The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-05-06
Written for the FLoRIDIAN.
ST. AUGUSTINE.
Republican state Convention.
WHAT DARKEN DAT HOLE"
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. Nav 2


ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA, May 2, 1884
The Republican State Convention to selec
four delegates at large TO the Chicago Republic
can Convention, met here Wednesday, April
Both, and was called TO order by f. NJ Cheney
chairman of the State Central Committee
promptly at twelve o'clock.
The Secretary was instructed to call the roll
when every county answered with "a full dele
CATION.
The contest for the Temporary Craftsmanship
was between Joseph +. Lee, OF Duval and VIM
g. Stewart, Of Leon, and resulted, as announced
in the election OF Stewart by vote of 70 TO Lees
81. 1t Is claimed that by the changes in the
vote Of several delegations Stewart had much
larger majority, but it was not so stated by the
chair.
A committee on credentials, of one from each
county, after some discussion, was then an.
pointed with John Wallace as chairman
The Convention then took a recess until D.
M, and Oh re-assembling, pending the commit
tees report, Menard, of Key West, RECALLED the
tired and dusky delegates with harangue on
the so-called independent Movement and
after one or two more flights of African elo.
quence in the same strain the Convention ad-
journcd until 10 Il. N. Thursday.
Soon after assembling, Kinds, of Putnam
county, offered resolution looking to the ex-
clusion of all Presidential appontees from the
Chicago delegation. This was a fire-brand, and
opinion were on the floor at once shouting Mr.
Checrman ~ Mr. Cheerman" but the Chair
man couldn't see or hear anybody for a few
minutes, his heart and eye being so firmly fl xed
on the honor and glory and influence of seat
in that august body at Chicago that his pins
were knocked completely from under him.
Order was soon restored, however, Kinds was
recognized, and made the fur fly" Dennis of
Alachua, got the floor and made most credita
bic speech in support of the resolution stating
that only three weeks ago he had conference
with Federal ofice-holders in Jacksonville, all
OF whom agreed TO support such resolution
and thought it "inexpedient" and uuwise for
the Presidential Federal appointees to allow
their names used in that connection, and his
support of the resolution was as he had supposed
in harmony with their sentiments To his sur
prise and disgust he now found q: least one who
was party TO that compact, using every
honorbk " means to elect himself as the head
OF the delegation, and that the Convention was
-" fixed in that interest.
Mr. Eagan, in short but earnest and neat
little speech, said lie had all along thought it
best for Federal office holders to keep hands
off and neither go as delegates or attempt to
be elected delegates to Chicago; that common
mOdesty and the pride he had for his party, and
regard for the President prompted him to that
view; he did not only urge that course three
weeks ago, but at all times and he had not
changed his mind now, and thought ii best for
the Federal officers of the grade mentioned not
to allow their names used in that direction If,
however, it was fair and honorable in ohe to
aspire it was equally SO with all, and unless the
understanding previously had was adhered to
his friends had the right and his authority to use
his name also.
Mr.. Cheney spoke to the same effect but said
III addition that lie was not u candidate, and
hoped all Presidential appontces would agree
not to enter the contest. Mr. Cheneys positive,
az fAfb
were received with marked attention, but to
very little purpose after all, for soon the
"plumed knight" of Duval, the handsome and
fearless don't make a mistake and get it Mtame-
less y Haynes Spearing, right bower of General
Ledwilh, got the floor, made u draw" on the
Convention and eXpounded the law and the
doctrine OF party management from their stand
point. The "point" he made was that The
"outs wanted to get in" but that they were 900
stngy" and wouldn't leone down when the
boys called on them" but that certain Federal
officers would, and there was no use trying to
run the machine without the sugar" His
point" seemed to he "wcll taken" for soon
there was not dozen men in the Convention To
speak for the resolution.
General Ledwith beneaM ,ohose sailinq face
there hid q fropning hear, now hurst into the
arena. The General opened with his usual elo-
quence, and then told story about the darkcv
and the bear, which need not relate here in full rs
It's significance can be appreciated if only briefly
told. The story was of two darkies who
were hunting bear. They found some cubs in n
hole; one darkey went in to get them while the
other watched outside; presently the mother
bear made her appearance and started into the
hole to protect her young when the man outside
caught her by the tail and held her fast the
darkey inside yelling TO his companion to know
What darken dat holey" The outside fellow
answered, You better keep still in dar niger
II dis yer tail holt broke you find out what
darken dat hole!" The Generals speech was
in effect to warn the colored man of the peril OF
letting go the Federal office-hoder, but to cling
to him rs the only harbinger of his peace and sal
walton.
The discussion of this resolution continued
until seven O'Clock, when motion to refer il 10
the committee on resolutions finally prevailed,
and the Convention adjourned until o'clock p.
NJ. The Convention reassembled at nine, and as
the result shows, the General was not long in
finding out What darken dat hole"
The Committee on Credentials reported in Ia
vOr OF seating the Walls Dennis vs. the Barnes
delegation, from Alachua; the Rowley VS.. the
Chandler VS.. Goss independently delegation from
Marion. There were one or two other minor
contests over which there was some discussion,
Dut the report OF the committee was finally
adopted unanimously
Committees on Resolutions and Nominations
respectively were appointed, and the Convention
again took short recess.
Upon reassembling, the Committee on Nomi-
nations made a majority report through John
", Wallace and a minority report by General j. T.
walls, OF Alachua The majority report recon-
mended four delegates at large-Dennis Eagan,
j. T. Lee, w. NJ Ledwith, VIM. g. Stewart. The
minority report favored the election of j. ID.
Cole, j. u. Long, Lee and Stewart. COnsidera-
bic discussion and wrangling ensued and the
uyan