The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-10-30

When the Republicans took possession of the
government in 1868 our entire State debt was
1898. $685., as follows:
Bonded debt. Observation-Disclosures 469, 595 81
Floating debt. ....................... 81, 2615 sc
Total bonded and floating ~ 1928, $3.50 s.
The Democratic party, through the verdict OF
the people at the polls, took charge of their own
affairs in January, 1877, and found the State
debt had increased to the following enormous
figures:
Bonaed deot. ............ 81, 3So, SOO "
Floating debt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 800 0S9 IS
Making the State debt due January lst,.
1871 ::.................. .......$ 81 ,607, $50 g
Deduct u s. currency left in Treasury. 81, 1924 "A
Making the debt left By Republicans 81, $50, 5G4 "a
Deduct from this sum the debt found
by the Republicans as stated above 500, 1856 IS
Showing increase of debt during eight
years of Republican rule to be-. $1,132 707. 79
These figures are official and cannot be con-
trOvered.-The Republicans claimed that they
left $4,000 cash in the treasury, but an exami-
nation 1T Treasurer Gwynns report of December
31st. 1877, page &c. shows the amount to be- as
stated above $31 ,324.4. The balance to make
up the $4,000, claimed TO have been left was
simply printed COmptroers warrants, known
as "Greenback Scrip" the States own paper,
which had been redeemed and which was de
stroyed by committee of the Legislature in
January, 1881.
1t will thus be noted that in addition to the
enormous amount wrung from the people annu-
ally by taxation, and squandered, this party that
again aspires to control our destiny, increased
the debt. in eight years. by adding thereto
$1,132, 707.79. or about $4,000 annually
Now turn to the more cheering chapter Of the
decrease of our State debt under Democratic
rule. When the Democracy came into power in
can1aty, 1877, they found the debt, as above
stated, 81 $50 56464 The debt on January /,
1888, was $1,046 10000, showing on absolute
payment nv the Democrats, since January,
1877, Of 5000, 764 Ga.
Of the debt due January /, 1883, of 81 ,046,
800, it is proper 10 state that there was held III
that time, by educational funds, $685. 500 CO.
leaving outstanding only $411 10000, which
amount can be entirely absorbed before our
bonds are due, by our Sinking and Educational
funds
As We gave the Republicans credit for the
cash left in the treasury on January 1. 1877, we
should claim credit tor tie cash in the treasury
on January l, 1883, amounting to $43 ,992.30
and deduc the same from our outstanding in
debtedness. But the contrast is great enough
While this remarkable decrease of debt was
being accomplished, our rate Of State taxation
was being steadily decreased from $125 on the
hundred dollars worth of property assessed bv
TIE Republicans, to 40 cents on the hundred dol
lars worth of prop'riy now assessed by Demo
cratic authority. Was ever change more
markhOe? Was ever a contrast more striking
Had the Republicans remained in power and
continued their rate OF taxation (124 mills until
to-day, the people of Florida would have had to
pay just tire msHlOn dollars, more than they have
pad in taxation, during the last ten wears
Taxes are always burlhens0me, and when we
annually pay Them, we will remember that even
the present reduced rate OF State taxation could
he Stil furthpr rpducuI IL fart hal
OF debt left by Radical misrule-and, thus re-
memberlng, we will emphasize our disgust by
burying their aspirations under Il Triumphant
majority in November next
But ii may be claimed by those ignorant of the
record that our taxable property was much
smaller IN 1876 Than In recent years, therefore
the rate of taxation had to he higher. But the
facts are, that the Republicans, in their reckless
extravaganza, assessed larger sum in 1876
upon $299l1 ,453 worth of property than the
Democrats assessed in 1887 on $86. 265, 662
A comparison Of Democratic and Republican
assessments may not be uninsiruclive During
the four years of 1873 to 1875 (bo,h inclusivc)
the Republicans assessed ST. 41 347 25, for State
purposes, or ut the rate of $41O,3 1886 80 per year
AS shown above, they not only spent this. but
ran the State in debt ut the rate of $40 900 per
year, during their ncumbency. making their all
ministrations cost annually $3.50, 1886 80
The Democrats have been in power eleven
years and their total assessments have been
$3,3O6 41305, or at the rate Of $500 5S3 O8 annu-
ally. So the record stands thus:
Republican expenditure per annum . $3.50, 1886 80
Democratic expenditure per aunum.... 3OO583 o.
Annual saving under Democratic rule $l49,753 n
And this has been effected while expanding
annually large sums for the State Asvlum-for
the Insane and the Deaf and Dumb-large sums
tor Normal Schools and Teachers Institutes Tor
both races-considcrable amounts for The Agri-
cultural College, East Florida Seminary and
soldiers pensions, &c. These expenses aggre-
gate large sums not one dollar of which was
ever borne by Republicans. In addition to this,
the State collects and cxpends over twice as
much annually Tor our common school system as
the Republicans expended
But the enquiring mind will naturally ask,
how Is it that the Democrats made these large
expenditures for educational and charitable pur-
poses in excess of what the Republicans did, and
at The same time incurred a less annual expense?