The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-08-14

PiOdcHinS contest between the national
democratic and republican parties, and
this because it is not considered in it's
true nature, for it will not be the conflict
OF mere parties but struggle of the peo-
pie against the governing power of the
nlted States. 1t will be no less than
this, and it is foolish to take the figures
OF the votes in State elections and predi-
cate therefrom an assured result of the
national election. Estimates on such ba-
sis are valueless in this case and Indicate
that the nature of the great contest is not
understood, and tend to the fatal error of
undertaking the force of the enemy. If
this force was composed of voters by the
record only, the result might be classed
foregonc conclusion, for democrats
largely outnumber republicans but it is
not. We have got to fight money as we'll
as men, and combat the power of a strong
government, as fixed and settled in it's
authority by reign of more than twenty
years as an established monarchy. As in
the past-and worse-it will not scruple
to pervert every governmental agency to
defeat the will of the people and retain
control of national affairs Inseparablv
linked with the political fortunes of the
managing constituent of the radical
power are the material interests of great
monopolies created by radical policy, and
representing hundreds of millions of dol
lars. The inclination as well as the in
terest of this vast capital 60 together, and
it will recognize that it had better afford
to spend many millions than to have the
Democratic party obtain control of the
government and inaugurate democratic
policy. Rather than lose one essential
State it can well afford a million or so
dollars IN buying voters, paying special
agents, subsidizlng the press, and oiing all
the machinery of corruption and ballot
thievery
A little reflection leads inevitably up
to the conclusion that the radical power
will rest its chances of success on money
the ensuing year. The unexpected strength
OF the democracy took it by surprise in
1875, and it compensated its lack of fore
thought in not buying State in time bv
boldly stealing one in the emergency In
1850 dlssenslons among democrats in
some States, and money in others, gave it
victory, and it would have spent many
times as much as it did if seen to be nee
essary. 1t is fully proved that Indiana
was carried by bought votes; "demo-
crats" of influence in their communities
were hired regardless of expense to lead
their followers astray !; and the hundreds
OF thousands of dollars thus expended in
corruption was III great part contributed
by manufacturing monopolists of the
Eastern States In 1884 it must RELY on
money, and money it can control in almost
inexhaustible amount. 1t can afford to buy
votes by the ten thousand at hundred
dollars apiece if necessary, but most
votes that can be bought at all can be had
cheaper and it will buy votes by the ten
thousand in the hope to carry an essen
tlal State, for the family Of Judas is large
In the land, and the pieces of slver'
are AS villainously seductive as of old.
But while these may purchase the cheap
man Of one vote, sundry bank notes of
large denomination will be the price of
the treason of the leaders of men-as.
say several thousand dollars TO some
prominent "independent democrat in
some State, or a like amount to subsi-
die press TO do the reasonable work
by gratuitous circulation of artful publ
cations
To meet this money power work must
be commenced now and must be unceas-
ing The strong men Of the democracy
must be at work and 80 impress the
minds and hearts Of the people with sense
OF patriotic duty that the party will be
strengthened in its numbers and in it's
members that the popular sense will be
quick to detect and quick to resent the
approach of cerrupting Influences; that
the maJorlties in States may be made 20
assuredly heavy as to be beyond the pur-
chasing power, leaving a winning bal
ance against it though it may buy largely
of the baser sort.