Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-23
Getting Into ONCE Again.

The appointment of Mr.. Peter Jones, of
this city, who was at one time Mayor of
jacksonville, to the position of chief
of the fire department OF that city,
does not appear to be generally APP
proved by jacksonville Democrats.
They do not understand why it was
necessary tor the Fire Commission
ers to 20 abroad for a chief OF their FIRE de-
partment, and much less do they under
stand why such a shrewd manipulatOr of
ward politics as Mr.. Jones is should have
been selected, unless it be true, as indi-
Gated by our dispatches, that there was
some sort of bargain by which it was
agreed that Mr.. Jones should be provided
with an Office if he would not stand as a
Republican candidate for Mayor Of Jack
sOnvile.
If there were such bargain it is hard
ly probable that the Democrats who are
alleged to nave been parties to it will get
much satisfaction out of it. Mr.. Jones
has shown on more than one occasion tina
he can take care OF himself, and he is now
in position to make himself strong with
the class of voters in Jacksonville who
that he may aspire to.
The alleged bargain may have served
the purpose tor which 1T was intended,
! but it is questionable whether il was a
wise one. If Mr.. Jones wants to run for
the office of Mayor at the next municipal
election he will stand much better
chance for success than he would have
stood at the last electIon-that is, as
! Stunning that he knows how to make the
most OF his present influential position.
| Would it not have been much wiser for
the Democrats to have had nothing to do
! with Mr.. Jones, aud TO have given HIM
an earnest and square opposition at tn {
ballot box. 1t was asserted that the
Democrats could carry the city even il
Mr.. Jones should lead the Republicans,
and that assertion hasn't been dispute d
If Mr.. Jones had been treated as a politi.
cal enemy, insteadof being taken into the
! Democratic camp ana treated as a friend
he would, IN all probability, have been
eliminated at the last municipal election
from Jacksonville politics forever BY
| giving him Il good Office, aud one that
brings hlm into contact with a large class
of voters with whom he can hardly fail "a
become influential, mis- ability TO be Il per-
petual source OF annoyance, and even
trouble, has been increased.
The Democrats Of Jacksonville 60 not
seem 10 be AS harmonious as they once
were. Some OF their leaders appear 10
lack the genuine Democratic spirit whicA
characterized those who led when not war
was waged dgaiust the carpet-baggers and
which resulted in driving the Republican
party from power. When Republicans
are bsr2ained with there Is danger of their
return 10 the control OF affairs
Florida has mad all the experience she
wants with the Republican party. she
had a long and bitter tight to get rid of
the carpet-Dag officials, and nothing at
tends TO help them TO return to power
ought to meet the approval OF any true
Democrat. Bargains with them should
be unhestatingly condemned. The atti-
tude towards them ought to be one of I'M
compromising hostility.
4 The country will not be surprised to
hear from the latest report of tue census
bureau that the number OF idiots in the
Union IL rapidly increasing. 1t is mat
| ter Of wonder, however, bow so many
idiots manage to become politicians, lee
turers and authors. There seems to be