The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-05-13
TWO PICTURES.

|
pays his bills may stop at the hotels i,
Tallahassee and use her streets for legiti
mate purposes. If he does not behave him
self the police can enforce public decenc!
and public opinion will punish still more
seriously any open infraction of the mora
code on the part of any visitor.
1t is perhaps equally true that the pres
ent political situation is one full of anx
iety to every citizen of Florida who takes
an interest in public affairs and there is
all almost universal desire to be on the
Provided man has the money to pay. his
bills honestly and the decency necessary
to preserve propriety of conduct, We
| know not the law either written, of Gus
tom or of morals which would prohibit
the presence of any one in Tallahassee al
this or any other time.
Unless these premises be disputed, we dc
not see that the people Of Tallahassee are
called upon TO protest against the presence
of anybody within her limits. 1t seems tc
the FLoRIDIAN that democrats, independ-
ents, republicans, federal office-holders
would-be senators, the people of the whole
world should be made welcome. If pro-
priety or the law be violated. then the law
or public opinion might be relied upon to
punish the offense.
Therefore, though the mouth pieces oil
Mr.. Call object never so loudly, we see no
improperly in the presence of any visitor
statesman or other who. may be here.
Hon. j. P. Taliaferro of Jacksonville,
chairman of the state democratic executive
committee, is a citizen whose claim 10 the
title of gentleman has never been disputed
within the knowledge of the FLoRIDrAN.
With the evidence at hand, there is no
reason to believe that he has outraged the
law or the canons of propriety during his
stay in Tallahassee. Therefore, the publ
cation of the following in the columns OF
the Times, Union on Sunday, is an outrage
with which public opinion will deal:
Mr.. Taliaierro, with arms folded on his
breast, with eagerness of spirit, with hope
so identified with his sell.conceit as not 10
be distinguished, the one from the other,
is ambitious TO succeed Call himself! He
has been groomed, curried, brushed and
blanketed by Chipley and his hostlers as
the dark horse" aud now-he is trOtted
out in Tallahassee where he is prancing
and neighing up and down the STREETS on
exhibition. For shame, for one OF his 9th.
cial position For shame! | repeat
breeding factional contention in the demo
cratic party, instead OF (as it is his sacred
duty) promoting in it unity and that solid
} ily that assure invincible strength.
We venture to assert that no member OF
the legislature has been approached by Mr..
Taliaterro with reference to any matter
connected with the senatorial contest.
Nay more, we venture to assert that no act
Of omission or commission from his place
on the committee can be shown which
carries with it the least desire to iprejudice
the election of a senator by this legisla-
ture.
w. D. Chipley is another citizen Of Flor
ida whose past services to the state and the
party are we'll known and widely recog
nized. He has seen proper to attend to his
business at home and he has not We, put in
an appearance on the stage at Tallahassee
to the knowledge of the public, since this
session began. Yet the organ of Mr.. Call
is uneasy at his absence as at the pre- senct
of Mr.. Taliaferro, and constantly urges and
challenges him to appear. The FLoRIDIAN
Is not aware ofany reason why be should
not come, provided he has money enough
10 pay his expenses or can obtain credit
sufficient to relieve him from the odum OF
dead beat, or the charity OF his friends.
Both these objections would tail in these
two cases, if the future may be judged by
the past.
The chairman of the slate democratic
executive committee occupies high posi-
ton which he is in honor bound to keep
clean from all personal or partisan pul-
purposes. Ii either Mr. Taliaferro or Col.
Chipley can be proved guilty OF so doing,
the public should be apprised of the facts
and the FLoRIDIAN is ready to give them
all the publicity possible.
But the position in relation to the party
occupied by the Times-Union itself has
been not less high or important than that
of any party official in the state. Has it
striven to preserve 'unity" in the party?
Has Its influence been exerted to soften
asperities, drive out the tendency to indie
pendentism, keep down lobbyism, "undue
influence" and that disgraceful Emporium
ity on the street corners and hysterical ap
peals 10 morbid sentiment which, for the
first time, are factors In the senatorial
succession in Florida? Has it striven to
keep in line with that common PURPOSE
for common interests between the Ali
ance and the democracy of Florida which
was publicly ratified at Ocala between the
rnrrp SON fafivec Of fha tw l>od;osp Hoo