The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-02-06
Once The Governor Of South Carolina;
Ceday a Cramp and In Prison.


week ago Ex-Governor Franklin J. Moses, of
South Carolina, was sentenced in a Boston police
court to four months in the House of Correction at
Dear Island. Back of this is life story, strange
dramatic, pathetic, which teaches powerful moral
The downfall of Franklin J. Moses from the So
cal and political influence of chief executive of a
state to tramp convicted of passing a worthless
check is directly traced to opium. The only son of
wealthy and influential parents, Moses had every
possible advantage. His father chief Justice of
the state Of South Carolina, his mother distin-
guished southern beauty. Tall, handsome, of dis
tnguished presence gifted with exceptional talents,
prestige and wealth, Franklin J. Moses madea dash
ing soldier and later an able statesman. That was
thirty years ago.
Today he is the ruin of his former self, bowed
down, haggard and pitiful. His picture is the
rogues gallery. He has neither friends nor money.
He says of himself:
Nv hair is white, my skin is Drowned and sea-
soned my cheeks are hallowed, my frame is shrunk-
en- and my hands are palsied like man of eighty.
Worse than all, my reputation as a man among men
is gone Opium and morphine the twin curses of
my life were not content with undermining my
health. 1t is years since have tasted either of
them But the work of destruction they began all
the destructive forces of nature, disease and APP
proohing age have helped to carry on. The begin
ming of my downfall was rot when lost my polti-
cal position Of governor of the state OF South Caro-
lima.
Political revefses come to all men in public life
Ny real ruin dated from the time that the most
brilliant part of my career began. In 1873 | had
just been elected governor-the youngest man who
ever held that position in my native state-at the
age of thirty. l had fought my way up to that po-
siton to speaker of the state house of representa-
tives and other offices against the biterest oppo
sition. l had been in the Confederate army, but
had become Republican as a matter of principle
That was equivalent to being called traitor by the
aristocracy Of my state. At the outset of my ad-
mnstration l was subject to social ostracsm. 1t
was extended to my family and friends My Ma
sonic brothers would not speak to outside of the
lodge room. l held my head high and tried to ig-
more the taunts and humiliations that were heaped
upon at me at evey turn. My nerves gave way.
could not sleep.
To one of my particular friends confded my
sufferings of mind and body. "My GodP' he said
why do you 60 this way? Take some morphine
and sleep" That fried, who thought he Civ.
ing me the best of brotherly advice was Major ]. B
Dennis, formerly of Norwich, Conn, who went tc
South Carolina to settle after the l took the
advice and sent messenger to the apothecary that
evening for the drug. Nov will sIeepl" | cried
exultantly that night before going to bed poised
bit of the white stuff on the point of penknift
before taking the dose From that my downfall
dated, and l am what you me today-waiting
for death to ferry over the dark river.-N.
Journal.