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

Is 10 MAKE ITOCIaMaClOnS, auu ii MT.
Campbell's toes are trod on it will be only
because he has thrust them in the way.
The AdUGnce- Gazette calls Mr. Camp
bell a man with One Idea" We sup
pose on IF contemporary means by this ex-
preston that in politics Mr.. Campbell has
but f" One Idea," and that that Idea {"
begins and ends in a Constitutional Con-
vention. 1t is his panacea for all the po-
litical ills that afflict US. Certain it is that
he is seldom heard from in politics except
in letter or two just before an election,
and the he mounts his favOrite hobby and
Celebrates his g One Idea" Four years
ago, when the campaign of that year was
getting fairly under way, he appeared in
a long letter on the same subject, with as
much vehemence as now, in which, how
ever, he put his foot badly Sin it" by
citing certain articles of the Constitution
as needing to be changed, when those
very articles had been changed or abro-
gated years before by Legislative amend
ment, and Mr.. Campbell did not know it
So, too, ,aoso he shows want of informa-
ton when he charges Middle Florida with
defeating the Convention movement two
years ago and with " disrupting the Dem
cratic party" when the truth is, as shown
olSo,x,h oro frov,, ofG o;ol rooordo tbo norc
ocracy of the Middle did less to defeat
that measure than other sections. No
particular section or county is responsible.
If the 5000 Democrats in the Middle who
voted for Bloxham had all favored the
Convention it would have been defeated
all the same, for the majority against it
was too overwhelming. And herein Mr..
Campbell gives another instance of his
lack of political sagacity. If he were
politically wise he could recognize in the
vote of 1880 a sentiment adverse to a
Constitutional Convention and govern
himself accordingly. He would not seek
to force measure a second time In such
hot haste against so recent an expression
of popular disapproval, but would wait
until the bulk of the party in the negro
belt can reason themselves out of their
just fears as to the disastrous effect the
wholesale election of county officers would
have on the dawning prosperity of the
belt by considering how far Mr.. Camp
bells remedy of an educational qualiica-
ton, or the EcenOn,ist's remedy by the
election of all county and municipal off,
GERS by the Legislature, with provision
that this body may direct their election
by the people in such counties as it may
see proper land of course it would not
see proper to do this in the black belly or
the remedy of poll-tax as suggested by
others, would 60 towards preventing the
blacks from running rough-shod over and
bringing ruin upon every interest, and
would endeavor in the meantime to effect
changes as the Republicans when in power
did-through the Legislature. But when
did this gentleman acquire the right to
lecture Democrats on their convictions as
to what Is expedient or inexpedientP
What active part has he taken, what sac
rifces made, to redeem Florida from Rad
ical rule ? Who ever heard his ringing
voice on the stump encouraging Demo
cratic speakers in their fierce battles with
Radicalism in the dark days when it was
necessary to 60 from county to county to
rally the massesP Where was he in 1868,
when the Constitution was submitted for
ratification and his own county gave but
22s against it to Icons 1909, and when
the gallant soldier Scott was the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor, and where
was he later in the same year when
Barnes, as true man as there is in all
West Florida, was running for Congress
against that intense blatant Radical, Ham
iltonP When was he known, indeed, 10
utter word in any political campaign in
Florida ? Did he give Bloxham his val
liable aid in 1879 when, as Democratic
candidate for Lieutenant Governor, he
was traversing West Florida, or in 1872,
when he was the candidate of the same
party for Governor What support did
be render in "a or '76, except to give
perhaps silent vote for Henderson and
for Drew ? Who had the pleasure of lis
tening to his eloquence in any of these
campaigns, or the later ones Of '7s and
80? Who, indeedf Don't overwhelm
as with responses A Man with One
Idea,n cay yopf And pray when did
this Idea first gain utteranceP Some
say not until after be fell out with the