The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-12
GOVERNOR FLEMING
REPLIES TO ALLIANCE
GilchTist Always High Toned Honor
able Gentleman.


Editor of the Times. Union: There
have been occasions In other sections
of the country where ministers Of the
Gospel have combined to use the ofice
of their sacred calling and their
churches to enter the arena Of politics,
notably during the fanatical crusade
against slavery, which resulted In a
division Of some of the churches, but,
so far as l am aware we now nave
the first innovation of such methods
in the fair State Of Florida, as Is man
ifested in An Address to the God-fear-
ing People Of Florida, sent out by pas
tors of certain churches IN Jackson
Vile, in their endeavor to use the in
fuence Of their churches aud their Of
| fees, dedicated TO the worshtp OF God,
| to secure the election Of Mr.. John n.
! G. Stockton as Governor Of Florida. Is
! this because his opponent Is man OF
such corrupt and moral life as to call
forth the condemnation of the Christian
| people? 1t would seem not, as they say,
1--WE do not wish to say one word
against the character Of their candi'
Permit me in this connection to say
that l have known Gen. Gilchrist intt-
mately for approximately twenty years;
he was on my military stan as gov
ernOr; he was with me on various so
cial occasions when temptations TO ex-
cessive drinking were not lacking, yet
never saw, knew or heard Of Gen. Gil
christ ever having been incorporate
in any sense of the word. He has al
ways conducted himself as an honor
able, high-toned gentleman and has al
ways been a welcomed guest In my
household.
More than a year ago, Gen. Gilchrist,
who had been repeatedly intrusted with
public Ofice by the people Of his county
who knew him best, announced his can
didacy for governor. His record on the
saloon question was that under the con-
stitutiOnal provision of local option In
his county, he voted against the sale
Of LIQUOR. The liquor question was
not injected into the campaign until
Mr. Stockton afterwards came into the
race and declared for State pTohibi-
ton. Was that from honest conviction?
Or was It because he thought It the
popular side? Those who have known
Mr.. Stockton for many years longer
than the clerical alliance are best able
to reach a conclusion as to this. Gen.
Gilchrist declared his adherence to the
Democratic doctrine of local option as
provided by the constitution, the fran
ers of which included the ablest and
most highly honored men in the State.
Samuel Pasco president, afterwards
United States Senator William A.
Blount A. e. Maxwell, member OF
congress. Confederate senator and
chief Justice Of the supreme court; r.
M. Randall, chief justice Of the supreme
court; w. II. Milton, son Of Governor
Milton, and father Of the present Sena-
tor; L. w. Bethel, lieutenant governor;
r. F. Taylor, chief justice. and w. A.
Hooker, justice of the supreme court;
John d. Broome, James F. Mcclellan
and John Malone, circuit judges; r. G.
Parkhill, John Westcott, A. L. Nc
Caskill, John c. Richard, John B. John
son, and William T. Weeks, and other
able and honored citizens Of the State,
most Of them gallant Confederate sold
iers. II Gen. Gilchrist Is to be con-
demned for his adherence to the con-
stitutiOn, condemn the men who framed
! Il, many Of whom All honoTed graves
and have left honored names. Are we
TO return in analogy to the appeal OF
a higher law" and the denunciatiOn OF
the constitution OF the United States
as "a league with death and a cove
nant Of slavery?
But, say the clerical alliance, Never
before In the history Of Florida have
the representatives Of the saloon inter.
ests so openly defied the moral elements
Of society and 80 boldly organized TO
seize control of the government Of the
State and so many OF the counties"
The limits Of this article will not per-
NIT me to quote at length their 'ad-
dress" Sufice TO say they 90 on to ring
the changes on the support Of Gen. Gil
christ by the saloon interests. They
appeal to the people to assist in pro
tecting our State from the clutches of
the saloon keepers.
They say "The Governor Of Florida
should not be an ungrateful man -"
The candidate supported by the sa-
loon interests will owe his election 70
those who elect him, and must be CRATE
ful TO them" Without saying 80 in
words, the only logical deduction from
the above remarkable code Of morals
which the clerical alliance enunciate
is that II Gen. Gilchrist, against whose
character they say not wordS is elect
ed by the influences OF the saloon In
terests, In. grateful recognition Of such
support he should prostitute his high
once, to reward them. | do not sub
scribe 20 such ethics. No matter by
whom he Is elected, Is he is an honest
man, as I know Gen. GilchriBt % be,
he will not use his ONCE improperly In
the interest of his supporters, whoever
they may be.
But let as see, IN the light Of the last
nrlrnnrn whnlhar m IA true That the