The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-11-06
From Florida Christian Advocate.
What Now I?

this as the appropriate time for calm
outlook and survey of things A little
earlier, there was too much excitement.
too much uneasiness for just estimate of
the situation; and little later, there will
be too much to do, and the vividness of
recent impressions will be vanishing from
memory. So just now, we may do well
to stop and consider the future in the
light of the past.
And first of all, it becomes us to get a
correct view of what we have gone
through. We have had visitation of
yellow fever, but that is not the first, nor
is it usual thing. 1t has been in the
State before, but not for many years. 1t
has been in nearly all the seaboard and
Mississippi river cities about as often as
it has been in this State. Tampa, Mana
tee, Palmetto and Plant City in South
Florida, containing about $500 inhabi-
tants, and not far apart, have had in
the neighborhood of 100 cases this
year. Jacksonville, Fernandina, Nc
Clenny, Green Cove Springs and Sander
son, all near each other in East Florida,
and having population of about $4,000,
have had not exceeding 4,3OO cases.
Gainesville, in Central Florida, with about
5000 people, has had 15 cases.
1t appears then that out of $500
square miles, an area of less than 200 has
been visited by the plague out of a pop
ulation of 800, 900, not more than about So
600, or one-sixth of our people have been
in danger; out of $4,000 in the infected
places, not more than 4,50o have taken
the disease; and out of 4,2OO cases, not
more than about 45O have died, which is
one death to 666 of our estimated popu-
lation. But if we take the estimate,
separately made by two of the most COM
petent observers, Mr.. Edwin Martin, late
editor of the Times Union, and Judge
Archibald, part of the time acting mayor
of Jacksonville, we must put down one
half of the mortality as due to dissipation
and bad conduct, and this reduces it to
5 per centum of the cases, or one death to
], 1882 OF our poplation attributable to yell
low fever
Then it becomes us to wonder at the
panic, to become calm and hopeful, and
to rejoice over the fact maintained in this
paper last spring, and now demonstrated,
4.
be mild disease, and will not spread if
proper sanitary conditions are kept up.
Facts, admitted and published, prove that
where it has spread deplorable state of
things has existed In these places now,
al infected bedding should be burned,
articles of clothing boiled, every room
fumigated, and all filth and de-
,aying matter removed far away. Wood
IN pavements serve as homes for the dis
ease, and liquor saloons ought to be
abated as nuisances to be put out and
,uarantined against with the utmost vigi-
ance. A drinking people will be filthy
people, aud easily made victims to yellow
ever.
The retrospect is full of encouragement
70 far as it bears s,non the future There
) not so much to fear as we imagined,
nd really our condition is one of great
,romise But yellow fever is not the
nly thing to get out of our State
Our ministers have work to do in driving
ut bitterness Of feeling, and so have all
ur people 1t is time for general clean
ng up ynd fumigation by the fire of
ivine grace. Envy and Jealousy must
e consumed Away with accusations,
nkind cuts, sarcastic insinuations, inju-
ious criticisms, cold feelings, and that
bominable hash mixed up with Don't
ay anything about this"
God has spa;ad us !: let us spare one
uother. God is blessing US: let US feel
nited under the one broad shield of His
rejection and love- The fallen heroes
ave left US more work to do, and we
eed more love to increase our efficiency.
'iorida cannot afford to have a divided
eople, and the Florida Conference cannot
ford to have divided ministry. Let
$ lay our hearts on Coils altar, side by
de. and get them bound together in