The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-11-06
n. o. T1ms.Dsm0crsRl
OotPaCel0m 90 an Elememt IN
PODateC1.

DO0r8CW1O0 ~ IN 6a0MA00t IL
Politics.
There may be exceptions to the gene.
raj rule that men may end good in every
thing, but personal dssraction to serve
political purposes does not afford as one
Of them. This has been well illustrated
in the pending canvass in this State.
While at no time since the people have
been considering the question Of selecting
the next Governor has Governor McEnery
had a superior in popularity with the
masses, yet circumstances have occurred
lately to increase and intensity the public
feeling in his favor. This accession to his
strength is not due 80 much to the efforts
of his friends, who have calmly, faithfully
and trulhfully published and discussed
the leading features of his administration,
as to fierce and groundless denunciations
which have been launched against his
character by the partisans of riva: aspi-
rants for public honors. Some eight or
ten specific allegations have been drawn
up by one or the other of the combina-
ton politicians and given the widest cir
culation which opposition papers could
afford
1t is safe to say that every intelligent
man in the State has read or heard of the
perversions and the illogical condemna-
tons which have been concocted for the
purpose of forwarding the political inter
ests of mere faction of the Democratic
party. The people have also read the
truth, discovered the base attempt to de-
ceive them, and have responded az gener
Gus men always respond in such cases.
The Governor is stronger today than he
was before hostile shot was fired at him,
and the opposing candidates are CORE
spondingly weaker. The campaign of
defamation has already met deserved
and dismal failure, and the hopes of the
opposition, faint from the beginning, are
completely destroyed.
The causes which have led to the crys
talization and concentration of the public
sentiment in such tense degree in favor
of Governor McEnery are manifold, but
at the same time perfectly simple and nat
ural In the FIRST place, the people saw
in the opposition to Governor McEnery
an insidious attack upon the policy Of the
Democratic party, whose chosen standard
bearer he is. Again, it was soon discov-
cred that his most malignant detractors
could not find, after a most searching
scrutiny, one singl" improper or even
doubtful act to charge to his accouut--not
one count in the indictment which would
stick. Hence they were driven to resort
to defamation. Wise men do not prefer
false charges against anybody, and even
cunning ones do not, if it is possible to
make the truth answer their purpose
And as everything that has been urged
against the Governor has been easily dis
proved, shown to be groundless, the peo-
pie have come to the conclusion that his
record is blameless.
ne reaction 1OlOWS as necessary con-
sequence. One honest man resents an at
lack upon another, and impulsively re-
solves to compensate the offence which
enemies have attempted to put upon him
by all the moral support in his power.
In this way the Incorporate and ill.,
advised politicians who have engaged in
crusade to strike down the foremost
man Of the State, have unwittingly added
to his political strength. They have
brought out the latent chivalrv of gen.
erous people, and rallied it in his defence
Men who, a month ago, had not fully
made up their minds how they would vote
in the primary elections, have thrown off
all hesitation and enlisted heart and hand
in the support of Governor McEnery.
Thus the opposition have weakened
the chances of the champions whom they
have attempted to help, and blindly
smoothed the way to the easy triumph of
one who would have been chosen any
way, but probably with far less enthusi-
asm than will mark his progress during
the remainder of the campaign.