The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-05-03
For DEMOCRATS.

1t seems that for some reason one /
member of the party is proud of the
Gainesville rule, allowing party cleo
ton of county officers. Now the con
stitution of 1868 gives to the govern
or of Florida, by virtue of his APP /
pointments, more autocratic power
than any enjoyed in the limited
monarchies of Europe. 1t was i'm
possible for the party to change the
organic law of the land at such short
notice, and the suggestion which
took shape as the Gainesville rule
was an attempt at consistency i'll
party logic, which, however imper-
feet, made the proposition irresisti-
BILE to q Democratic convention.
But, whoever is the author, the rule
relieves the governor of all response
bility without substituting dictation
by majority in its place; it has
proved itself bad in practice; it has
always been shallow in logic and UNI
just in equity; we must see that the
State convention discards at once
and entirely the Gainesville rule.
Our convention must also decide
Enthusiastically for a constitutional
convention, as soon as the same may
be assembled under the form of law
1t will not excuse us to plead that
our opponents gave us that engine
50 potent in the hands of corrupt
office holders. Even if we never
used it, the constitution as it now
stands is a living threat to the citi-
zens of our State. We hold the
broad principle that he Whoneglects
to redress a wrong is criminal with
the doer. In the code which is law
to the moral world, we are held to
responsibility for sins of "OAIIssION
and commission" Let not the party
take lower ground. Let no Demo
crat ask the shield of Republican
wrong to excuse his cowardice. Ac-
cept the issue fairly. If new con-
constitution is needed, let the people
have it, even though we lose all but
our consciousness of good work well
done. Our party will be stronger
with one voter who stands on princi-
pie and dares do the thing that is
right, than with a President in the
White House and governors innum-
cradle. No party can live, or deserves
to live, whose law is based on expe-
diency. Principle is the breath of
life to all masses. The party which
works without reference to policy
or public opinion, is foolish; the par
ty which sacrifices princi pie to eth
er is criminal and should die a quick
death inflicted by universal contempt.
Again, no man can claim the rank
of leader among us, who proposes in
any way to forget his party duties
for the qualification of personal feel
ings. When men or factions declare
war on members of the same organ
ization both parties should be imme-
diately cashiered and returned to the
ranks. The masses cannot allow
dictation; the voter must choose his
, representatives, and the leader must
be Roman enough in obedience to
orders Each man is free till the
party speaks; when that voice is
heard it must be obeyed or the man
of doubts must withdraw. Each
Democrat can press his choice until
the convention decides, but that de.
cision binds the party, and cannot
be ignored except by public repudi
alton and withdrawal Principle
t has been too much ignored in public
t affairs since the war, it must again
: become the dominant power in the
land.