Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-02-20
Mr.. Martin Replies.
Mr.. Editor:

| L nave always JO1nCu uGhQ tuu
heart with money and talk, as
best l could, in the furtherance OF
every public enterprise that /
conscientiously believed was OF
that nature that would Subsidizt
to the channels Of public prospect
ty.
My friends and fellow citizens, l
beg to confirm every statement Ill
my former communication, and /
hope that whel you come TO exer.
else the paramount right of every
American citizen, to be heard al
the ballot box, that you will use
this high perogative in perfect and
stern accord with Your own con,
scientious conceptions of what you
believe to be consistent, publicpro-
gressiveneSs. Deliberate upon
what rights and attainments you
yourself would like to enjoy, anu
nave the moral stamina AMI patriot
ism to help others to possess the
same privileges, and you will con-
tribute to the weaving OF d fab
rio of freedom that the silver shoe
morse Of the despot will never
Urample under his unhalloed feet.
These things are far more real
than sentimental. Ii you want
nation Of patriots than anarchists
protect them i'll their liberty AM
The pursuit OF individual happines
and prosperity. A government o.
happy and prosperous people is
far more stable than a rich govern
ment of poor, oppressed subjects.
You may think we are shooting
Dig guns at small things, but | tel
you we are ON the very foundation
vi principle that we should ob.
serve with the greatest care ana
conscientious consideration IL
every step of even our private as
well as our public administrations.
The aggregate OF long line Of eveh
small abuses are unbearable, anu
1T was this that led our fOre-fath
ers to unload the English tea into
the sea, and the declaration that
we are born equal, and have the
lnalienable right of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
This same streak of overriding a
thing was in Adam and Eve, aud
they have kept all their prosperity
ousy bruising snake heads ever
since, and, because your humble
servant undertook to point out to
mis- fellow citizens a hydra headed
reptile that is coiling to faSten his
f4ngs into juglar veins of the body
polite, and poison the channels o
public moderation, Col Mercer
thinks we are unprogressive ana
lop sided (ecccntric).
i wish to say, however, that
feel very much gratitied at the
very cordial endorsement Of my
article by almost every one viii
whom l have yet to find the tirsl
one who agrees with the promoters
of the proposed bond issue.
l tell you, my fellow citizens,
and you well know it, tnat twenty
five thousand dollars will build "a
mighty fine, as well as most sub
stantial building, commodlous Ill
all of its apartments and ample Ill
It's protection and accom- odation OF
every public interest, if every
dollar hits the spot, and when II
is all needed, it shoots heap
straighter. There are not three
other men in the county who want
more for q dollar than the three
we have for our commissioners, un-
less it is Brother Jake Luke, who
always ask if you can't do a little
better, and WOot Dorminy, who
always says, Che can beat that"
[ therefore guarantee that we will
get our moneys worth if we Cali
make these fellows feel that they
are little short of enough.
1t has been suggested that if the
bonds do not carry, the commits
sioners might fix a tax rate Suf1i-
GENTLY high to raise the eighty
thousand dollars they want, and
proceed to the building ola pala-
tiol gateway to chaingangs, peni-
tentiaries and the galIows, regard
less OF the protest of their consti-
tuency. This l do not believe for
d moment they would do. They
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