The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-01-05
HOW POINTS THE POLITICAL COM
PASS2

IL Dc kuOWu ttlaL ne early EespOHueu
to tie "call to arms" that he was
many times wounded, and surrender
ed only when the last gun was fired,
still the most prominent feature of his
candidacy is that he is in full sympa-
thy with the common people; that
there are great financial and other
wrongs that eau and must be correct
ed by legislation; he claims always to
have been in political sympathy with
the needs of the people; that he has
always opposed all forms of centrali-
zation; has always been firm advO
cate of the rights of the states; is in
sworn enmity against all trusts, COM
binations and monopolies, and is
making his canvass along these lines.
His competitor for the nomination
is much younger man and has no
war record back of him, having come
upon the stage of action since the mad
alarums of war were hushed at Apo
mattox. Mr.. Atkinson says that the
demand for his candidacy comes from
those who desire practical and helpful
legislation; from those, though frugal
and industrious, are struggling under
the burden of financial depression,
and who believe that it is in the power
of government to bring relief by the
consummation of those political re-
forms to which democracy stands
committed. He intends making his
canvass upon the strict construction
of the platform of 1892, just as it was
explained to the people. He says there
should be no duplicity; no evasion; no
hair-splitting argument as to the
meaning of words; no equivocation
He says that ON every hand are seen
evidences of depression and distress
and that the stoutest heart is appalled,
by the shadow of impending finan-
cial disaster, and while the governor
of state can not deal directly with
the solution of national questions, the
Endorsement by party of one with
pronounced views on these subjects
gives great prestige and weight
towards the shaping and direction OF
legislation and that the effect of
sovereign state upon national issues
cannot be over estimated. So far as
it may be ia his power to control he
says the campaign shall be fought on
vital and living issues. That the past
must be consigned to the past. The
dead must bury their dead.
And so from Virginia is heard a
voice that in that state political parties
have come to parting of the ways"
A partition wall has been erected di-
yiding the dead past from the living
present and henceforth politics in the
"Old Dominion" will be fought on
questions of present moment and with
men who are in sympathy with them
and who are not rivited to the mem
ory and traditions of the past. A
writer from Norfolk to the Baltimore
Manufacturers Record says that the
senatorial bontest that resulted in the
defeat Of Fitzhugh Lee is nothing
more nor less than the legitimate
parting Of the ways.n 1t means, he
says, that the old leaf of history, blot
ted over with tears, regrets and with
blood, has been forever turned, and
new page presented to the w0rl,J4~-TLis
new page requires neW men new
methods, new ideas~erha leader of
1ilougl1s- 49, action ia Virginia in
sJ3-64 cannot, in reason, expect or
hope to retain the leadership in 1893 "a.
More than a generation has passed
away since then, and the world has
moved rapidly on, while Virginia has
fingered by the way, meditating re-
gretfuliy and naturally of the past,
without fully, firmly and fairly facing
the future. The times demand new
men, younger men, schooled not SO
much in the arts of war or in the arts
of the politician developed during and
subsequent tothe r construction Pc
Rod, as men schooled in statecraft of
more modern patterns and ideas. 1t is
not because the State of Virginia
thinks any less of the "old," but be-
cause she thinks more of the new"
more of what is in store. 1t may be
truthfully said that the young South
is in the saddle, but let us add, their
faces are turned forward instead of
backward. 1t is very hopeful sign.
indeed. 1t may make some heart
burnings and not few regrets, but it
is the natural parting of the ways"
the division of the old and the new.
This is the condition and outlook of
politics in other states than Florida.
How shall it be here? Shall we con-
tinue to weep over the dead body of
Caesar? Shall we erect no partition
walls dividing the innOxuous past
from the momentus present? Shall
we meet vital and living issues with
men, who so far as the present is con-
cerned, are but memories, and num-
mics of other times. Shall we not
rather meet them with men Whose
blood is vitalized with knowledge of
the wants of the people and who will
answer their cry for political relief as
one in sympathy with them and
sharing their burdens.
A new political revolution is dawn
ing upon our people. "Old things" are
passing away and the new is being
ushered in, and it bebooves those who
would do their country service to
get in the track of its light.