The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1891-06-26
A Little Brief Authority Hath
Wrought Madness on His Brain.

Wrought Madness on His Brain.
If the governor had gwen a reasona-
BILE excuse for not approving the Bur
ford Redemption bill, land he seems to
have taken ample time to invent ex.
cuses), or had ne vetoed the bill before
the adjournment of the legislature and
given the peoples representatives. an
opportunity to pass upon his disap-
proval. he might have been held blame
less and freed himself of suspicion. He
should have remembered that his pre-
vious record, when acting in behalf of
the common people, has not placed him,
like Caesars wife, above suspicion, and
perhaps he was tempted above that
which he could bear, and fell a victim
to the weakness of his nature. Such
violation of the rights of the people,
when enacted by men of large brain, we
call Reedism, or crankism, but whoa en-
acted by men Of small cajber, as in the
present case, we class it weakness"
and if not weakness, then call it an
dacitv: or else upon what has this great
Caesar fed. and has lie become SO tall
that while his feet are upon the earth
his hands can grasp the stars, or only a
modern invention, u political machine,
propelled by thunder?
Does this man, high in authority,
placed there by accident, think he can
insult the intelligent farming and Ia
boring classes with impunity? The
father of this country was q farmer; so
was Jefferson, so was Lincoln and
host of other bright intellects whose
lives have made history grand, and the
song of poets beautiful.
Yes. the farmer and laborer has
many, many things to be proud Of, for
he knows that Jesus the Saviour was
the son of Mary, the wife of carpen-
ter. who was also a descendant of the
sweet singer of Israel, David the shep-
hard boy. and are very proud of our
Burford, who introduced and carried
through the legislature the Redemption
bill, was a farmer boy. He knows that
Judas Isca~ot was not farmer that
Benedict Arnold was not a farmer, that
Shylock was not q farmer, and last, but
not least proud that the Hon. +. i.
Fleming, the friend of plutocrats, Is not
farmer.
What was the price Of the Shylock ?
A pound Of flesh Judas lscariot?
thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Ar
mold? thousand pounds of English ster-
ling; and what did this great light re-
ceiye? Aught from aught and moth
ing remains the tail from tad.pole,
and frog remains"
CountTymen, the identical language
used by the governor in framing an
apology for vetoing a measure OF relief
passed by the legislature for the benefit
of the farming and laboring classes,
was sung into the ears and transmitted
through the mails upon fools-cap,
stained with the tears of the rich
money lender, pleading for the legisa-
ture to save them from a pauper's grave
The representatives of the people knew |
il was but the cry of Shylocks for more /
time to pluck from the hand laborer his
last pound OF flesh and - StiH ie3AEsr
draw upon the life blood OF them whose /
wives and sons and daughters, with mol
low checks and sunken eyes, made so by |
long continued slavery IN their behalf,
and the honest legislator needed not !
their cry, at last these cormorantS in
vaded latter the adjournment of the
legislature) the Office and residence of
the magistrate of great State. How
much they went in with or how little or
what they came out with, perhaps Will
never be known, but they dictated
State paper which, when viewed even
through mscroscope, fails to disclose a
shade of a shadow of decent apology
to the people. Cashiers and treasurers
who rob banks, State and municipal
safes, know they violate the laws of the
land they take their chances and show
at least that they dare to-" but men
who sit in arm-chairs and by State
desks, and use official pen and ink and
blow big noses and wear sanity smiles
wall" who would not rather be a ''yal-
low dog" and bay at the moon, than
tool in the hands of Goulds."
How long shall the repetition of
wrong upon wrong for the benefit OF the
few, and enslavement of tho many, con-
tinue? The farmer is not envious and
his liberality and hospitality is known
in all lands, and he rejoices at the sue
cess Of all men who earn wealth by
honest toll, energy and thrift, and you
find them, too, in all lands, good men
and christians, whose money is cast like
bread upon the waters, a JOY to them
and relief to the people, and they
wish such men long and happy life
here, and beyond the river an eternity
of 10Y and peace, which will be theirs,
for verify their works do follow them.
But to those who invade our legislative
halls, tempt our iudlciaries and corrupt
our executives with their unearned
wealth, we give you warning, and more
especially to those in high places, who
so readily yield to their demands.
Never a word to you, conservative far
mer, and conservative people of all
classes perhaps you think the views
herein expressed are radical and radi-
Cally expressed admit it, but has not
the repetition OF such acts fora quarter
of century opened yo1r eyes Is 1t
not rather better to lop off a limb than
to wait until the whole body becomes
purified? Do you still call for little
more sleep little more folding Of the
hands? Would you hesitate to smother
the flames consuming your dwelling, or
would you clap your hands and say,
What beautiful fire; how nicely it
burns And yet year by year, and
day by day, have you been silent and
inactive spectator to the flames whose
smoke ascends to the portals of high
heaven and consumes your yearly and
daily toll. Conservatism is well enough
when the sky is clear, but when storms
arise trim your sails to meet the coming
gale, is better. r. ii. l..
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Constitutional Questions.
ny RROLIER PAUL DUPUY.