The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-03-21
The Approaching Contest.


contest. is an accurate survey Of the for
ces TO be encountered. In political strug-
giles, especially, an underestimate OF hos
tile strength has often proved fatal and
it seems to me that the Democracy OF
Florida is in some danger of falling into
that error The preliminary survey Of
the situation in this state is somewhat
difficult.
In the first place, since 1880 when the
last real measurement OF strength took
place, the number of voters has been
largely increased by immigration. There
has been a considerable accession to our
colored population, and white men from
all parts of the Union have been settling
among us. Whether the political affilia-
tons Of majority Of these new voters
have heretofore been with the one party,
or with The other, is simply a matter OF
conjecture. Our safest way is to assume
that, on the whole, the relative strength
of the Republican party has been increas-
ed by immigration. We should remem-
Der, too, that many Of these new voters
have had no opportunity to witness the
disgusting antics of a dominant SOUTH
ERN Republicanism. They have not been
confronted with such demonstrations as
convinced some thousands of us that, IN
order to be true TO our principles, we
must change our party relations.
Again, we are forced to contend against
an enemy that fights in the dark. In
! the Northern states, the positions along
which the parties, respectively, align
+ themselves, are indicated by the political
press. But the Republican party Of Flor
ida sheds no light on its plans in that
way. Although its leaders claim a ma
ioritv in the state, so few of its voters
can read that the maintenance Of Repub-
Hcan newspapers is out of the question.
The party is managed by few little
SQUADS Of exceedingly cunning men,
who keep their own counsels, and to
whom the masses render blind obedi-
ence. 1t is only by chance that we ever
learn the substance of the fenCe-cOrner
orations, and the whispered calumnies,
which are relied upon to keep the cOlOred
population solid. What will take the
place. this year, Of the charge, believed
by every negro in 1876, that all Demo
Gratis are resolved on the ere-establishment
of slavery, is question yet to beanswer-
ed. We may be sure, however, that it
will be something equally false, reiterat-
ed with equal frequency and swallowed
with equal greediness. 1t is best for us
to abandon at the outset all hope Of gain
ing accessions to our ranks from the to
tally illiterate class. Argument and the
presentation of truth are wholly lost on
such persons and, if we should attempt
to compete with the Republican work
ers" in fence-corner electioneering and
cabin visitation, they would beat us out
of sight. Some cOiOred men will see the
insult to their intelligence, involved in
the falsehoods dealt out to them, and
will Join our ranks but the great mass
of them will continue to obey their polit-
ical overseers.
The simple fact, that only an insignifi-
cant minority of the Republican voters of
Florida can read their ballots, would
seem to be enough to place the result of
an election in this state beyond all doubt.
Of course, no reason, which would have
a feathers weight with an unprejudiced
man of sense. can be adduced in favor of
committing the government OF the state
to party in which the illiterate element
is overwhelmingly preponderant. Ifsuch
a party is fit to rule. then popular educa-
ton is wholly worthless, and our public
school system should be abolished with
out delay. But we must face the I'M
/ questionable truth, that intelligent men
do not always act intelligentIy in politi-
l cal matters. Republican Bourbonism is
a factor in Florida politics which we can
not afford to ignore. We have voters
among US who as voters ceased, long ago
to LEARN anything, or forget anything.
t Their idolary Of the Republican party
has rendered them utterly incapable OF
r understanding anything to its discredit
and it is hardly too much to say that
= they would still cleave to that party il
they should find themselves the only
I members of it outside Of the penitentiary
5 With some of those BOurbOns the mono
, mania has taken on a more malignan
2 form The passion, which controls the
political activity of such men, is hatreC
t Of the Democratic party; and they seen
Q honestly to believe that the most knavisl
/ trickery and the meanest lying are JUST
n fable in the sight Of Heaven, if they an
5 but utilized against the Democracy. l
may be that this mental disease ha
reached the incurable stage in only
limited number of cases. Nevertheless
we must take it into account if we wouI
understand what is before US.
The extent to which the Democrat
= party of the state will suffer through di
. affection in its own ranks. is a matter o
which we shall be enlightened gradual