The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-11-09
GRAVES TRIBUTE TO HEARST.
"rhis IS the day big with the fate of Cato and
ofRome."

''THis Is the day big with the fate Of Cato and
Democracy and true reform are in
a mighty balance in the ballots OF
today.
Win or lose, the great American
who leads the fortunes Of democra-
cy, has fought the best and bravest
battle that the times have known
Against all forms Of greed and
graft Against malignant Islander
and unprincipled abuse; against the
treason Of friends worse than the
wrath of enemies; against the mail
ed hands of his own political house
hold-with the world weight OF the
trusts and syndicates against him
with the chorus voices of the mighty
press deafening him-steadily, stead.
fly, dauntlessly and with the consum-
mate energy and devotion, he has
fought ON and Onto the end which
the night will bring-an end which no
man knows and whose meaning no
prophet can foreshadow.
Long ago when the star of this
man famed upon the frs htorizen of
our public life, there was something
in his method and personality that
enamored US. The man who did things
has always been the man Of our
dreams and fancies. The element Of
dreamer and prophet in ourselves
magnified the man OF action in the
person of this strange young man
who. fresh from college and without
experience. had startled San Fran
cisco and New York with his journal
istic success.
And then as he grew greater, be-
gan that marvellous and malevolent
stream of calumny which never yet
has flowed so fast and furious against
any public man since Aaron Burr. Do
you who read recall in this connec-
ton that William Hearst never yet
has spoken word in protest or denial
OF this tidal wave Of SANDER? He sim
ply let it roll-"rolI in and roll on
and roll past him forever"-as it has
rolled past him now.
In this period of his life the editor
of the Georgian was staggered by
the things that were told OF him. and
in this conflict between dark rumor
and daily admiration, We solved all
doubts by sight and association. For
some weeks in Washington and New
York we studied this man at close
range and without alloy Of interest,
We found him the head of home,
ideal and idyllic. We found him the
master of a household personal and
professional that worshipped him
for his loving kindness TO them all.
From the last servant in his home TO
the first employee in his Office there
was enduring love and faith and con-
firdence in the master and employer.
We found him the son Of grand old
lion-hearted philanthropist OF the
west who, whether in the mining
camps Of Nevada, or in the senate at
Washington, was the comrade, friend
and helper of every worthy man in
all the world. We found him the son
mans heart had flowed for half a
century in an even stream of gentle
charities that made her loved and
trusted wherever the gospel Of help
was known.
Then, may IT please you, my
countrymen, who have done us the
honor to believe us sincere-then we
have locked in our hearts beyond Sian
der or misrepresentation TO remove
the serene and enduring faith, that
since Lincoln lived and Jefferson
died, no man has loved-loved, tel
you-the plain people of this republic
as this great democrat and patriot
whose honor and opportunity New
York holds in her civic hands today.
But win or lose, in victory and de
feat, here's to you, William Randolph
Hearst! The world is better and tht
people are already happier and free
| for your life. You have shaken the
temples of mammon, and the Gibal
tars Of privilege no longer smile com
placent at the peoples wall. No de
feat for you can dim the recollection
of the terror which your magnificen
crusade has carried TO the selfisl
ramparts of monopoly. You have al
ready won more than any knight o
liberty has won in fifty years. If you
great heart is bowed by the verde
which the night may bring, remem
Der that there is a refiuent SHADOW
upon the Piedmont hills of Dixie.
And God save you, and God bles
you!-John Temple Graves in tn
Georgian.