The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-07-23
war ccEs i AgAnl

Germ IN Oeaf&. ~ mas vDtHS AAtN 1880
ans; burden Of days in the up-building
Of this beautiful city and OF TINS
goodIy county. 1t goes without say
ing that it il thoroughly Identified
with the people in every nerve ana
fibre; indeed, it is very bone Of their
hone aud very flesh Of their flesh
ike the Statute cG Liberty at tue en-
trance Of New York barbor, it has
held aloft a luminous torch attracting
the attention Of the people to this fair
land By continually telIir & them Of its
capabilities and possibilities.
It has been a. q sentinel on thf
watch-tower defending this people
sgaips. unfair and unjust criticism.
IL has repealed the idea that, owing
II the lassitude Of the climate, the
native FIoridiaEs are laggani@.
II hiss proven by indisPutatie evil
dence that il was they who drove out
the Indians, and subdued this land
aud made fertile fields out Of It's bar
rem wastes.
That il was they who transformed
the forests into bearing orange groves.
that Il aas they whc made the fields
white Nilh cotton blooms; that it vas
they " ho created the sugar industry,
and the pineapple industry, and the
tobacco industry; that it was they
Who discovered aud developed the
phosphate industry. and the systems
Of railways that no~ eobweb this
state g. 10 10 other, was because Of the
greater industry and enterprise Of this
people.
II showed how the ragged Confed-
crate soldier. returning to i'm
poverished homes after the con-
| hict had ended, and finding la
b,,r disorganized and demoralized,
yet with an energy nowhere
else excelie.i. began the work of
social, political ana financial rehabil-
/ itation, that has been the browning
work Of the century and the wonder
/ - people Of all lands.
1t has expelled the idea that this
people are Iaggards and lacking in in
dustry ard courage, by showing that
when property to the amount Of fifty
millions was swept away in single
night, which left hundreds and hun
dreds Of people absolutely pennies.
that with stout hearts and strong
arms, and with more than Spartan
courage, Immediately began the work
Of restoration. and as result Of their
efforts Florida has suffered compare
tivelv rom the distressing cOndi-
til .nich are weIl-nigh universal,
THAI any state in the Union.
| To dwell with emphasis upon this
display Of grit and courage has been
the province and especial pleasure OF
the Banner.
And, in Folitics, too, it mas held
aIoft the principles Of true and genu-
inc democracy. 1t has consistently
and persistently repealed the insiduous
encr0achments that have endeavored
To undermine these principles. 1t has
stood between the people and COM
binations Of capital. II has endeav,
ored 10 show the great evils Of these
combinations. 1t has endeayored "a
show, iy what las recently been adj
mitted By one Of its most prom
inent aud pronounced champions,
Senator Cannon. Of Utah that
the theory Of protection Ia
American ministries principally
manufacturers, has been the spoiIa-
ton OF the American farmer. And il
not farming, what industry should lie
fostered 10y the American people?
To stand by and make triumphant
these principles and policies has been
the mission Of the Banner.
What has been its reward.
The little public printing that is
given out by the party in power is the
life Of the average Florida newspaper.
The Banner believed that it was justly
entitled TO this pittance. It's party
was victorious. Its friends were in
power. 1t had stood in the fore front
Of the battle. It's work was Of such q
nature that it received the especial
thanks of the chairman of the Ma
tional Democratic Executive Commit
tee. II received an autograph letter
of thanks from the democratic nomi-
nee for the presidency. 1t received
the thanks OF the State and Congress
iOnal Executive Committees, and
strong letters Of commentator from
Governor Bloxham ard Congressman
Davis.
But what did its friends at home do ?
They deliberately attempted its assasi-
nation. With its record in their pos
session, they gave the public printing,
to which by every reasoning of right,
it was entitled, to a man who had not
been in the state long enough to cast
vote, whose footsteps had not yet
warmed our soil, and whose news
paper these officials designated had
not yet been born for confirmation oi
our statement see official proposition
and the clerks office was made an ad.
vertising bureau for this paper.
This, in brief, is the treatment the
Banner received at the hands of its
friendss so.caIled.
What'are We to do. and how are we
to meet, thsse kind Of creatures.
We know \how to meet enemies.
We know how'Io prepare for disaster
When storm Us approaching, the
master Of "a ship Knows what prepare.
tiODs are necessary 30 combat ii. Every
man j. at his pOtt, they know where
the danger If, AID preparations hav-
ing been properly made, the ship
rides the raging pillows in safety.
But against concealed enemies, who