The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-23
w. A. BLOUNT ON
BROWARD'S MANTLE.

Possibly the keeneSt political docu-
ment ever issued by candidate in this
state comes to US in the form of little
folder, and was written by Hon. w. A..
Blount OF Pensacola, candidate for the
nomination for the United States Sena-
torship to succeed the late Gov. Broward
II has been claimed by friends of Hon.
n. P. Bryan of Jacksonville, who is also
a candidate for the place, that as he was
the close friend and advisor of Gov
Broward, it will fall upon him to take
up and carry on the work which Brow
ard would have accomplished had he
lived. In other words, that the mantle
of Broward had fallen on Bryan. That
there is nothing in this mantle business
is shown by Mr.. Blount in the follow
ing:
The selection in the next primary OF
United States Senator TO succeed Sena-
tor Taliaferro, whose term expires
March the 4th, 1911, should be a matter
of careful consideration by you, for the
pOSltlOn 10 NC lltl6u Is one Oh inc nlBuSSl
in the gift OF the people.
All the candidates being equal in
honesty and fidelity to the people, the
question with you should be, who is the
best fitted by age, experience in draw
ing and passing laws gained in a consti-
tutional convention or in the legislature,
knowledge of the fundamental laws and
principles of our government, acquaint-
ance with public affairs, ability TO pre-
sent questions to the senate of the
United States SO as 10 command its at
tention, and to meet the arguments of
republican adverSarieS, and by energy
and industry to efficiently represent you
in the Senate OF the United States?
These qualifications must belong to
man himself, and cannot be acquired by
association with, or friendship for, or
services rendered to, another. The
people have said that Gov Broward
possessed them in an eminent degree,
but has his mantle dccended 10 anybody?
If SO, how? Who has inherited his
forceful personality? Who his compre.
henSive grasp of affairs? Who his
ready advocacy of those things in which
he believed?
The fact that another was his friend
and assistant in his political fortunes can
not confer upon that other the force,
character, experience and ability pos
seSsed by him. Every man in this coun-
try must stand upon his own merits and
not shine from reflected light.
What place in our form of govern
ment and in the primary has the doc
trine of heirShip of right TO an office:
hn 6
it obtained? What kingship is there
here to warrant its assertion? The di-
vine right of one man to succeed another
in office because of his relation TO him
ceased with the Declaration of indie
pendence. The mantle of Broward has
not fallen, and can not fall upon any
man.
1t has been suggested by an adherent
OF one of the other candidates that had
Broward lived he might have preferred
one of those candidates as his successor, |
and have SO said, but the people would |
not have allowed him to dictate his |
successor. If not, can the mere fact that |
he was an associate of and friend TO
one or more of the present candidates |
dictate to the voters that that candidate
shall be his successor?
Those who are Broward factionists |
dyed in the WOOL" will, of course, |
vote for his successor because he was OF
the same faction. 1t is useless to reason |
with one of these. But large numbers
OF voters, reasoning, intelligent and in
dependent men, voted for Broward be
cause he was Broward- because they
believed that he was the fittest man.
He being dead, such voters can not be
delivered to a self-selected, or faction
selected heir, but will again vote for the
one who they think would make the best
United States Senator.
The death of Broward at the moment
when he had reached the goal of his
ambition and when all the people irres.
pective OF faction desired him TO have
full opportunity 10 show of what he
was made, was pathetic in the extreme.
But this sentiment is available to no one
as wave TO sweep him into the Senate.
The sentiment is not for the living, but
for the dead. A reasoning man does not
select business agent of whom is re-
CURED high ability and experience on a
basis OF sentiment, but on a basis of
qualifications. Sentiment might put
man into the United States Senate, but il
might leave him there without ability to
serve the people during the
twelve long years in which he would be
Senator. The reasoning man, the indie
pendent man, will vote because of his
reason and not because of his sentiment
------1----s--a--s--
The News wishes all its readers A
Merry Christmas