The weekly true Democrat., 1907-01-25
STRENUOUS DAYS M
LAND OF FL0wTRS
Raitor q. n. I1eIAsosh Gives SSns
Past and Present Impressions
81 Ploriaa.


Panacea Springs, Fla, Jan. IA
Leaying Albany at 8 o'clock in the
morning, taking the Central of Georgia
to Arlingtony and there transferring to
the Georgia, Florida and Alabama, one
can reach Sopchoppy at o'clock in the
afternoon. From Sopchoppy it is a
two hours run on a tram car drawn by
horses to Panacea Springs on Dickin-
sons bay. Here is the finest mineral
water TO be found on the Gulf coast,
and the sportsman, whether he be q
Nimrod or q disciple Of Sir IEaac Wal
ton, will find game and fish in abund-
anee. On the black jack ridges that
extend TO within half mile Of the
marsh aats, quail are about Rs plentiful
HB in the pihey woods OF South Geor-
gia, and IN the bay ducks and geese may
be seen In great hocks. Seeing ducks
and geese and getting within gunshot
two very different propositions, how
ever. To get the geese one must 60
out before daylight and take q stand at
some point in the marsh grass which is
supposed to be within the zone Of
flight, while those who want TO shoot
ducks must put out decoys and hide
within gun range and wait for the game
to come. The fishing in the bay is
fairly good, and in the fresh water
lakes close by a good fisherman can
have excellent sport.
This was my first visit to Tallahassee
in thirty years, and from memory 8
stOrehouse had resurrected the scenes
and incidents of perhaps the most
strenuous period and important political
crisis in the history of not only Talla.
hassee, but the State of Florida and
our great American republic as we'll.
1t was as a staff correspondent Of the
Savannah News that / went into the
State of Florida in the summer of 1876
to report the stirring scenes and devel-
Opments Of the memorable State and
national political campaign of that
year Florida had been redeemed from
earpet-bag rule, and the State was
without daily Democratic newspaper.
AS the representative Of Democratic
! paDer IN Georgia with an extensive cir
culatlon IN Florida, ! was, therefore,
received most cordially by the Demo
Gratis of the latter State, and followed
the Democratic electors and candidates
and orators to the various appointments
made by them throughout the State,
reporting their speeches and "whoOping
up" the Democratic cause.
1t was after the election and during
the memorable siege of political excite
ment in connection with the long and
now historic session of the returning
board that | spent six weeks in Talla-
hassee, and as this was my first visit to
the Capital City of Florida since that
time it was perfectly natural that my
mind should have reverted TO the Occa-
sion, the scenes and the prominent ac-
tors in the great political drama of
thirty years ago.
That was q strenuous and exciting
experience in my life And how things
have changed since then ! Going into
the Capitol did not find a single man
or Official who was there thirty years
ago. In the Office of the Commissioner
Of Agriculture, ably administered by
Hon. B. E. McLin, found my friend,
John G. Luning, an old Albany boy, and
soon ] was surrounded by . very pleas
ant company, including Judge HOcker,
of the Supreme Court. AS Inquired
after first one man and then another
who was prominent in State affairs
thirty years ago ] was soon impressed
by the fact that bat few of them are
= hVing. OF the residents Of Tallahassee
who wUf0 prominent In the campaign
or took aeeive part In the legal pro-
eOediaga and complications attending
the eanVassihg of the election returns
and declaring the result by the return
ing bOrad, only ex Governor w. d.
Bloxham and don. George p. Raney
now remain. There are probably seve-
raj other FloridIans still living who were
prominent in the campaign Of 1876, but
Of these ] can now recall only Hon.
Samuel PascO, of Monticello He was,
If my memUry 10 not at fault, chairman
of the State Democratic Committee in
1876, and was one Of the most active
and aggressive party men throughout
the trying period Of which am now
writing. Bloxham, Raney and PascO
have all been highly hOnored by the
people Of the State. BlOxham has been
twice elected Governor, has been Lieu
tenant-GoVernor and Comptroller, and
has perhaps held other elective Offices
Raney was made Attorney General un-
der Governor Drew, and was afterward
on the Supreme Court bench. and Psscc
was given two or three terms in the
United States Senate.
One Of the most dAShing and fearless
men who stood boldly for Democratic
principles and who dared 70 do anything
that seemed feasible or possible az that
time for the purpose Of reclaiming
Florida from the carpet bagRers and
s..a. NJ