The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-08-03

| But 1t was in 1876, when the life
blood had been sucked from the peo-
pie by the carpet bag vampires in
charge Of the state government; her
| credit gone and the homes Of the peo-
| pie being sold for confiscation taxes.
her population being depleted and
none dare come to the state, the peo-
pie became desperate and determined
to make one grand struggle for relief,
then it was that Bullock's unselfish
patriotism of valuable services rose to
their grandest height. He did not at
tend the state convention held at
Quincy in 1876, and this county only
sent one delegate to the convention
though entitled to several, our people
were too poor to attend conventions.
That one delegate was the law partner
of General Bullock who was instructed
by General Bullock positively not to
allow his name used for governor as
he was spoken of; that he was not an
aspirant and would not accept the
nomination if rendered him. Mr..
Ferguson so informed Gen. BIS.
friends and Geo. +. Drew was nomi-
mated. For second time the party
saw and decided the ticket must have
Bullock upon it in some capacity aud
Mr.. Ferguson was asked to telegraph
Bullock and prevail upon him to ac-
cept the Office of one Of the electors
for Tilden. Ferguson did SO and the
despatch fell into the hands of DIR.
Gary, then great admirer of Bull
locks; he got on his horse and took
the telegram to Bullock, whom he
found IN his lot milking a COW. When
the contents of the telegram had been
learned Gary asked Bullock what he
was going to do about it. Bullock re-
piled: Impossible, his duty to his FAM
lily utterly forbade his making such a
sacrifice. Gary implored and appealed
to him as patriotic duty, the latter
appeal always reached Bullock in
those days, and he said to Gary: "You
may reply that if the wish was unan-
imous he will accept, but if there
is one dissenting voice he will
refuse" He was unanimously cho-
sen. Again, at his own expense, he
eft his business, furnishing his own
conveyance, taking with him Prof.
Haisley, as he had in 1872. He again
canvassed large part of the state,
and in his earnest and effective APP
peals to the people to come out, regis
ter and vote, assuring them that if
they would they had the strength,
numerically to redeem their state from
ruinous rule, and TO emphasize his un-
selfish patriotism and to convince
them his efforts were for their good as
much as for his, he solemnly pledged
them, If the state was redeemed he
would accept the redemption as his
full and only compensation, and he
scrupulously kept his promise for
whom the offices were being distribu-
ted, he steeled himself against all inn
portunities and refused to accept any
Office, and returned again to the farm
where everybody at that time Knows,
he could have had any Office he asked
for, yet have heard him criticized as
an ofiice-seeker. Have you seen any
evidence of it in this truthful record
of his political history from 1865 to
1876. Upon tue contrary, you have
in this record one who gave more
time and more of his scanty means to
his party in proportion to his means
than any man in the state, and when
get through with his record, which
will have to be made the subject of an
other communication, I feel as
sured that it will be conceded where
1t is read and digested that / have
fully redeemed my pledge to give the
public most extraordinary political
record for unselfishness and devotion
10 the peoples interest, and / was
sorely panied at the Ocala convention
few days ago to see the spirit mani
tested towards General Bullock. My
brother democrats, let me warn you
to be sure you have ample and full
reason before you take any action
openly or secretly to belittle as DEM
ocrat such old veterans. Truth
crushed to earth will rise again.
r. l.. MCCLURE.