The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-03-23

a statement made by the i etropolis
| Ia local afternoon newspaper printed
| In Jacksonville) the statement being
| that the state executive committee
was alone authorized to speak for deul-
ocrats to democrats; that until this
committee had spoken, democratic
newspapers. democratic writer's, demo-
cratic orators, democratic followers,
democrats who had grown gray in the
service Of democracy, must be both
deaf and dumb; we say because the
Banner denounced this utterance as
unworthy the paternity of demo-
cratic newspaper; an utterance belit-
Ting the professed principles and
honored traditions of this great party,
The Metropolis says the Banners ut-
terances are ''disIoyaP' and that 1t is
bent on "wrecking the democratic
party"
What do the great mass Of demo-
Gratis say to this proposition? IF the
Metropolis is right the Banner wants
to know it. If it is wrong it wants
the Metropolis to know it.
No man, slys the Metr polls, who
trains under the banner of democra v
must have an opinion of his own; its
members having ears to hear must
hear not and having eyes to see must
see not-mum as oysters and blind as
owls must they be, moving neither
hand nor foot, until permitted to do
so by the state executive co Dmittee.
and then must do so only through aud
at the instance of this committee.
This committee must do both the
thinking and the talking for them.
Tt must be the party phonograph.
The whole duty" of the mem
bers is TO respond to the touch
of the button when pressed by
the members of the state execu-
tive committee. They must hold 10
no individual opinion; they must give
utterance 10 no speech and though an
angel should cross their path they
must be less human than Baalam's
ass was-they must move right on
and say nothing; they must sink
every appearance of Individuality, be-
come a machine, and respond only to
the touch of those behind it.
They must regard Senator Pasco as
paragon of virtue; If he Joins the
alliance and bows down before it in
affect servility as he did at Dade
City, the democratic press and the
democratic people must witness The
spectacle in sublime silence; if he
generously offers General Finley, now
turned out to grass, his salary as q
member of the Florida legislature,
while he periodically proposes to
pocket the Generals salary as a Unit
ed States senator Cad interim appoint
ment) the matter must be spoken of
only in v hisper.
If Sir. Cooper ignores the platform
upon which he was elected and turns
his back upon the traditions of his
party; If he records his vote against
silver, the money of the constitution
and founders of his party; if he joins
the Wall street potentates in the cry
for the issuing of more bonds, no
democratic newspaper must raise its
voice in opposition. He is not to be
criticised.
But Wilkinson Call. he who has
spent his whole life fighting corpora
tions; fighting against the further is
suanee Of bonds; fighting for the res
toration to the people the lands un-
lawfully held by corporations; fight
ing for a larger volume Of the circu-
lating medium; fighting for the res
toration of The free coinage of silver,
and all along his public career fight
ing for the relief of industrial slavery
why, damn him. Damn him at
breakfast; at dinner damn him; and
again at supper damn him; doubly
damn him when yon go to bed and
damn him over and over again when
you arise in the morning. Damn
him from the crown Of his head to
the soles of his feet. Damn hiaa-,se -
cause the colporati0sssh nave Issued
.nelr proc ialion that he must lie
W. -, and the corporations must
De oheyed or all must be damned.
To carry out their mandates the
must be active and vigi-
liant in season and out of season.
Hence we can excuse, if not pardon,
the Metropolis-but If this be the test
of .'true democracy count the Ban
ner as one Of the damned.
Mr.. Clevelandis credited with the