The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-10-19
THE OLD cHEsrNur ExpLopEp.

/
To the Editor of the Citizen:
Allow me space to correct the his
torical inaccuracies of my esteemed
political biographer, Mr.. James
Cannte.
1t is not true, as he says in your is
sue of the 18th, that Joined the Blox-
ham party only few days before the
election in 1872; nor is it true that
when o. b. Hart was elected, 1 at
once saw that reform was only possi-
BILE inside the Republican party. On
the contrary, it is true that my oppo-
sition to Mr.. Hart was of such a ma
ture that he removed from office my
cousin, Mr.. James A. Harris, who was
clerk of the circuit court of this cOun-
ty, and connected with me in the
ownership of the Banner, because of
his and my participation against him
in said election.
Prior to 1870 it is true that was not
in line with the democratic policy of
the state, and this fact has evidently
left a confused impression on the
mind of Mr.. Cannte, and has caused
him TO be somewhat careless of his
facts and reckless in his statement of
them.
| early favored the adoption by the
legislature of the state of the thir-
tenth aud fourteenth amendments to
the constitution of the United States.
! was satisfied that the war was over
and had not been fought for nothing.
felt that the negro was free and that
the official recognition of these facts
was the best policy for the South to
pursue. Instead of reversing, time
has strengthened this opinion. Had
it been speedily done the dark and
gloomy days of reconstruction y we
hear so much about, and all the sol
emn cant connected Herewith, would
have been avoided, and the South
would not Lave been a picnic for the
freebooters of that period.
was converted to this belief by
listening to speech of Mr.. William
Marvin, the provisional Governor of
the state, who spoke from the portico
of the residence of Chief Justice Du-
Pont at Quincy. He advised the peo-
pie to lay aside all revengeful feelings
and to enter hopefully upon the reha-
Utilization of the political autonomy of
the state under the new conditions
that the fortunes of war had deter
mined. was one of very small
number of his converts, but if reason,
instead of blind passion, had ruled the
hour, the South would have escaped
sea of troubles.
In his race for Lieutenant Governor
in 1870 against S. L. Day supported
Mr.. Bloxham because was convinced
that 1t was the best thing to be done.
/ was enthusiastic in my support of
him for Governor in 1872; I was ar
dent in my support of Drew for Gov
ernor and Tilden for President in 1875;
/ supported Bloxham for Governor
and Hancock for President in 1880;
Perry for Governor and Cleveland for
President in 1884; Fleming for Cover
nor and Cleveland for President in
1888; Mitchell for Governor and Cleve-
land for President in 1892, and ex-
pect to vote for Hill for President and
Bryan for Vice-President in 1896. I
yelled for Breckenridge when a boy
and voted for JEFF Davis while SOL
der in the Confederate army.
That is the size, and style, and length,
and strength, of my record as demo-
crat. If men of the discriminating
and keen penetration of Mr.. James
Cannte can see in it the feat of an ac-
robat, the woods of Florida are full of
democratic gymnasts; and if he wants
to go into the political show business
he can be furnished with whole cir
Gus of performers. Mr.. Cannte, per-
haps, could do q little of the tumbling
act himself.
1t is true that / condemned to the
strength of my ability the fraud that
Horatio Jenkins committed. and for
which he was punished by his party,
and shall not now, after condemning
fraud in the republican party for
twenty-four years, endorse, condone
and glorify it in my own. / must re-
frain from the qualification of The
record of life even to gain the APP
plause and escape the censure of Mr..
James Cannte. +. E. HARRIS.
0caIa Onfoher 10