The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-10-23
Facts and Figures to be Remembered.

!
slider the condition of Florida to-day, and
reflect upon the wonderful advancement
she has made, under honest Democratic
government, in every material interest
in all that tends to make her a great and
prosperous State, it is indeed gratifying
in the extreme. Especially is this the
Tease when We look back to that terrible
period of oppression, corruption and rob-
| berry, under Radical domination of eight
years, and contemplate what would to-
dav be our woeful condition had the Rad
icals remained in possession Of the State
government.
We are now in the midst Of a great
political contest-the most important one
/ that ever confronted Floridians-as upon
the result depends the destiny of our
State and the welfare and happiness of
our people. If the Democrats win, the
+ future will be progressive ard grand
upward and onward-to greater devel-
opment and grander prosperity than we
4 have ever known Ii the Radicals sue
/ coed. the future of Florida will be dark
downward to bankruptcy and utter
ruin, if we are to Judge from their past
record of extravaganza and infamy, to
which they now point with pride
All are familiar with what has been
accomplished for Florida and Floridians
under honest Democratic rule, but it may
be we'll to refresh the public mind with a
reference to some of the advantages re-
sulting from Democratic administration
of affairs.
To begin We will take up the question
Of State taxes-a question which every
property owner is interested in. Taking
the valuation Of property by counties, as
last assessed for purposes Of taxation. We
find that the saving to the people OF Flor
ida, IN the matter OF .Ntufe t0reS alone, for
a N,,y(e yer under Democratic rule, as
compared with Radical mi~rule, amounts
to the e~o,~ro"s >um.of 81O.307.51,
Or more than SPOT for each man, VIC
man and cnild--white and bIack--;n the
state. Add to this one year Of the an
nual average increase Of tn" state debt
by the Radicals, $4,000, and We have a
saving of s95O.3o7.51 for one year
or more tnan So. 1-2 for each inhab-
liant OF Florida.
Again, when the Radicals took charge
Of the state government, in l-Go, the
State debt was only *523. ,56.95 When
they surrendered the government TO the
Democrats, in January, -, they bad
increased that debt TO 81 So. j64.64.
Suppose the Radicals had remained in
power until now, and let us charltablv
suppose that they would have done
no worse than they had for the eight
years they held high carnival in this
State, and our State debt to-day would
be 1886, 5G4.64-a sum appalling to con-
template-to say nothing Of the annual
interest account.
The total saving in taxes under Demo
cratic rule is orer fire million doliars
Pursuing this subject still further we sub
NIT this statement, upon the suppostion
that the Radicals had retained control of
affairs up to this time:
The State debt, piled up by Radicals
would have been g., so. Jt4. "a
To which add saving in taxes alone
under Democratic rule. .......... 100000 90
Making total of.............. s, &G ia. Ga
THE enormous SUMS 1886 ,5G4.G4-
less the present outstanding State debt,
:fll, 3O0-represents the saving to the
people of Florida, on the two items Of
State debt and taxes, under honest Dem
ocratic government.
Under Radical misrnlc there was depre-
cation Of values, oppression Of the pco-
pie in every form, cxorbltant taxation,
extravaganza, corruption, and all attend
ant evils, crime was rampant, life and
property were unsafe, and the States
credit destroyed.
Under honest Democratic rule there
has been a wonderful increase in popula-
ton, enhanced value in property and
wealth Of the people-taxes have been
reduced from l2aa to mills-the State
debt nearly wiped out--industral en-
terprises have been quadrupled over
and over-railroad mileage has has been
increased over 300 per cent, and the
States credit to-day is as good as that
of any commonwealth in the Union.