The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-09-28
THE CAREER OF
COLUMBUS DREW
In This Article Gel. RSbert W. Davis
Writes % . Han VIA DID FIOF.
ia VAluahls Services.
[RObsrt ". Davis IN Tampa Tribune.

LRobef W. Davis IA Tampa Tribunal
The wretched days of reconstruction
about which have heretofore written,
were to be brought to an end and q
long-suffering people were to be re-
deemed. The credit of the State was
gone, at home and abroad. The obi
cations Of the Commonwealth, the
counties and the municipalities, at the
deprecated value Of so cents on the
dollar and even less, and known under
the pseudonym Of "scrip" floated broad
cast as thick as leaves IN Vallombrossa.
. The revolution came in 1876 when the
Democratic party, with George F.
Drew, as It successful candidate for
Governor, wrested the power from
those who had used and abused it so
long. Governor Drew was Of Northern
birth and had been Union sympath-
ger during the war, but the Democrats
. of the State were willing to trust him.
He was man of high character and
unquestioned executive and business
ability When he took Office he knew
that serious problems confronted him.
A bankrupt States credit was to be
redeemed and a downward course
checked and changed. He determined
to surround himself with safe and able
advisers, and, as under the then exist
ing law, he had the power to appoint
his own cabinet, he called to his aid the
following patriotic Flordians: William
ID. Bloxham, to be Secretary of State,
Columbus Drew, Comptroller; Walter
Gwynn, Treasurer, George p. Raney,
Attorney General; Hugh A. Corley,
Commissioner of Lands and lmmigra-
ton; William p 'Haisley, Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction, and j. j. |
Dickson, Adjutant-General. All these |
except W. ID. Bloxham and George P. |
Raney have followed their chief to the |
other shore, lamented by a grateful
people. Since that time William d. |
Bloxham has himself given the State
Geo. P. Raney has graced the seat on
the Supreme Bench as Chief Justice.
Thousands will join me in wishing for
them long lives o. happiness and con-
tinued usefulness. For myself, l can
never cease to love and honor the men
who stood by US in the days that tried
mems souls.
"a Northern man by birth and a
Union man from principle" said Gov.
Drew in his inaugural address, Il rec
ognize that the Democracy of Florida,
in placing me in this position, demon
strate their desire for true and fra
ternal uuion Of all sections of our COM
mon country. That such union may be
firmly established and ever remain
peaceful, prosperous and happy, is the
hope of every patriot. And although
Florida in common with the other states :
Of the south, had been drinking the
dregs Of despair under the injustice of ,
ho tinaao fhaxr ,oovnnIad IN he |
sentiments with a heartfelt
Ameni The negroes of the State who ,
had been bhndly following those ad- ,
venturers who used them for their own ,
ends, recognized the change, and, in a /
held by them in Tallahassee, =
shortly after Governor Drew and his
cabinet took the reins Of government, t;
3aid, 1--WE are aware that recently in /,
our State, as well as throughout the :
whole south, a political revolution has
taken place, and it is our hope that now
The race issue in politics, with all it's ac- L
evils will pass away, and =,
hat Intelligence and integrity will DOM
nate without regard to color or pre- F
Jious condition.
No better selection for the important
md responsible Office of Comptroller
,ould have been made than that of Co y
DlGWs AuObku Vi lHC same
lame, he was not related to the Gov y
'rnoT, and was appointed TO this Office =
Decause of his unquestioned fitness and a
'ecause his name would inspire conf
ence at this critical time. Bloxham, v
Drew, Raney, Gwynn, Corley, Haisley =
nd Dickson for cabinet was a guar
nty Of honest and fair government
hat everyone Immediately recognized.
he public credit, as have said was "
one; incompetent officials had been 90
Olding sway, and public Office had not in
My not been considered a public v,
rust, as President Cleveland termed hi
!, but in too many instances had been d
private snap. Encouragement, waste r.
I'D extravaganza were everywhere OBJ oil
srvable, and genuine, unselfish, unal- is
yed patriots was almost unknown. IL
] some future paper / may ask II we p'
Ne not drifting on those times again. fr
o audit the accounts, 20 separate the on
aDeat from the chaf, 70 turn down un- In
20 eleims, 70 devise means of paying e
V Just ones, to look after the collec- I'll
on Of taxes, 20 guard the treasury
lese were the duties Of the new comp vi
Oller. That he met them all and that ON
} shared with the Governor and with ar
8 colleagues in the cabinet the great &c
OFk accomplished for Florida by that wi
ADMINISTRATION, will stand % his and In
Ieir everlasting credit. d,