The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-09-18


suffered. and Il was q knockout blow,
because at that time the paper was
self-suppOrting with q margin above
expenses IN It's earnings and never
siace that time has Il paid expenses.
But that happened nearly three years
Ggo, and THE SUN has lived since
that time and has been instrumental in
/ doing much Of evident and positive
good for good government, and I verify
believe that It has been a power against
the Vaccinations OF an evil element in
/ Florida politics Of which the average
: person can know nothing, or but lit
tie. Testimonials 10 this opinion have
been numerous; they have been given
In warm words of encouragement by
the best citizens; the mails have been
fruitful with them, and 1t Is likely
that the subscription list which has
been built up contains in the total at
least a three-fourths percentage among
people who felt that THE SUN embod-
fed in its weekly issues and its un-
swerving course the principles which
deserved support because therevwas an
evident need that they should be of
application and use In public affairs.
The people who subscribed for THE
SUN did not do 80 in order to get
newspaper, for Il never made any pre-
tensions to being a Newspaper; Il was
launched as a journal Of cartoon and
comment, yet 1t was more than that,
for both the cartoons and the COM
ment we're directed in one channel and
for the accomplishment OF one great
object, that purpose being the better.
ment OF public AFFAIRS, and In this
scope II was broad enough to include
the many matters Of public concern
to which a public journal may be le.
ultimately devoted.
In summing up the work of the
paper by scanning its files and weigh
ing the needs for the reforms Il has
advocated and the remedies Il has sug-
gested, l do not think that anyone can
say that it has not breathed the es-
sence Of sincerity for the public good.
IL mas advanced the cause Of individ-
uals only when they represented the
cause OF good for the public service.
On the other hand, individuals have
been condemned only when they repre-
sented bad principles that threatened
III to the public service.
There will not be many TO agree
that deyoting ones efforts to the bet
terment Of the social and political
fabric at the expense Of ones own
purse and to the jeopardy of ones lib !
erty is a good thing to do. II cannot
be concluded from individual expe-
riences that the individuals who have
~ent their energies and endeavors In F.
this wise have proflted by them. Ger
in am I that Claude L'Engle has /.
gained nothing in shillings and pence. f.
but he has lost much which might .
now be invested to his advantage If he .
had refrained from doing the things
that he has done for the common good:
that he has accomplished some good
for his State and its people there is no
doubt And some Of this will be last
ing, for the public has been awakened
TO the existence Of evil influences on
egislatiOn; Ii has been aroused to the
malignant public character of some
men who have been foremost in its
lnairs, and these influences have been 1
weakened by his courage in attacking
hem and these men have been re-
strained from their nefariOus practices
because they could no longer do SO in
he light and fear of exposure. Honest
men do not fear light or libel, for there
S certain and severe punishment for !
he journalist who goes after an indi-
'idual without a bulwark Of facts TO /
support his charges. There has been
10 scattering OF scandal, no raking OF
muck no parading Of private affairs,
10 iconoclasm In THE SUN. It has
'een a source Of sorrow that some in
ending friends of the paper have at
lines so mistaken the character Of [
he paper as to bring forward the ]
Of their fellows as a sub.
ect for treatment in its columns. or I
nave approached the editorial chair ]
With request to suppress publication {
II the misdeeds OF mere individuals.
)ut there have not been many to uues-
Ion the real service that the paper (
las rendered, or to doubt the good
motives that prompted its attacks
when attacks we're made.
With the evidence in, what, then, is
% be the reward Of the reformer? to
'e doubted and maligned by some and
o be accorded credit by a few; to fret
lnder the delay Of success and suffer
he sting Of defeat; to waste the work 1
II heart and mind and hand, and wei.
.ome In the end
rest
For brow and brain and breast"
ind to have the reward Of a good con-
science with a score of victories tai
led against a more numerous string OF
ailures
But let no one think that these
objections are OF the somber hues that (
shade the farewells Of the school girl
This Is q swan song. Ills I