Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-24
THE SITUATION IN FLORIDA.
The Cause of Democratic Success from a
Republican StandpOint-The Last Yes
tige of Radicalism About to be Re-
moved

Jacksonville (B'la) Ger. N. z. Times (Repl
The political outlook in Florida in this off
year is, perhaps, about as mixed as It is
possible for it to be. Mr.. Davidson, Demo-
crat, in the First Congressional district, is
entered by bis party against Mr.. D. L, Nc
kinnon and Mr.. Skinner, who are the Re-
publican favorites. Why the Republicans
wish two favorites, when they could not win
by about 5000 votes against their standard
bearer two years ago, seems somewhat
puzzling. The result will undoubtedly
be large msiority for Mr..
Davidson. DR.. Conover and G. W. Wither-
spoon, who1ead the Republicans, belong to
the class that look to Individual gain in pre-
ference to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of principle
or party. Witherspoon {colOred) was the
Republican nominee two years ago, and is
in many respects a strong man. He is a
good speaker and a church and temperance
man, and naturally attracts many to his
leadership, but these qualities now seem to
have been surrendered for personal gain to
the Democrats. DR.. Conover can scarcely
be considered more than political mounte-
bank, and 1t cannot be denied that he ia
working directly in the interest OF Mr..
Davidson. twas the com binstiOn of Conover
and Bisbee that lost the State in the national
election two years ago, and little, IL any
now. The efforts of both are directed to
common result, with Conover diving into
the Democratic Golfers to fill his own pocket
and Blsbee working the Hubbell committee
to fill his, neither caring whether the party
sur wives or not. Conover has nothing here.
and Bisbee has not resided in the State for
wears, and hence It is that politics in this
state have gradually drifted into money
speculation. Such men, after they are nomf-
mated, are for sale, and II no buyer appears
they make raid on the Republican Execu-
tive Committee.
This is sad state of affairs, but neverthe-
less true. As an illustration, Duvsl county.
OF which Jacksonville is the county seat,
may be taken. The registration In this
county showed two years ago $50 more
blacks than whites, and vet there IA in this
county Republican majority of 200 Two
dozen white men constitute the working
element OF the white Republicans In this
county. and there are, therefore, a goodlV
number Of white Republicans who are
capable of thinking and acting on the prin-
ciples OF the party, and do not look TO their
personal advantage in so doing. And this
is an element that Mr.. Bisbee has now con-
tending against him in his Congressional
contest in the Second district against Mr..
Finley. The reason OF this is plain. Mr..
Bisbee claimed of the administration certain
removals in this State on the sole ground
that they were necessary in order to secure
Tor him his party renominadon. These re-
movals were accorded by the administra-
tton for that purpose, and Mr. Hamilton
Jay was removed from the Jacksonville
post Office, without cause, to give way
to General Ledwtth Everybody is General
down here), who lacks the abilities and
sincerity of a fifth-rate politician in
any city of importance North. He ran
for Mayor OF Jacksonville last April and
was beaten by the largest majority ever cast
against Republican IN city election here
since the reconstruction. He has not vet
been able to get the official approval OF his
bond, and II the government officers are
not careless they will ascertain that It is
about as near a straw bond as 1t can be. as
the entire real estate owned bv one bonds
man who has signed for $25, 900 is IS, ,3O5.
This belongs TO CCN-~~' = n s. Sammis
aud from it 4 the new 1jgar deducted bis
homestead, whiv-r would exhaust ANYTHING
OF value, and preclude any collection upon
judgment obtained by the United States.
j. q. Greedy is another bondsman. His pos
sessions are limited to a small amount.
although he has justified to more than
double the amount he is worth, or at least
double the amount upon which he paws
taxes, as shown by the Tax Collectors
books. AnotherremoVsl was that of Mr.. Hon
klns from the custom house, public ser
want, tried and true, who, through the uuius
tiha6le action OF Mr.. Bis6ee, was removed
on the eve Of an election without cause.
and merely to give place to one of Mr.. Bis
bees followers. The result will be the elec.
tion OF Mr.. Finley. Allowing all the ma
jority claimed by Mr.. Blsbee in his late con-
test with Mr.. Finley, he could not overcome
the Democratic majority which the vote of
Sumter county, added to this district, will
give.
Mr.. Bisbee will be defeated, and this will
remove the last vestige of Republican rule
ln this State. It is au undeniable fact that
Mr.. Bisbee and DR.. Conover were the direct
cause OF the-los of this State to the Repub-
lican party two years ago, and that they, In
their respective capacities, will lose to the
Republican party both Congressional dis
trlcts this year.