The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-30
SPEAcH OF HON. JOHN L. Nicely
Placing In Nomination Hon. Dunean
y. Fletcher for the U. s. Senate.

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y. Fletcher for the y. 5. Senate.
Hon. John L. Nicely, of Leon county,
placing Duncan u. Fletcher in nomi-
nation for the United States Senate
before the house on Tuesday said:
"Agan, the hands of time have
swept across the dial, marking the
passage Of time 10 the arrival of this
hour when we, as the representatives
Of the people Of Florida and by their
direction, assemble for the purpose Of
choosing a Federal Senator 10 represent
them in the National Council Halls.
And this, indeed, Is a great distinc
ton to the one upon whom it is con-
ferred, for IL is generally conceded to
be that of all the successes of our Fed
eral Constitution, the Senate Of the
United States is undoubtedly the
greatest.
So steadily has it grown in popular
favor, not only in this country, but
abroad, that it has come at last to be
recognized as the greatest legislative
body on the face Of the earth; it has
served to a better extent the purposes
Of its creation than has any other or
ganization under our Constitution, and
has done more 10 justify our faith and
the wisdom Of our fathers as fOunda-
ton layers for a mighty superstucture
Of government; II has cast q greater
radiance on the intellectual zone Of
American politics and craftsmanship
through succeeding generations this
day, than all the achievements Of other
governmental institutions combined.
Partaking, as 1t does, ofsthe legisla-
tive, executive and judicial functions
of the government, IL has served to
check eXtremism in the other branches
and mold sound legislation.
IL is therefore not surprising that as
the years have rolled on, the people
have awakened to the Importance of
carefully preserving the high standard
of this great body by taking into their
own hands in a large measure the
selection Of those 10 be distinguished
by having this great honor conferred
on them
And great indeed il that man who,
measured by the jealous scrutiny Of
his felly citizens, 80 wins their conf
dence as 10 be lifted by them to this
high elevation, where he must stand
in the limelight az q chosen champion
TO battle for their conviction while the
world Razes upon him, national figure.
And great must be the appreciation
that wells in the heart Of man when
he reflects upon the great honor that
is conferred upon him by the people Of
his commonwealth.
And. Sir, when that commonwealth
is one to inspire every high and holy
sentiment in the bosom of man, II is
beyond the power Of human magma
ton 20 conceive the splendid emotions
that must stir his hearts depths. as he
looks out upon the fairest land that
Gods sun ever shed his rays upon, as
he thinks Of her splendid progress and
of her great future. the welding Of
which, ls In q measure given into his
care.
He looks out and beholds the trans
lucent streams, splendid lakes and near
by seas heeeed with the white winged
messengers OF commerce, he hears the
thunder-roar OF her mighty monsters
Of steam, as they rush hither and
thitheT. bearing her commerce from
city TO city and emptying incoming
souls into her borders, he hears the
hum Of electricity. the whirr Of factory
wheels and the echo Of the builders
hammer fau.
He bsholds her institutions Of learn
ing and her eitadsls Of hope, and every
where he looks his heart palpitates
with pride that such q people should
have selected him from among their
fellow citizens as their representative
In the great hall Of state.
But then. Sir. let Us turn our eyes
from all this and gaze upon this man
that we are now about 70 knight and
belt and send forth with lance a-rest,
and visor down; what manner Of man
Il he that we are about 10 carry out q
mighty peoples edict and elect a
United States SsnatoTi
The history Of his hfe q that OF any
honest, earnest, stndious Americas boy
and man. Born on the hills 81 Georgia,
So years ago, he imbibed that spirit 81
individuality that marks The cItison Of