The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-03-19

s,nVille dsiles masqueradng in that city under
the mask OF dem0cracy. What, ieliow-eletuo
crlfs did that signify Does il not accent,,ate
the utteTanccs of the Banner that democratic
daily Is needed IN Jaeksonville, end intensity
that need Give heed to the address, fellow.
democrats, and be warned by it.--En. BANNER /
Al meeting OF the Bryan and Sew
all central silver club, held this March
10, A. ID. 1897, in the city of Jackson
vile, il was resolved to issue to the
democrats of Florida the following
letter:
TO Ae nemocrais oftke State Of Flor
ida.
The political situation in Florida is peculiar i'll
the extreme, Under the guise of democratic
leadership, potent influences republican in
name aud in principle, seeking to control the
democratic party. The democratic people Of
the state, by very large majority. are for free
silver. and in hearty accord with every other
proposition Of the Chicago platform few men.
comparatively speaking, high in the councils Of
the parry. aud heretofore trusted by the psople.
together with the following which their inllu.
euee controls, are opposed to the principles aud
policies Of the party as promulgated at Chicago
and, though professedly democrats, are secretly
Ashtthb AhSSN PtAitNip4tS SSNkfu2 10 SStaD-
iish in lieu thereof a new democrats ~ creed
as formulated by the Indianapolis gold conven.
ton"
rhepian adopted by these men to betray the
democrats party IS novel and would offer no
show OF success in any other southern state.
But in Florida, where the anomaly IS presented
Of the democratic party being manipulated in
its leadership by republican Influences the
promise Of success is inviting TO these schemers;
and unless the democratic people realizing the
situation, awake 10 the danger and defeat
the deeplaid plan, the nefarious. traitorous
scheme may succeed The plan aud method Of
procedure evolved theTefrom. comedies that the
democratic people the masses, are fot free sill
yer and opposed 10 corporation rule. and that
the only way TO succeed IS 10 profess To be in &C
cord with them, and dupe them with this belief
until success IS attained by the election of a
United States senator who, il Is intended. shall
vote for gold aud the other policies advocated nv
the corporation faction
These men. occupying the role OF democratic
leaders assuming To act and speak for the dem
ociatic masses. and protesting loyalty to dem-
ocfatic principles, aud adherence TO the Chicago
platform, are mere puppets. manipulated by in
hucnces in the background. which are not only
in favor Of the gold standard and corporation
rule but are. in name and in fact republican
u is hard TO realize that a plan involving such
wholesale humbuggery Of the intelligent demo
Gratis Of this state could be conceived and at.
tempted to be carried ont but that is a cold.
stern facS analysis ofthe situation will clearly
reveal The attention VI the people Is directed
70 the fact that there is an element or faction of
the democrats party in this state which ia the
nominating convention last year. opposed every
effort made by the silver 20 pass resolutions
favorable to the free coinage Of silver opposed
as a unit the nomination OF silver men a. cand
dates ioT the legislature, and to the state and
congressional conventions delegates who favored
the free coinage Of silver and the other Geciara-
tons Ofthe Chicago platform. It is fresh in the
minds OF all democrats that at the ocala conven-
ton the passage Of free silver resolution was
defeated by The meu aud influences that now
seek to control the democrats party nd to elect
a gold, corporation puppet to the United States
senate Some of these men came out openly aud
opposed the Chicago platform and the national
democratic nominees while others, with more
policy but less principle. pretended to accept the
inevitable, and though heretofore opposed to the
Tree coinageof silver aud the other declarations
OF the Chicago platform, pretended to accept the
same and have since pronounced in favor of this
declaration Of democratic principles Attention
Is called 10 the fact that while these men pro
iessed adherence to the Chicago platform, yet in
every vote which they have recorded or in ev-
cry act which they have been called upon to per
form, that vote and act have been Enthusiastically
opposed TO their declarations 1t is known that
though these men were apparently divided in
allegiance to the democratic party-some with
great reluctance, pretending to accept the plat
form Of principles and the pzrty nominees
while others aligned themselves under the
Palmer and Buckuer banner-yet in the contest
now on for the election of a United states sena.
ator' they are cheek by jowl together for the at
tainment Of their common end-the election of a
gold man to the senate.
Let the situation be further anaIvzea Messrs
Plant, Flagler and Duyal control, respectively,
the Plant, East Coast aud Florida Central & Pc
nnsular system Of railroads in this state and are
known TO be republican in name and principle,
They are gold men of the most pronounced
type. Hon, John A. Henderson recently an.
pointed United states senator, is vice-president
Of the Florida Central & Peuinsular system
These meu are acting together for the further
ahce OF common eud. Aud, aside from their
weiknown views. Mt. Duval in an interview
held few days since with representative OF
The Tampa Daily Times, unequivocauv de.
eiared hifnselfi Ia favor OF the gold standard aud
In that interview, among other things, said that
the Intelligent people Of Florida were in iavsr Of
the gold standard. and that il was depiorahle
that the ignorant masses seemed to be other
wise, that, as a consequence, the tide Of McKin-
ley prosperity had not touched the state borsiers
as yet, and would be a long time in coming and
that the people Of Europe were ON that account
reiuctant TO lend money here. Mr. Henderson
about the same time, in an interview published
in the Savannah News. was not giving ont his
financial views but thought he might be as near
bilaetaiiist anything else His appoint-
ment, however Is regarded by the organs as a
gold victory. Appropos thereof. the New York
Advertiser. gold republican paper has this to
say
There Is every reason TO believe that Col
ouei Henderson is gold democrat at heart.
aud We therefore hope that the senate of N.
United States viii seat him promptiy-if
for other reason, ia order that Florida.
lof few weeks at least, may have proper
representation in that body
uisa fact well known here in jacksonville aud
one which demands the thong htfui consideration
Of the people. that the Times-Uuion and cite,
professedly democratic papefs, are owned and
controlled BY Plant Fiagief aud DnvaI. II is a
mere question Of policy in the fnrtheranee Of the
aims Of these schemers 10 call these papers dem.
o-ratie journals. peFusai Of their columns il
snficient 20 show any thoughtful man that shei,
teachings are altogether opposed to free siiys,
and the other vital principles Of the Chicago
platform. The connection of Mr.. Henderson
with the Florida Central & Peninsular railroad
his relations with these three eminent repubii
cans. aud ms past and present afiisiiou with til,
golf and corporation eieuent IN the democrati,
party. show his political status aud his appoint
msnt as seastor BY Governor Bioxham ought /,