The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-06

The following open letter from
Hon. John s. Beard is seif-explana-
tory:
Hon. Frank Harris, Editor Banner,
Ocala, Fla
MY Dear Mr. Harris: The Banner
of the End inst, in an editorial under
the caption. Shall we sell our her
itage for mess of pottage? after
criticising the Hon. S. NJ. Sparkman
and Frank Clark. for attempting to
secure protection on Sea Island cot
ton, tobacco, oranges, etc., says:
But last and worst scene of all.
Mr.. John S. Beard. a member of the
Florida state senate and late can
iidate before the democratic primar-
les of this state for United States
senator, is proposing that the people
of The south take no further part in
national politics except to elect presi-
Dental electors, and put them up, as
the Lake City Index expresses II to
the highest bidder, and sell them to
either party that will offer the most
for them.
"'Mr. Beard says give these cleo
toral votes to the party that will guar
antee to the south most of the things
she withdrawing, perhaps, in view
OF the agitation now going on, the
largest measure of protection to her
products and the largest slice from
the official pie counter
You evidently have not read, the
article you so severely criticise, but
have derived your only knowledge of
it from the unfair and unfriendly
constructions placed upon it by some
of the state press. | enclose you
the Pensacola Journal containing the
article in full. As a fair and candle
man, know that you will see at once
that you have done me great inJus-
tice. Can you find anything in that
article TO justify the statement that
Mr.. Beard says give these electoral
votes TO the party that will guaran-
tee to the south most of the things
she wants-meaning, perhaps, in view
of the agitation now going on, the
largest measure of protection to her
products and the largest slice from
the official pie COUNTER
Upon the contrary, do l not dis
tinctly say, The south can enforce
those principles of democracy which
had their birth in the constitution by
holding the balance of powerT
HAS protection of private indus
tries any place in the constitution?
Is it a principle of democracy?
again. do l not distinctly say, The
south holding the balance of power,
can decide elections in favor of that
party or section which hews closest
to the constitution, and which recog-
nizes each southern state as the full
and perfect equal of every other state
in the union and accords them their
full constitutional rights Is this a
suggestion to put the electors OF the
south up tto the highest bidder and
sell them to either party that will
offer the most Tor them2'
Again. do 1 not say that the south
can in this way bring the government
back to the constitution of the faith
ers? Is there any suggestion in
this that is an abandonment of the
principles of democracy, the consu-
tuition of our country. or to sell the
electors of the south to either party
that will give TO the south the most
in the way of protection to her indus
tries?'
After reading this article in its en-
tirety. can YOU say that there Is in
it, or in a single sentence, even when
taken from the context, suggestion
that warrants the criticism in your
editorial? Is not a political party
only means to secure desired ends!
Were not the administration OF the
federal government in accord with
the federal constitution and the Sc
curing of equal justice to all and
special privileges to none the great
ends which Jefferson had in view
when he organized the Democratic
republican party? Are not the sug-.
gestions I make in the article You
criticise simply to adopt a method
intended to secure those ends-1the
administration of the government in
accord with the constitution of the
fathers and equal Justice to all and