The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-10-23
THE BURNING QUESTION OF
THE HOUR.

sonal letter, written on the wing, as it
were, for editorial information and gui-
dance It was full of wholesome admoni-
ton for our Democratic Misunderstanding,
vivid and well worth reading between the
lines.
We are now in the closing weeks Of
the Presidential canvass. 1t has been
quiet, orderly, somewhat monotonous and
dull, little mud throwing, no volcanic ont
bursts of SANDER. This is because OF the
entire satisfaction of the country with
the President. There has been no unrest
no tendencies toward political revolution,
such as gave acrimonv to the campaigns
of Van Buren,, Buchanan and Tildcn.
The President has done well-in every
sense proved an admirable Chief Magis-
trate. The country has prospered. We
have peace at home and abroad-no adj
illustrative care outside of an overflow
ing Treasury. The Union is a fact, not
name-a Union of which Lincoln dreamed
in his sore hours of agony and despair.
We have President who represents the
intelligence of the nation, not its igDor-
ance and fanaticism.
The political currents of the canvass
run strong and full, SO evenly divided
that straw would change their course.
This straw is the city of New York.
Strange, most strange, but in this cleo
ton a potent, vital fact Sixty millions
of people--only think of it, many Com
monwcalths, in their aggregation an en-
pire among empires, every State contest
ed by the parties with stern, unbending
courage, and yet the currents Of their po-
litical destiny could be turned by a straw
The battle ground an empire. The stake
an empire. The contenlng hosts impe-
rial in their magnitude, but yet the result
50 doubtful, and the fighting lines 50
contracted, that it will depend upon the
vote which lives within sound Of the
presses Of the New York WerulH
The issue is the Union in its largest
sense-not in lis political integrity. That
was determined 1t AppomAt,"N. The
hand Of the clock Which then struck the
destiny of the Southern Cpniedrracv can
never be- turncI back. bi,t frcc, lem
cratic | mon, commensurate "ith the ~
plrations Of tree men al over tt- W"rlt
-tiiS i the battle which now .arn~ IN
New York. The tari j, absorbing. but
that battle is won whether w i Iyc The
frultip! or not in November. IaetaX on
wool, among other ini1nirie>, j. al oUj-
rage Thi, We know Bat all Ne WOOL
which mas been >horn since the first
sheep hlcated about tie Garden 81 Eden
is nothing to the issue involved in this
honest, progressive democratic | Mon.
Now, is this battle to be won or lost
That is the question that should come
home TO every patriotic citizen in New
York. orr haAcst young X,raH cor
respondent, writing on the wing impress
slons vivid, keen, reports that the Re-
pubicans are making fierce, intelligent,
and so far a successful fight" Well, 50
be it, so let it be- This is what the Her.
atd said from the outset that the Repub-
licans would do, to the distress of the
owls and other curious, drowsv creatures
who have sat brooding their dreams of
victory under the caves of the Democratic
headquarters
Why should not the Republicans make
such a campaign? They are in posses
sion of the infamous booty Of the tariff.
They fight for money, Jobs, grants, mo-
nopoles, pensions, appropriations, taxes
on every form OF labor, fiscal system
OF course, they will make a fierce and
intelligent fight" This is what men do
under the stress Of mighty temptations.
This is what was done by the third Ma
poleon. He took the oath as President
Of France. He seized the French Treas
ury. He shaped the executive forces of
the nation 50 that the Republic died.
Like the Republican leaders, he made
fierce and intelligent fight He won the
nation. He used her tor his own ends, to
her shame and ruin. He held her iii an
ignominous thraldom until he was struck
down as with a bolt Of heavenly deliver
ancc at Sedan
The Democratic campaign is like the
battle of Marengo. There is time to win
the battle before the sun OF the November
day goes down. But it must be fought
without illusions or dreams-tought to
win
1t is not in the tariff on wool, or iron or
coal; it is not in Canada or Mexico that
we find the stake, but The Union, the free
MON, with no monarchiSm in reversion.
Let the fighting word until the polls close
be the free [ Mon. Are We to remand the
Southern States to the desolating barbar-
ism OF negro domination, inevitable under
Republican rule? Are We to abandon
the farmers of the Northwest to the land
robbers and railway thieves: Are we
to doom the labor Of the Middle States to
another generation of Carnegies, to svs.
TEN under which the rich grow richer, the
poor poorer Are we to bring the indus
tries of New England down TO the level
OF the much protected Contine ltal States,
where lives OF thrift and toll end in SQUAT