The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-08-06
ABRAMS SPEECH.

ABRAMS SPEECH
At a meeting Of the "Broward"
(not a democratic, nor a Cleveland
and MitchelD club, in Jacksonville,
July %, Alexander St. Clair Abrams,
the nominee for state senator for
Lake county, made one of the most
remarkable speeches ever heard in
Florida.
This club, strange to say, is COM
posed solely Of the adherents Of the
boiling independent faction in Duval
county, whose delegation to the
state convention was refused admit
lance as not having been selected by
the dem 'cratS Of he country, while
Abrams, notwithstanding his advo-
cacy of the cause of the independent
Duval delegation at Tampa, claims
to be the regular democratic nomi-
nee for sena' or from Lake.
Abrams beg IN his speech by self
laudation for the part he took in
former years in "ver' hrowing repub-
licanism in Florida, and praise of
the young men of the state who are
to fight the future battles of the
democracy. He repudiated an
imaginary charge that he was there
to adv cate the charge Of indepen
dentism in Duval county, by charg-
ing that the Metropolis, which he
imagined had so maligned him, with
being "a ailroad organ" "If it be
true" said he, that this club is not
a democratic. club, but An indepen-
dent one, then | have no business
here. 4 | am not here to deter
mine the question of the irregularity
OF any candidate. = Whoever
VOTES for Henry l.. Mitchell in Octo.
Der next for g'vernor, and for
Grover Cleve and in November next
is democrat" Thus Mr.. Abrams,
assuming to be the democratic party
Of Florida, proposes to make demo-
Gratis of all Florida republicans land
their name is lrgion) who intend TO
vote for Cleveland and Mitchell.
Abrams The" proceeds to argue
that the committee on credentials at
Tampa ''d'sIinclly decided that the
convention had no power or jurisdic-
lion TO determine which was the reg
u'ar ticket Of Duval county," Tor.
g"t,ing that in refusing to admit the
independent delegation, chosen by
the same authority by which the in
dependent ii, ket in Duval county
was nominated, did decide that very
thing. But, he cautiously adds: IL
do not intend to say anything that
might reflect on any side" This
was the keynote of his speech, but
instead of adhering to it he strad.
died iearfulIy throughout, and the
result was most astonishing con-
glomeration.
After diSclaiming any intention of
"refecting on any side" he adds, in
the next sentence: 81 am here before
you as democrat Of the state,
recognizing goa as democrats, vested
with III" same element of regularity
that any faction can claim" Sing.
ular, was it not, that the state con-
vention did not "recognizc them &c
democrats" even after Abrams
. elaborate and pyrotechnical argu.
r qent before the committee on Gre.
, dentials at the convention, entreatinp
that they should be recognized 81
! democrats!"
The speaker then coyly Withdrew
his attention from this rather diff.
: cult subject and proceeded to scar
: his heavens with a picture of the
dangers that encompass the demo
; cratic party, stopping long enough
: to have his fling at Governor Elem
> ing, 10 order to requite the Times
. Union for its valuable support in hi.