The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-10-23
,,r ONE THING NEEDEUL.

s;nce lee ; SUI ittNci SCoVicN VIC u.s.
lion OF secession
wy ". shah decide on the 9th of NOvenl-
,orwhether this country is to be demo
so+;c or ari>tocratic; whether the law Of
to lonl is to be used for the equal bene-
e, Of all the people, without distinction
tween the rich and the poor, or Wheth-
sloci,la,ion is TO be directed in the in
.arast of rich, privileged class wheth-
rtoxrs are to be levied to meet the rev
anne need, Of the nation or to transfer 4
vort Of every mans earnings to the peck
Us of few monopolists whether one
NON is to have the privilege Of enriching
himself bv levying tribute upon another,
A. whether all men are to be left
traa to make the best use they
can Of their powers and opportunities
IN ljte In brief, the question to be de-
nJe1 in November is the question of the
nor,,e;ujty of the American idea. Shall
we keep the Democratic liberty be-
,uesthcd us by our forefathers, or shall
va surrender it to the monOpolistic mas
TORS of trust combined establishments,
who. BY limiting production, crushing out
competition, putting up prices, putting
down wages, importing contract labor,
and LAYING an embargo upon commerce,
make nabobs of themselves and riot in
INJURY upon the fruits of other mems la
bors Shall we remain free citizens of a
republic founded upon the broad doctrine
Of manhood. laid down in the Declaration
of Independence, or shall we cripple our
manhood by invoking State aid for the
few at the expense of the many and in-
Producing the practice OF anagging pater-
ualism into our system Shall we be
free men or the bond slaves of a socialis-
tic state?
Never before were the American people
called upon to decide question of so
great Importance to themselves and to
humanity 1t is a question wholly unen-
tangled with considerations of a personal
or merelv administrative sort. No sane
man in the whole country questions the
integrity or the wisdom Of Mr.. Cleveland'S
administration. The condition of bust
ness in the country would give the lie to
every such denial if such were made. no
man will vote against Mr. Cleveland's re-
election upon conviction that his adminiS-
tration has MOI been thoroughly good and
emincnty promotive of the public veal.
The issue is between Democratic liberty
and the equal rights of men, on the one
hand, and class privilege, supported by
socialistic legislation, on the other.
That question is to be decided right
here in New York city, and probably in
that part of the city lying below -Four
teenth street With the thirty-sx votes
Of New York State Mr.. Cleveland will
be elected and the principle Of equal lib
erly will be forever established; without
New York's thirty-six votes Mr. Cleve-
land and the cause he represents will be
defeated. And whether those thirty-six
votes are to be given for or against Mr..
Cleveland will be decided by the votes
cast in this city.
Ordinarily such a state of the case
would be satisfactory enough, for this
great representative American city is
strongly Democratic But this year
there are disturbing clements, mostly Of
very selfish nature, which render the
result doubtful and needlessly impair the
prospects Of the right.
Fortunately Governor Hill has done
much TO counteract these evil forces, and
SO tar as his voice can influence his sup
4 porters, he has made them understand
mat the supreme purpose Of every pa
trlot this year should be to make the re-
election Of Mr.. Cleveland sure.
The mayoralty split and the nomina-
u9n OF republican ticket for trading
purposes only, Is another source Of danger.
here can be no doubt whatever that
he republican politicians have nomina-
led candidate for Mayor for no other
purpose than to defeat Mr.. Cleveland,
ooy trading local for national votes with
.he supporters OF the other two candi-
yates. They will give votes to Hewitt
IN exchange for Harrison votes from IIew-
III men, and they will give votes to
'Irant in exchange for Harrison votes
nom Grant men. In one word they pro-
pose TO buy Mr.. Cleveland's defeat with
eily sPoils, TO secure control Of the ma
uonal government in the interests Of a
conspiracy Of monopolists by trading
votes with men who are ready to sacrifice
we welfare, the rights and the liberties of
:He American people for messes Of munic-
pal pottage
Inc great struggle Tor the right will be
Won or lost accordingly as men profess
.ns 70 be democrats and patriots stand
afmly or ialter under temptation, accord
ingly as men value American liberty or
petty local political advantage.