The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-09-30

Wonid deprive them OF 1t would pOlti-
caily die in the day they attempted it,
strangled by those fathers a.d mothers
who, because of Strengthened circum stan
ces, were obliged to grow up in ignorance,
to whom the books have been sealed, and
mysterious things-even the precious
~ ord OF God-locked up to them unless
some kind hearted minister of the Gospel,
or some loving neighbor, should drop in,
and from the grand old pages read some
loving message. But now their own chill
dren, when the labor of the dav is over
and the frugal evening meal eaten, and
the father and mother, and as Bobbie
Burns would have said, "the wee bairns,"
gather around the broad old fireplace,
the child opens it reader and reads to
father and mother the thoughts of others,
and of the wondrous things OF far off
countries and peoples, and the crude home
| by these privileges is made almost heav-
en-, while the faces of the parents are we'll
nigh TRANSPORTED at the new experience
and JOY, and their children too. Woe to
that man or party of men who would dare
despoil them of their precious boon.
both the great parties are, because of
all this, openly pledged to the manten-
ance of a sound, healthy public school sys-
TENN ] mean the two great parties
Democratic and Republican-for do not
recognize in the nondescript thing, now
walking up and down the State in skele-
ton shape, parry. But as the Hon.
Judge Parlee of the United States Court
ail the other day, in Alabama, when
locting election supervisors under the
nlted States Statute, providing for gu
pervlsors to be chosen from both parties,
the Clerk had suggested one whom the
Judge recognized as a Republican, and
when another was suggested the Judge
asked to what party he belonged, the
clerk responded to the Independent
arty.' The name was rejected, His
Honor declaring there was no such
artv; it was a fraud The great Demo-
r-atic party, both in it's National and
state platforms, stands pledged to lib
'ral system of public education. So also
the Republican party, and know that, as
r"r}ain as there are mechanical forces at
work in the ph 'sical universe, overcom-
ing obstacles to progress and achieve
nent, SO there are more subtle forces oper-
ating in the moral and mental world, en-
forcing principle and truth, and that these
.re found developed in leading minds and
hearts everywhere in our country. And
Is we'll do know that the great and good
men found in the Democratic party in
every State in the land will see 10 it that
their party is kept true to its pledges and
principles and vet observe that a oon-
-id"rable portion Of our people are sud-
denly stirred up by the unweighed words
ot gentleman speaking under enthusias
tic circumstances from the political stump,
while their apprehension is stirred by
busy local politician who strives to con-
-truc this expression into determination
on the part of the Democratic party to
destroy the schools and the personal lib
critics Of the colored people. And this is
being accepted in the face Of the faithful
anl fair administration of government in
our State for a period of nearly eight
wears, during which time, as an adherent
ot the democratic party, | challenge a
successful charge of any neglect or any
abrdgment of the rights OF any part or
class of the people. On the contrary |
charge, without fear of successful contra
diction, that every interest Of the people
has been advanced-especially is this so
in regard to the public schools Our col
ored friends, whom l am glad to greet
aud welcome here tonight, are, am sorry
10 hear, particularly disturbed at the
speech to which | have incidentally al
ud-d, and seem to lose sight of the expe-
rience and practical demonstration of the
Democratic plan of action in regard to
their privileges, which they have wit
ucsse.l during the eight wears of Demo
cratic control and management. No
honest colorrl man, of any degree OF in
trlliyence, can stand up here and say, as
he ~ontrmplates the dread and final udy-
ment to which he must go, that their
schools have not been multiplied and
greatly improved. Take, for instance,
your own Staunton as it was called-run,
as il was, but little better than show at
which to crafty the curiosity of the tour
.t and take up collections, the use of
which has never been known, perhaps
aud compare it's character with the past
eight wears. Who was the first man TO
move with the members of your race to
>npply princip pal Of your own color, be-
ljeving that if competent men could be
!ound it would result in benefit to your
children? He was Democrat, and one
who has been true to proper discharge
OF his duty as indicated by his party
And yet, in the face of all this, you will
believe there resides terror in few I'M
weighed words, rather than believe that
which has been demonstrated. In view
of this, am glad to say here tonight
tnat the Democratic party has no gush
with which to catch any particular ele-
ment of the people, but that it stands
squarely on principle, believing that every
man, WHITTIER born on the soil or made
citizen by adoption, or other circumstan-
ces, stands on his own merits, and that
his success or failure will depend on his
own industry, honesty of purpose and per-
severance; that the government is of, by
and for suoh people, and in providing
schools they are provided from principle
and not from sentiment; and that as loug
as there are solored or white children in
the State, there will be provision made for
their education-not because they are col
ored children or white children, but be-
cause they are children of the State. who,
when tney shall have reached their ma
loritv, will be clothed with the rights of
citizenship, and therefore should be quail
fed to exercise those rights intelligently
! AND honestly. One more credit l claim:
nave in the beginning OF nay address al
luded to the long-ago prejudice existing
at the South as against popular education,
Al.