The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-06-11

O3uucu IN Leon, III thktuS opatt m
for delegates to the Convention, We would he
glad to have your advice on the future course TO
be pursued by the Democracy OF Leon.
Very respectfully yours,
JAMES SYTREr,t
W. w. SANDERA
w. W. WIILA%,,
nc. ALLEN.
And o,heTR
TALLAHAssEE, Fla, June 8, 1885
kessrs W. W Sandsrs, H. O. Alsn, W. ". VA
liams, James SXfret, and Others:
DEAR SIRs:-Your esteemed letter OF May
S0th has been received. asking for my views on
the political outlook" and my advice or the
future course to te pursued by the DEMOCRACY
Of Leon" thank you most kindly for, the con.
fdence manifested, and whilst l feel q 1elieacy
in obtrudng my humble opinions, I cannot con
sis'ently decline to respond your verg timely
requests !:
First, then, the calling of Constitutional
Convention, determined upon by majority to,e
at the recent fall election, 10 my judgment was
prompted by desire for thorough change in
our organic law, the most important being \
change in the method of choosing State and
county officials. That the taking from the Gov
ernor the appointing power, and placing in the
hands of the people the election Of all officers,
both State and county. will be the principal aim
of this body, have not the slightest doubt that
such measure is anxIously desired by 1he
white counties Of this State is without question.
But will such be wise and polite Il the grave
question for the consideration and action Of the
white people of the black belt After mature
reflection must confess that / can see but one
course for the Democracy OF the entire STAG To
pursue, and am fully convinced that departure
therefrom by any section of the State would
result in q ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the party, WHICH
would be most grevous in its effects upon The
material prosperity of the State Ii would SIM
ply be to reegate the government of the Safe
20 hands already blackened by deeds of eorrhp-
ton and misrule. Honesty, candor aad itue
patriotism revolt at so unOward an event. The
true and only course to relieve This seeming en-
barrassment is that which has been marked .,ut
for US by the founder of our party, and as loyal
Democrats, steadfast in the faith, We mast pur-
sue this course without regard to the sectop Of
the State from whence we hail or our IDEAL
political environments.
The call for the Convention is due strictly To
the Democratic vote at the fall election. il was
a party measure, and was sustained by den,O-
cratic majority vote. The political complies ion
of the delegates-elect is largely Democratic, and
the result OF its labor assuredly will be the sub
mission of a Constitution thoroughly Demo
cratic for ratification by the people. Shall We
in Leon then sulk in tents as was the case
in the recent election for delegates, and by
policy Of inactivity, disaffecuon or aversion
ueicdl inc new COOSUtuuOu lThun6u Oy tntS Con-
ventOn? | answer: Should this Convention
submit to the people for ratification an organic
instrument, recognizing and securing govern
ment by the people for the people, we are Bound
to accept and TO endorse il, or else we must
abandon the party and renOunce Democratic
doctrine.
Under our system of government. beuueathed
unto us through the blood and treasure OF our
foreiathers as most sacred inheritance, all SOW
ereign power is vested in the hands of the peO
pie. There it should ever remain, and all efforts
10 Gisplace or to delegate this sacred power
should be persistently opposed at every step;
and there is not more potential method OF
exercising this power than in the choosing
and discharging of the servants Of the people.
am utterly opposed to the system of an sp-
pointing power as being species of mansrchy,
wholly repugnant to the spirit of our free insai-
tuions, and am equally opposed TO the selection
OF public officials by the legislature as being a
form of oligarchy, ever odious, and entirely In
consistent with the true principles of justice and
honesty. In monarchy is power but danger; in
aristOcracy is wisdom but corruption; In Henoc-
racy is honesty but weakness l have full
confidence in a government by the people:
weak though it may be 10 protect, yet it is
slow to Cypress. The hands OF the people is
the best and safest receptacle for the sovereign
power in government The people speak and
a ontiroly through their servants, and a dis
ruption of this relation is but sitting The voice IF
the sovereign. | firm in the conviction
that the unrestricted elective system alone is in
consOnance with the spirit Of free institutions,
and affords the surest safeguard for the liberties
of the people do not approve nor ever did,
of the "craZe" called civil service reform" am
opposed to the doctrine as being undeInocIaiir,
and founded in monopoly which is ever danger
Gus, for monopoly in business means Injustice
and oppression. In religion it means blgo,ry
in government it means tyranny | believe in
nd
A. Hendricks that that to the vctors beloug
the spOils" There ought 10 have been clean
sweep at the incoming Of the national demeno
cratic administration. We have the scripiural
injunction against putting new wine intc old
bottles" am opposed both to life OF long
tenure Of Office as being calculated to male The
official arrogant, careless and sometimes cor
rupt Short terms and rotation in Office is more
conducive TO the public veal. AS every citizen
is subject to perform military duty when so
commanded by the State, so, in justice, every
civil office and its emOluments ought 10 be sub
ject to the laudable aspiration of every caizen,
however humble his walks in life Civil Service
Reform shuts the door.
So much in point OF principle which shonld
control our actions over all other consider
atoms. But in point Of policy ii is suggested,
that as the Democracy OF Leon is SO greatly in
the minority, grave fears are entertained that
our country offices will be turned over To the
have no such apprehension. All that We should
want to meet this trouble, is requirement 4f
good and sufficient official bond for every of1ce
in the country, and if we have not the manhood
10 master the situation by filling our offices with
worthy men, We confess ourselves inferior to The
Democracy Of the black belt of Georgia, and of
our sister counties, Jackson, Gadsden, Jefferson,
Madison and Alachua. to whom l refer with
pride.
The Democracy of Leon is not dsbanled nor
dead; it has slept over important rights which
deeply regret. | favored the nomination 1if
Democratic ticket for delegates 10 the Conyen
ton in our county, and was for making de-
termined effort for their election, notw ithsaand-
ing We are in minority. believe il is best TO
be positive and progressive in all things; but pas
sive and neutral in nothing.
And now when the labor of The Convention
shall have been concluded, and its work sub
miIted to the sovereign people, and being thor
oughly Democratic, of which have every con
hdence, believe it to be the highest incum
bent duty upon the Democracy OF Leon To cyme
noby TO the front and vote for its ratification
w. l. VAsON
HE FunIak Springs Items.
The name of this town, Lake De Funiak. has
been changed to De Funiak Springs This