The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-08-12
From the Jacksonville Herald
A OASGUSTED AND DASCOUK1-
AGED HTALWART RE.
PUBLICAN

Candid Expressions of Opinion
Anent the FOpe-E8isbee COmbinn-
ton.
He was once prominent and active Repub-
lican, man of intelligence and undoub'ed force
of character-one who has worked lsng and
faithfully tor his party.
Now, truly and candidly tell u.s." we said,
"what do you think of this Republican Inde-
pendent coalition? What does it all mean ~
Well, now, l will be candid with you, said
he, "since you put ii that way, bat don't put
my name in your paper have thought good
deal over thesnRw movement and tbspghttuly
considered whether either party to this new
found friendship was really sincere and honest
in its professions of reform and fer better State
government. have been regrettully forced to
the conclusion that these professions are all in
sincere and false No. sir; the facts are simply
these, and every honest, conscientious Repub-
licAn or Democrat is bound to admit them-the
whole movement is big scheme of place
hunters and hungry office holders, entered into
between the few bosses OF the two parties, the
one to secure Office and the others 10 hold what
they have. That is the long and short Of the
Pope Bisbee combination, and the honest truth
may just as we'll be known"
what do you think OF their chances of sue
cess p We asked
"Well, they may possibly be successful this
iimN, but do not think l believe they are
stronNer at the outset of this canvass than they
will be at the close. 1t is a movement that will
not wear. 1t is new thing now, and of course
is attracting more or less attention here AT the
beginning. But, mark what say, il will prove
big hasco ir the end. Why, sir, the more in
telligent, respectable Republicans will not sup
port or grow earnest in the undertaking, and the
colOred men themselves that is the intelligent,
thinking portion of that race, as sOOn as the ex-
ctement of the hurrah has died away, will 60
to thinking and see through the whole affair
the hollow mOckery of the pretensions and
promises of Pope s. Company, and will drsp
them like a hot potato long before election day"
"Well, you don't seem to have much faith III
this alleged grand uprising of the people, we
ventured TO remark.
No, sir. Why it's absurd, IFS ridiculous,
the idea that Pope and a handful OF the very
worst type of Bourbon Democrats, dsgruntled
and dissatisfied only because they have not sue
ceeded in getting hold OF the public Offices within
their ewn party, can assemble together and de-
clare themselves the great Messiahs of the land,
capture the Republican party of the Stale, horse,
foot and dragoon, and demand that we shall
place them in possession Of the State govern
meDt. Why. don't they know they have no
strength outside of The Republican support they
count one Didn't Bisbee himself declare in his
speech here the other night that if Pope was
elected he would have TO receive ninety-elght out
of every hundred votes he gets from the Repub
lcan party? Doesn't that leave only about $40
Independent votes in all in The Slater And do
you suppose the noble Republican mastiff is
going 10 permit himself to be wagged by this
wee bit OF Democratic caudal appendage? No,
not much" And the now thoroughly aroused
simon-pure Republican went on al rapid rate
TO give many sound reasons why the lndepend-
ent-Republican combination could not win.
why" he continued, don't you know the
| few weak kneed Republican bosses who are with
| him in this fight don't care d-n tor Pope or
reform eiihers All they want is a share OF the
| Offices, and they have somehow persuaded the
| rank and fle-thc poor, unssphisticated col0red
| broher-that there will be something, too, fol-
him: but you just wait until the canvass pro-
| crosses further, and they begin to see that Pope
won't win, and you will see how quick they will
drop him. Yes sir; just as soon us they find
out he can't deliver the goods, you bet they will
| declare the bargain of, and away goes the In
dependent Republican movement, deader'n Hec
tori"
"Just two more questions and we'll let yo
| off Do you think Pope honestly believes b,
will be elected Governor? Does Bisbee think
sof'
No; don't believe Frank Pope really and
honestly thinks So l think he is just playing
for chances He thinks he might possibly, by
some hook or by crook, be elected Governor, bu
this ia not his main object. He thinks he will
certainly, even If he is defeated for Governor
help to elect q Republican and Independen
Legislature, and then slip into the United States
Senate. And Bisbee My God Bisbee woulc
rather see almost any other Democrat in thu
State in the Gubernatorial chair or in the United
States Senate than Frank Pope. He knows he's
q Bourbon Democrat dyed in the wool. and HI
hates such Democrats like the devil hates holy
water, but Bisbee has an idea that this move
ment will help him back 10 Congress, and Bis
bee is for any man or any means TO insure hi
re- election; that's all the love he has for the In
dependent movement. Let him get that chees
and the crow will be as black and the voice a
discOTdant as ever"
"But why the deuce, then. didn't you AM
EaQan and Cheney aud other stalwart men q
the party try to stop this disreputable bargain
WHY didn't you keep up the party organization
by nominating strsight0ut Republicans~ p
"Well. to be honest, don't know. suppos
we all thought it would be loves labor lost
You see the other crowd got the bulge on us an
carried things with such a hurrah we could no
get them to stop, even to think. It's grea
1i,v. though" and the slawart shook his head
ait is great pity that the COED men of the part
ever let the present set Of bosses get control
ia sad TO see men OF worth and intelligence, VIII
once welded wholesome influence In the party
now set aside to give place to these new mer
For NV part I am disgusted, and 1t 10 with
feeing of infinite regret that confess no longs
take any pride in : party which once arouse
ali my enthusiasm"