The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-02-05
SENATOR TALIaFERRo'S LETTER.

TIC hAan NAo - ~ tanulNdtc lbi al VI
fice in Florids, especially for an emf
Dent office, Ghich others are also
seeking, no matter how commendable
he may be, is running a gauntlet
where ssndbags, brickbats, rotten
eEEs, dope and mud are in industrious
hands ready to basic him and bruiss
him until nothing but physical siren
BOusness ana civic purity ingrained
IN his mortal make up will preserve
him from political blood poisoning
Mr. Hsnis's catalogue Of high crimes
and instantaneous against the prin-
clples of Florida dc mocrscy which he
finds that Nj. TaliaferrO's enemies
charge him with, must have made a
q busy day for the senator when he
went Mountaineering them, for evil
scatters like bad SEED on the wind and
travels fast. Probably no statesman
or politician in the country gets more
OF pOItuniif,s and prOvOcatiOns 10 de-
fend himself against all manner of
fhIse charges, and does less defending
than Senator Plat, OF New York
state. his meIhCd Of meeting his
entnits seams 10 gOwell with him,
how, yer, and n WOULD seem that SEN
stOr TuliaieTro might copy the
method md come out Of the war be-
ing waged against him With the
v,iitst minimum al satisfaction to
hjstHtmIes. But such n status Is one
of The premiums of craftsmanship
that takes longer than one senatorial
term 20 gain. The fact Of men nav.
ing entmies j. n sign of merit. This
issna nci, nj Idea, IL is true, tut The
race Of statesmen will perish when
there are no new applications fer the
idea.
MIR. Harris's letter il oppOrtune. IL
IL well for man to know what his
emmy says about him, aud to answer
him, especially when there must
necessarily be- some who are willing
10 beiieve what the enemy says. Thus
tits Mr.. : ockton has Proclaimed Mr.
Tallaferro a. unworthy 10 be our
JUNIOR senator, and by an earnes ness,
iBdeed a passion worthy OF a better
cause, and 10y an appeal To the senss-
live ear Of that poverty which il ever
ready now 60 hear its own justifica-
tiOn accounted for 10y charging it to
the SUCCESS Of the thrifty, this i'm
patient but hopeful candidate for Mr..
Tahaferro's position has corralled a
following which will not be numerous
enough for success, yet sufficient in
the importance that comes Of re-
spectacle either ship Of Florida TO
command The respectable attention
and truthful explanation of Mr.. Talis-
ferrO.
A minimCm Of greatness a mini
mum OF mediocrity, and a maximum
hi inutility in men born for politics
seems in many cases equally altrac.
tive for the elective franchise as Is the
maximum of greatness. It's poor
excuse OF "A candidate that has no fol-
lowing, as political incidents, ac-
cidenis and miracles reveal. Just 30
with Mr.. Stockton.
The nine counts i'm the indictment
formed by Mr.. Stockton which Mr..
Harris says forms the basis Of the
charges Of high crimes and misde-
meanOrs of the senator against The
party whose vote he anticipates Cor
composing his election not only in
volve the political, but the person al
integrity Of Mr.. TalsferrO AS SEN
atOr, citizen and as democrat.
Mr.. stockton were able TO prove
them, then, indeed, he may he said
TO not only be doing the state some
service, but protecting the demoors-
tie party Of Florida from a traitor.
But. on the other hand, if Mr.. Stock
ton does not prove these charges, then
what is his position before the atate
rs a citizen and as member of the
democratic party? Is it any bet er
than that i'm which he has SO passion
ately sought To place Mr.. Taliaferro?