The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-06-01

per and much larger population before
a daily newspaper received the assoc
ciated press service. Now her news
papers take rank with any in the
United States.
Just after the last state convention
was held in Jacksonville the Ocala
Banner spoke as follows of the enter
prise shown by the Times Union then
the Times Union and Citizen.
1t said:
'sThe Ocala Banner praises and ap-
plauds the Times Union and Citizen
for the splendid service 1t rendered
the democratic state convention re-
Gently held in Jacksonville.
Every resolution, all the planks
of the platform, every ballot, every
speech made upon the floor of the
convention were printed in full in the
columns of this newspaper the next
morning.
Had such enterprise been ex-
hibfted fifteen or tewnty years
ago it would have been look
ed upon as a wonderful achievement
and would have merited and received
a vote of thanks from the convention
and the unstinted praise OF the people
OF Florida
THAT the enterprise shown by the
Time-Union and Citizen received no
such vote nor applause and it's marvel
Gus service was looked upon as a mere
matter of course, was, in itself, the
highest compliment that could have
been paid it.
"The Ocala Banner. which has been
set down as being 'fornist it," takes
profound pleasure in laying this
humble tribute at the feet of Editor
George
Democrats. republicans, populists
and socialists may entertain their own
opinion of it's editorial utterances but
as a newspaper the Times-Union and
Citizen is easily the equal of any In
the south and as such is credit to
the state of Florida"
We now have two daily newspapers
in Jacksonville. four in Tampa, two
in Pensacola, three in Miami, two in
Ocala, two in Key West. one in Gaines
Vile, one in Live Oak, one in Talla-
hassee and one in Orlando.
The late w. c. Brann, Of the Texas
Iconoclast, said somewhat contemptu-
ously that every man in the United
States who was able to purchase an
apronful of type and an army press
set up a printing office and like the
fly on the driving wheel of locomo-
tive engine imagines that he is re-
volving the world on it's axes.
Despite Mr.. Brann's adverse criti-
cism cannot help thinking of Mr..
Jefferson's exalted idea of the press
which is so familiar that it is almost
trite to say that he said that he pre-
ferred a government without an army
to a government without newspapers y
"One splendid rose makes fragrant all
the room;
The suns small disc how many
worlds doth light!
SO may a word through centuries of
gloom
Be as a torch by night"
Having spoken briefly of the news
papers of Florida if you will indulge
me I shall add that in the develop
ment of the world and in its onward
march / think that the newspapers
will Occupy a place very near and per-
haps in the forefront of the school, the
pulpit and the forum, and the news
papers of Florida will contribute their
full share to this end.
l have sometimes wondered If an
inhabitant from some other planet
who had never heard of the story of
creation as told so simply and sub
timely in Genesis, if by some miracu-
lous force were thrown suddenly and
safely on to our earth, what would be
his thoughts?
Seeing man as he is, ascertaining
what he was, and, step by step, keep
ing pace with his achievements from
the time he was inhabitating caves,
clad in the skins of animals, with a
club in his hand as his only weapon
of protection, until the present mo-
ment. what think you would be his
opinion concerning man?
The Mexicans and Peruvians, after
having reached a high state of civil
lization, when they beheld the Span
ish invaders, mounted as they were
on horses, believed them to be gods.
The American Indians, when they
beheld Columbus and his sailors,
thought them to be supernatural be-
ipgs sent down from heaven on the
wings of the wind
Why should not this visitor from
another planet, seeing the wonderful
achievements of man, the marvellous
creations of his brain and HE ba3ds