The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-12-25


ourselves Of the mistakes and trials ana
preiudices Of the past that we avoid
their consequences for the future. we
believe such an occasion has come ana
that it is a duty to speak now when the
festal season demands our charity and
consideration, of a time when we vast
ed time and temper because we knew
not what we did. The men that the
State followed then are still alive and
may again assume the powers OF lead
ership at any favorable conjunction OF
fortuitous OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are in-
dicatiOns even now that they are pre-
pairing for another effort. Let Us re-
fuse to forget.
The Tallahassee True Democrat Is the
representative paper Of the States cap
ital-at nearly every point it also rep
resents the best element of the party
controlling the State-The True Demo
crat wants a man and has this to say:
"The Florida East Coast railroad has
made almost a paradise of former UNI
inhabitable section of country and con-
tributed millions of dollars to the taxa
BILE wealth Of the State. What this road
has done for South Florida would be
done for the West Coast, and even
more, If a road was built along the en-
tire West Coast from Tallahassee to
and beyond Tampa. The West Coast
has many peculiar advantages Of Its
own, and advantages not equaled any
where on the American continent. 1t
lis not necessary to enumerate them here,
but they can be seen, felt and heard by
all men who become acquainted with
the conditions. The entire State, and
peculiarly the Eastern section OF 1t,
owes a debt Of gratitude to Mr. Flagler.
Who will be the great man who will
come along and build such road from
Tallahassee to Tampa?"
If such man came forward and Of
fered 10 build such road at his own
expense and at his own risk; If he sup
plemented the roadway with the finest
system of tourist hotels on the earth
1 if he offered inducements to immigrants
/. and did everything possible to an over
. flowing purse and heart bigger thar
!, an imperial treasury ever was to i'm
prove the country through which hi
road ran and to help the people along
the line-if he set up expositions anC
helped 70 build churches and endowed
schools and sent boys to college-woulC
+. such a man now be called the enemy o.
n the people and a foe to progress and
d the oppressor of the weak and the res
/. of it? We are not saying that suel
d things ever were known anywhere ex
l. cept in Lilliputis, but we ask for infor
Is nation. If the man The True Demo
is crat wants would be received with opei
j. arms as a friend and allowed TO do hi
work unhindered by popular abuse an
E. political intrigue? If 80, let as know
q. If not, let the argument be threshe
v out now and let US hear why not.
g may be that Floridians have been laugh
rs by hard experience some distrust
~ those leaders who teach enmity and St
y. up abuse of those who come among Z
en- to spend money and brains On works
n develOpment--if so who taught then
es Whose quiet dignity refused to band
ct words with, the mud-slingers-Wh0'
re conduct and work and character hay
IL 80 impressed US that we have dropped
r. prejudice, changed our opinions and a
now ready to do justice?
le- The True Democrat wants San
ne Clause to visit the West Coast this yea
at We hope he will, and that he may be
70 good as the developer and friend of Z
Oh East Coast. To the ore who is with
la we wish a merry Christmas and maj
IS returns of the day; to the other we wi
ne an early appearance and much pro
ne from the lessons the pioneer has taug
On our people. Jacksonville Times-Unie
To- The True Democrat believes that t
'en people of Florida are appreciatiVe
MI the great good accomplished for {
-se State by Henry NJ. Flagler, and a sec
mt or more Of others like him who ha
ng been lesser lights in the development
nj its resources.
- The purposes and plans Of a great
"a veloper are frequently misunderstood
ui the beginning, and unfriendly CRITICS.