New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-17
THE "FLORIDA TROUBLES"
GOVERNOR FLEMING'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
THE MURDER OF MARSHAL SAUNDERS.
DEPLoRING THE CRIME IN WASHINGTON, BUT
SILENT IN PRESENCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
BULLDOZERS or HIS STATE.
Try rELEGRAPT TO THE rRIBUss.1


Washington, Feb. 1.-two Of the counties, Aachua
and Madison which arc the seat of the " Florida
troubles they are euphemstically termed by
southern Democrats, form a part of the lid Con-
grcssiOnaI District. The present troubles which
grew out Of efforts TO bring TO justice who vlo
lated the election laws and debauched the ballot
boxes in the name of Cleveland and reform date
from the summer of 1855, when leading Democrats
in eleven Of the twenty counties which compose the
I'D District entered into foul conspiracy TO roll up
a big bogus majority for the Democratic elector.
and Congressional tickets. Among the conspirators
were the county supervisors Of registration all DEM
ocraS the county canvassing and returning officers
all Democrats and at least three Of the four election
officers at each precinct, besides large numbers Of
armed and mounted Democratic bulldozers, who in
augurated a vertable reign of terror, especially in
Madison County, where ballotboXcs were openly
seized, carried OFF and destroyed, and election ofi
GERS under fear Of violence, refused TO make any re-
turns All the facts fully set forth in the test-
mony in the contested election case OF Goodrich
against Bullock, which Is now pending before the
House Committee on Elections
At that time Governor Fleming, who called at tie
White House yesterday to express his regrets over
the assassination Of Deputy Marshal Saunders aad
assure President Harrison that the state would do its
utmost bring the assassins to justice, was not tpe
incumbent Of that Office; but when he became Gov
clnOr, January, 1889. he took no steps, so far As
offenders against the election laws of the state to be
arrested and tried. FOr il should be understood and
remembered that the state officers and others VINO
violated the United states election laws in November,
1888. violated the state election laws also. Ihey
were equally offender, against both Yet Governor
Fleming, who Is loud in his protestltiop, IN wash
ngton Of desire to punish the guilty, would not
have dared, in Florida, to the arrest and trial,
under the State law. OF supervisor of Registration
Sadcr, OF Alacua who has pleaded guilty TO two in-
dictmcnt, for violation of the registration law.
In the presence Of the Democratic conspiratorS
and buldozers of Florida the Governor Of that Com
monwcalth and the state judiciary are as silent, II
not as helpless the corpse Of the faithful saunders,
who died from the bullet of Democratic assassin.
OF course Governor Fleming dep0res' that crime.
il he does not cXecrate it, in the presence OF the
President of the United states, and does not con-
ceal hi, anxiety that the United States authorities
shall keep their hands OFF and allow him to deal
with the criminals But in private conversation else
where in this city of Washington the Governor Is not
50 emphatic; while he does not excuse, he seeks TO
palliate the crime by saying that the persons for
whose arrest warrants haTc been Issued lear that
they will not be able to secure A iaf tral IN the
United states Court.
stickler for the enforcement OF the laws by the state
authorities, has not set in motion, 50 far as can be
ascertained. any investigation to discover, Win =
view to their punishment. the men VINO composed
the moo in Aachua County, which called from ms
house recently d. \. barnes, a prominent citizen zen
and Republican OF that county, ana trcaiehel niuI
with death unless the prosecution Of viOatOrs OF the
election laws was Immediately abandoned In the
United states courts. 1t was IN oehali
Alachna County Republicans, headed by Mr. ship
man. Republican candidate for Governor against
Fleming at the last election, visited United states
District Judge Swayne, and implored him to cease
the prosecutions. in fact, while lawlessness and
vIoencc have been the order Of the day for months
i'm Madison. Alachua, Gadsden and Monroe Counties;
while the state laws. well as the laws OF the United
states, have been openly violated and defed the
state authorities seem not TO have made any attempt
either to arrest and punish the Offenders preserve
the peace or protect the lives OF peaccable and law
abiding citizens. -,
The recent outraGcs in Florida have thoroughly
aroused the Administration, and there Is no reason
doubt that effective stops will be taken to pro
cct United states officers in the discharge OF their
duties In the efforts bring the criminals to JUS
lice however one serious dif'cuy will be encountered:
many witnesses will bc unwilling to testify, and some
will refuse do So account Of threats of violence
and fears OF assassination.