to foster and
preserve them.
There are but two parties in this State, the
Conservative Democratic and the Radical Re
publican party We must act with one or the
other. Every Democratic vote not cast, or cast
for the so-called Independents, weakens the
Conservative Democratic party and gives aid
and comfort TO the Radicals. If you are not for
Us you are against US. He that gathereth not
with the Conservative Democracy scattereth
abroad.
Be not deceived by this so-called independents
ism. 1t ID but,anOthef name for Radicalism, and
its success would prove Radical success.
Neither must We solace ourselves with the
idea that the Radical party is divided. 1t 10
true that Skinner is the nominee of the conven-
ton. and that the small end Of the convention,
the bolters TO encourage McKinnon TO remain
in the field. are apparently supporting him But
on the 9TH Of November you win 6nd the Radi
cal party solid for Skinner. and McKinnon and
his few satellites le ont in the cold or ses sssa
A. An1 A~~A "A