The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-27
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LIVE OAK, Fla, April 21.-The rapid man.
ner and apparent ease with which some OF the
et-baggers acquired wealth. and the pre-.
cision Of aim In which some Of them dived
down into the nithy pool Of politics. and
brought I'D the choice fat hsh that lay on the
muddy bottom. were wonderful. ! have before
me now. In my minds eye. the pictures Of three
OF these patriotic worthless. who. coming to
Florida under tho humblest auspices. By No.
tive force Of character. unusual quantity OF
grayish matter In the brain. and something
else. rose 10 the TOP Of the heap politically
and financially. and arc now healthy. wealthy.
and wise. Ishall cite these merely a. an OK.
ample and announcement to the youth Of
America. to show them that there II always
room at tho top. and how easy II 10 In this
favored land Of ours to win fame. place. and
diamond jewelry. 1t may inspire them TO re-
moved efforts. showing plainly that there 10
nothing TO hinder their reaching other tho
Presidency or tho psnitentiary.
One had been private soldier In tho Union
army. He reached the scene OF rcconstruo-
tlon clothed almost like Lady dodlva.
Io had threadbaro linen coat and
straw hat. which had somehow escaped
tho appetite OF predatory COWS. lie was a good
lehman. and he had nne supply Of gall He
sot a clerkship In the Legislature In the sum.
mer OF 1868. At its expiration he was made
tax collector OF one Of tho juiciost counties In
the State and no soon owned fine plantation
and store. and became . political power In tho
land. Ho gave tho negroes to understand that
Gen. Grants orders were that they must bring
all their cotton to his store and as Mt that tlino
they placed implicit confidence In whatever .
carpet Dagger said. he waxed fat and grew
rich. He was elected to tho Legislature by the
lately freed negroes who looked upon him IS
second Moses. with an undue fondness for gin.
perhaps but otherwise perfectly orthodox. and
born with @. o. p. stamped on his cheek. Act
ing upon the biblical Injunction that no who
neglects to provide for his own has denied the
faith and Is worse than an intidel. he gathered
Into his de,mouthed scoop net everything
BRIEFS riel's horn. With lands. and bonds and all
pes tho s
crate to determine.
Another came to Florida his noble To- form Pro;
thing o! the shape q q concertina. rested on
strode up the street to the Capitol like ono who
soo s~ ate. tie Sens "a" ali things to ali mem
prominent lawyer now. putting money In he
ssss az nS
day. He was once, however an unsuccessful
This gentleman first sneech was made from q
dry-goods box f. motley y assempsSe OF me
summer. villa at the North and his winter para
disc amid ne grange a groves OF Fi9 , ne
harbor regardless Of the stains and noisome
drift that clung to his person;
tender. He wore q white apron. and mixed
drinks for Of the men I tbs whose council
snnarioS ''H ia wsshed out ,iirtv uasses Tor
black and white. and learned how to make a
tiny piece q lemon peel DO duty IN flftse1 en-
had nerve OF the baser kind. His opportunity
soon came, The salary Of a bartender Is some:
ies Ss t the 81 rne Of bacillus pennIlsss. h.
too. was made a county official. placed upon
Re
where the emo lumonts overbaiancei the duties,
| soon had his plantation and orange grove, and
Every dollar Of his wealth was made out Of
politics In fifteen years. and the salaries re-
don't think he has been in private, life three
months in all that time, or engaged In any
other avocation but politics. and II tsa mys-
has grown 90 great. For strict fidelity 70 the
boss h. had no equal and he, he t QUO ex.
| It's owner and the ass its masters crib.
Cabinet meeting In Florida in those days
soe IN aTtH Of
A few days after the murder OF Capt. Dlckin.
son. County Clerk OF Jackson county, aCabnet
essary to 10 tsKea. II was called az The il.
stance OF Major Purman. the State Senator
hn o iF's ,Sat sns
soanty. Wien Wien bIsHnsons body reached TsI.
in which he spoke Of Jackson county as that
miserable. dalnnable county and told the OK;
soon be sent over there with arms In their
%sIs5sS b iSs a.Ss fS. SD had
&se. E nelu one Sunday '0 mornIns'
ernor almost Trs at his Wits end so badsered
was he by those who demanded bitter and des-
vaguely esa RsanteS By lear that he would soon
General. suaye and awfuliy diSnified, revolving
State Treasurer. cool and philosophical. won
cash IN the treasury during the, month 70 PAY
bis own salary: the SUPERINTENDENT Of Public
hot VIII sssh
sequences. and the writer Of this screed, who
terested reterse. The discussion was very an:
mstsd between The G 1s and rarman but
THs erin ~
| Excellency" and Purman as General"
time Th snd hs shh haf been
Bureau. and was supposed to have been slight
" wounded by the premature explosion OF q
| box Of hard tack. Purman insisted that mar.
tlal law be declared. and the county placed In
chnrGe OF tho colored militia. The Governor
| didn't want to take such extreme action. and.
| besides there was no money In tho Treasury Ia
| pay the enormous e4penacs that would accrue.
| But PurmRn insisted. ana at last the Governor
| growing slightly impatient and sarcastic said
well. General VIII declare martial law and
| hnd means to pay expenses. II you will raise
| the troops and lead them over into the county.
But your Excellency." replied the General
1T would hardly do for mo to COL am q State
Senator You know-but my friend. Major W
| says that he will lead them"
| mo" snid the old Governor. want you tc
clare martial lsw"
Purman left the council in disgust. As soon
as the door closed on his manly form the Gov.
| ernor dropped the General" and designated
him as that bull-headed Purman"
You can readily imagine what would have
| been the result had martial law been declared
| and o regiment or so OF negro militia turned
loose In the county. don't believe that ono o.
them would have got out alive. The object wai
the ultimate interference Of the President. and
long continued military rule. subordinate o.
course to- the carpet-baggere. but sustaining
| them In all their desperate schemes.
During tho Cabinet meeting the Superlnten
dent OF Public Instruction went to sleep ant
snored 80 loud as to become o nuisance. The
| n iIu Tod vu{f