New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
IN FORSAKEN VALLEY.
THE VOTERS ARE STILL WINGS AND
JACKSON DEMOCRATS.

political sensation in Forsaken Valley since 1860
when the remotest corner of the South echoed to
he names of Lincoln. Douglass, Bell and Brock
,nridre Far from river and railroad, and shut
In by the red clay hills Of Middle Florida, no dis
,urb,ng note had reached the inhabitants since
1861. when they sauntered in from the army or
the swamps and settled down to the peaceful
cultivation Of their small farms On election
days they went to Cyples's store. at the Three
Forks. and voted the Republican ticket Not
that they claimed to be Republicans or under
stood the platform, but merely because Repub-
rcanism was opposed to Democracy They still
called themselves Wings and Union men. and
hated alike negroes and the Southern aristocracy.
War veterans were in an exceedingly small
minority Deserter had been written after their
names oftener than he.o. and they had pre-
fArred the dense swamp TO tented field all
through the war. Two three Democrats there
were just give spice to their discussions: but,
either way. their simple politics of the past.
not the present.
Last summer two friends Of rival candidates
and strange TO say. friends OF each other-acci-
dentay discovered Forsaken Valley. and i'm
Inedately began to rouse that quiet neighbor-
hood In general. the farmers were too slow
and cautious to imbibe much enthusiasm. Be
sides the new order of politics puzzled them. It's
arguments had strange sound and some of the
nlanks were II very foreign wood indeed.
However. Parsons. the Populist. and Travis,
the Democrat. had put in enjoyable week
there riding from farm to farm and eating ana
drinking Of the best in the valley. They
Turned the last week Of the campaign but.
though they were welcomed and made much Of
they found TO their great modification the situa-
ZION practically unchanged The few Demo-
Gratis still chung to their own party and those
who had from custom supported the Republicans
they saw would vote for the Populist candidate
the Republican party in Florida having candi-
dates this time Name the parties you like
they were still. TO them. Wing and Democrat.
The farmers made holiday Of Election Day.
bringing their families and eating their dinners
IN carts or on the grass beneath the tall. rustng
pines Voting didn't begin until afternoon, and
then was exasperatingly slow, partly because OF
a Eliminating. unhurried way they had, partly
from desire to postpone to the last the pleasure
Of casting the ballot
So Travis and Parsons wasted on those nno-
cent ignorant. pleasing utterly unpersuadable
Crackers as much energy and soft sawdher as
would have sufficed 10 convert whole city
ward Of voters. Any great gathering OF the
farmers is a reasonable excuse for family holl-
day. and many hard-featured women in bright
calico sunbonnets. and younger ones in fashions
two seasons cid. are enjoying a long. delightful
day Of rest. They feed their children from the
big baskets. see everything that is going on and
gossip with the keenest relish.
Travis has an ally in the person Of old
Mumford, who must have finger in every
pie. and is especially alert and cunning in his
CUBS He has piled his chum. Mr.. Hobby. well
with liquor and is patting him into shape win
careful flattery. Now he thinks he has him.
Come. John, let's go n vote. We vote the
same way n we mought well vote tergether.'
eyes we'll vote tergether. Well vote my way
the OF line Whig way
You forget. You promersed ter vote the DEM
ercrat ticket
"But I'm er Wing. I never voted any other
way in my life" says John stopping short and
holding on by pine sapling.
John. you're all muddled; Their Amt no Wings
these days"
Their is. fer I'm one. ~ ef Their want. We
know. I couldn'. blieve in Democracy
But. ef you're er religious man. you've 20, ter
beve in it,
"Kase why, Lem?"
.Kass Christ was er Demercrat. hisself."
"IIoyy d'you make that QUIZ asks John. star
tied.
Now. John. you never knowed me ter tell er
Ne. don't make 1t out; hits jest the natral
truth"
Lem. when you prove that you've convarted
me- shore"
"Hit's as easy as one n ones two You'll own
UP that Democracy is power
orhe biggest power ever heerd Of er read er-
bout"
ON. want Christ er power? over me n you
n all the world. now'n' frever, amen?'
"1n course: in course
..Then want He er Demercrat? Tell me that.
John"
by Ned you're right Gimme yer ticket
All have voted but Matt Mersun. He has been
ready 20 exercise this privilege the last hour;
but Travis is reluctant to give him up Mersun'
] didn't think there was 90 much unreason about
YOU Think Of the glorious days OF jefferson:
There never was so little evil in the world as
during his time"
There's ben more of it sence. then says
Mersen, with a dark look. Gentlemen I'll tell
you erbout it.
I'VE was Union people, like most in the valley.
FL We hadn't er ben we was dead set ersih
fghtin' fer the Niger Hit the Niger that
enriched the planter an KEEP us down under MS
feet an brung on that tarrifyin', desroyin'
fool war ter tear up the Union. The pore white
was dragged in the dirt an made OF less ercount
then or black African. Durin' the war we was
food fer powder: nothn else. No. the people in
Fersaken didn't b'lieve I'm the war, an the most
desp'ret Of 'em lived in the swamps ruther'n hght
fer er cause they hated. Ny daddy was sech er
puny. stunted man-though he made the best
craps in Fcrsakcn-that they let i'm erlone TEL
long lords the last when they gethered up every
thing tibet could hold or gun. Hit was your
candidates daddy that set the cornscrp' orhcers
after i'm
81 know Matt Mersen Of old. Bad as ne looks
he's as strong as er horse an az tough as or
alligator Take i'm erlong
Hit like takin' or scarecrow crioHe ne
was that little an bunged an dried up. NANNY
CRED an heggcd the OFFICER. DON'T take I'M