The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-04-22
OUR CANDIDATES IN THE WEST.
Their Reception at Interlachcn-----A
Quiet Day and Good Work---A
FIourishing Town, Intelligent
Citizens and Genial Hospi-
tality. The Night Meet
INTERLACHEE. Fla,
April, goth, 1885.


To-day at eight o'clock, Messrs. GilIis
and Harrison left Palatka for the west
to attendltheiseriesof meetings published
in THE NEWS They passed at a quick
trot through neighborhoods rejoicing in
their handsome cottages embowered in
orange egroves-noticed the busy stirin the
streets of Franc is-and reached Inter
lachen at 1890. Here they were receiv-
ed with open arms by kindly friends
headed by the Hon. Lott Allen, chair
man Of the democratic club, and by our
we'll known commissioner, J. !. VIM
berly, who took the whole party to his
handsome home and made us welcome.
The Hon. w. II. Cook came on the $3.50
train, and the party spent most enjoy
able day with the good citizens OF one of
Floridas most fourishing towns. We
were driven around some Of the most
beautiful lakes in the world; we admired
the hundred acre grove of David Young,
ESQ, and spent hours in most pleasant
intercourse with such democrats as r, J..
Wall and such republicans as Messrs.
Hastings, Halford and others.
In the afternoon the Interlachen brass
band gave US excellent music, and the
citizens of all parties assembled to hear
our candidates. Hon. Lott Allen, chair
man. called the meeting to order and
delivered a most appropriate address
in which the needs and wishes of our
people were admirably presented. He
then introduced w. H. Cook. our candi
date to the convention from the nth
Senatorial district, who responded in an
address of some half hour in length,
clearly and forcibly presenting the issues
involved in the present canvass. Benz.
HARRISON was then presented, and he
urged upon his hearers the necessity of
careful thought and earnest work in the
formation Of fundamental law upon
which the continued growth of Florida
must depend for years to come. But
with the last speaker, Irving GillIs, Esq,
must rest the honors of the occasion, in
the delivery of speech which your re-
porter will give ut length
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND FELLOW
CITIZENS:
In Tallahassee, in the month Of June
next. will assemble the representatives
of the people of the State OF Florida, in a
convention, the most important that has
been held for the states purposes in many
years The business of this convention
will be to frame for the state a constitu-
tion and to submit the same to the peo-
pie for their ratification. If ratified it
will he the fundamental law of the state,
the basis of future legislative enactments.
The people of this great country of ours,
these United States, want no national
government, and the people of the State
of Florida want no state government
other than such as is erected by their
free voice and joint will, a government
by the people and for the people. 1t is
for these reasons that the constitution
which is to be framed will he submitted
to the people, for them to ratify or reject
as in their wisdom may seem to them
fit. We want in that convention the
best men of our state, best not only in
intellect but in heart. We want men
who not only know the needs Of Florida
to-day, but men of capacity sufficient to
discern the needs of Florida of the future,
ten. twenty or twenty-five years hence,
Men of brain, men of Judgment, men
Of energy. men Of heart, men of courage
TO do right and men of character, who
viii rise above party, above class and
above section, and act for the people OF
the State of Florida at large, for the bes
interests of this people and for Florida'
welfare. Let these things be the test O
those whom you elect to that convention
1t would be a matter Of regret to me if
was not nominee, that there should b,
any party contest or party fight over the
men to be sent to that convention. ant
much more do regret it as a nominee
did not accept the nomination, nor die
the gentlemen with whose names mint
appears, to crafty any personal aspira
tions or personal interests. I accepted
the nomination as a conservative demo
crat at the hands of a conservative demo
cratic convention, but if elected as
delegate shall act as a Representative
of the people at large, for what con
slider their best interests without any dis
tinction, as to party or race. We need
new constitution, say all candid, INTEL
gent men of both parties. In my expe
rience as a lawyer in active practice
have seen the defects of the present COZ
stitution in large measure and | hav
watched the time approaching neare
and nearer, when Florida's interes
would demand change in the preseI
organic law, and now that time is ;
hand. Many Of the provisions of the PIE
ent' constitution are as good as any set
men can adopt and will in al probabilit