The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-10-13
THE rIApNESS OF owl.

| huUlan uhbuEe 10 dDOub Tic habS
throughout all of the generations of
men that have existed since the world
began. The intoxication which attends
the possession Of power over ones fell
lows political, religious or financial-is
one Of the most powerful weaknesses-
to use an apparent paradox which the
human understanding is capable Of ex-
periencing.
The petty politician who aspires to be
"boss," and who initiates in his puny
way the methods Of influential" polit-
ical leaders whose arbitrary control over
mssses Of voters excite his most ardent
admiration, is but an example Of the
consuming thirst for power which actu-
ates both great and small alike.
AS David Graham Phillips, a thought
full and popular writer, has recently
said: 1.-THE custodian Of concentrated
power may be an enthusiast like Nor
gan, or a cold and stomach-like Rookie
Teller, or a suddenly crazed Schwab or
Gates; he may be a professional cor
ruptiOnist, a Platt or Croker; he may
be Dowie or chief man of a Mormon
church; he may be a Debs or a Sam
Parks. The condition Of the possession
Of power produces always the same re-
suit of delirium, dangerous delirium
Some are mad for money; others are
mad for fame, which they cannot dis
tinguish from notoriety; others again
have the desire TO rule in it's simplest
form But they all go the same way.
whatever their motives, the
net result is the same rule or RUM"
An Unsuitable thirst for power is in
separable from an insane hunger for
money, which not only helps to gain
power, but is one Of its principal re-
suits; and the character of the means
used for procuring both naturally be-
comes a matter Of Indifference to the
victim Of the delirium The political
boss who bends the will, IL not the con-
sciences, Of his associates TO the pro
motion Of his individual purposes is apt
10 reward them for their complacence
by allowing them minor driblets Of
power or opportunities for the unlawful
acquiring OF money. This is the mean
ing of the new and eminently express
i've word which has recently been in
cOrpOrated into our language - graft, ="
Until quite recently the average Flor
idan would have regarded as an insult
10 hiR State an intimation that graft
was possible within it's borders as a
prerogative Of official position, Indi-
vidual officials in isolated cases had oc-
casionally gone wrong" but always
with prompt and effective measures en-
suing 10 save the public from loss and
prevent possible repetitions of disaster.
Not until a vicious and irresponsible
local faction, by methods which would
not bear the searchlight Of investiga-
ton, succeeded in imposing upon the
Democratic party Of the State a candi-
date for governor whose peculiar char
acteristics were widely known enough
TO alarm the masses. and who, rather,
was generally regarded as tricky but
harmless" did Florididns realize that
they had adopted into the political fam
| lily u Rrebrand that was to ovcrturn all
previously conceived id 'as Of public
virtue and civic worth, and inaugurate
carnival of personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
fortified by such power AS belonged to
high official position.
The sequel of this disastrous political
error has been abundantly manifested
! in the succession of subsequent events.
some Of which The True Democrat has
cndeavored to set forth in such plain
/ language that che who runs may read,
and others Of which remain to be ex-
plotted as time and opportunity may
| permit
Just now, we earnestly desire to in
woke the thoughtful and patient cOnsid.
GRAFTON Of our contemporaries of the
State press to the series Of perform
ances attributed To the Jennings ad-
ministration az thus far exposed and
discussed. and to urge them to carefully
test the truth of what has been said OF
/ them, to the end that a concensus Of
opinion may ensuc that will enable the
Democratic press of Florida to unite in
D 4 l.